|| Tonari
no Totoro || Spirited Away || Kaze no Tani
no Nausicaa || Kiki's Delivery Service ||
I had heard about the greatness of this anime thousand times but I never believed it til I finally watched it with my own eyes. it's definitely worth to be listed in my Best Anime Movies of A-Life-Time. I gave 2 thumbs up for this anime, though made in the year 1988 it has a high quality for graphics and story. Definitely, it's one of the best classic anime I ever watched.
[
Post Note from Inumako ]
|
It began on September 21, 1945. The night when Seita
died. He was one of the homeless postwar casualties who tried to survive
with his lonesome. His body was found lifeless by a cleaning service
man. Seita carried nothing with him but an empty fruits drop can where
he kept some of her sister's ashes. Before he died, he called his
sister's name as his last wish, Setsuko. And his
wish is granted, Seita finally rejoined with her lil sister, Setsuko,
along with the spirits of dead fireflies. Then they travel together
by subway train, eating fruit drops and memorize their lifetime.
Back
in the World War 2 when Seita and Setsuko still alive. In the neighborhood
where they lived, the air raid siren is sounding. Everyone was trying
to run as fast as they can to the shelter. In Seita's house, he's
busy burying some food into a huge jar under the ground for save.
Her mother left first to the shelter, realizing not that it would
be their last time together. Seita carried her sister on his back,
but he was too late because the air raid had started. Seita runs anywhere
save to go and finally ended up in the beach, there they rest a while
to breathe. When the air raid finally over, Seita took his sister
up and sees that everything was ruined to the ground, including their
house. Seita and Setsuko went to the last shelter, an elementary school
building. Setsuko asked about her mother and Seita said that they
will see her in the school. And he was right but her mother was terribly
wounded that she never open her eyes anymore. Seita thinks it'll be
wiser not to tell Setsuko about the tragic because she's still a kid,
so he kept his mother's death in silence and tells Setsuko that her
mother's in the hospital.
Because
now they are homeless and orphan, since their mother died while their
father's on duty in Japanese Navy, they decided to see their far aunt
in Ninoshimiya. They were welcomed somehow regarding to their tragic
condition. They feel glad, at least they have a place to lay their
heads. Seita went to his old home which remained ruins after the air
raid, to find the jar where he buried the food. He found it in proper
condition, including his sister fave, fruit drops. They spend their
lazy days in their new residence, playing and watching the fireflies.
Once
upon a day, Seita took her sister to the beach, their fave leisure
place. On the journey, they found that now all the ruins had been
ridden and the land is used to plant vegetables. As soon as they arrived
in the beach, they jump into the water. Setsuko was so happy that
she called the sea as a giant bathtub. They run along the shore, and
suddenly Seita remembers to the time before war began. They went to
the beach and made a sand castle, then their mom called them to eat.
It was unforgettable moment that only remain as memory.
Since
everything is rationed due to war, Seita's aunt ask him to trade some
of his mother's kimono. At least they could get some rice to eat.
But Setsuko cried out, she won't let her mom's kimono traded for rice
or anything else. Hearing Setsuko's wail, Seita remembered to the
moment when the sakura blooms and falls last spring. They were four,
together with their late mom and dad, taking picture. Everything was
too beautiful. However, reality bites, Seita still have to sell her
mom's kimono in order to survive. Soon when they enjoy the white rice,
Setsuko no longer weep about her mom's kimono.
Living
under someone's roof, though it's our own relatives, is never been
like home. So do Seita and Setsuko, their aunt starts scolding about
their so-called lazy behavior. She told Seita to start earning his
own life because everyone's struggling for the nation (Japan). Unable
to accept his aunt's scolding any longer, Seita decided to move with
Setsuko to the shelter where they usually hid. It was a sturdy place
with 2 caves nearby the lake. However, they seem to enjoy that place
much more than their aunt's house. Then they start moving, taking
all their belonging, with joy. It
was a fair and lovely day when they begin to live together in their
new 'house'. Since they don't have lamp, they collect fireflies and
bring it into the house. It radiates like stars and makes Seita remembered
to the night when he came to the naval parade with his dad. Then they
fell asleep by the fireflies' glow. The next morning Seita finds his
sister was digging and asks what she's doing. Setsuko said that she
made a grave for the dead fireflies and also her mom. Seita was surprised
because he though he hadn't told Setsuko about their mom's death.
Setsuko said that she knew it from her aunt, then asked innocently,
"Why do fireflies die so soon?". Seita was speechless, unable
to reply.
Then
the fair days gone by and by... Seita and Setsuko find it's more difficult
to get food. They start asking for rice to the neighboring farmer
but he refused and told them to apology and return to their aunt.
However, Seita would rather to ask someone else than return to his
scold aunt. Hopeless to get food, Seita decided to steal some crops
on his journey. He knows it's against the law, but for the sake of
his life and Setsuko, he have to do it. Setsuko, who was only a lil
girl, not knowing yet about law, helps her brother carrying potatoes.
However,
no matter how smart a squirrel jumps, she will fall. One night when
Seita is stealing crops, he got caught by the farm owner and was beaten
horribly. Setsuko sees her brother being beaten and taken away by
force, but she could do nothing but crying out her brother's name,
"Oniichan!" Seita then was taken to the police with wounds
all over his body. The farmer wants him to be punished but the police
man threats him that what he had done to Seita is an assault. Unexpected
by the answer, the farmer withdraws. Setsuko loyally waits for him
outside, and watching her sister's sincerity he cried. Realized he
had made Setsuko worried and also put her into danger. He felt so
sorry.
After
stealing crops ended in a tragic way, Seita decided to do something
else. This time he uses the chance to, again, steal foods and kimono
when people were busy running out of their houses during the air raid.
Surely is a dangerous attempt but he's ready for any risks. Couple
times he came back alive and success. One day, after unsuccessfully
tried to sell kimono, Seita returns back home only to find Setsuko
lays faint on the ground. He was too scared to find out whether Setsuko
is still alive or not, but when Setsuko opens her eyes heavily, Seita
was filled with joy.
Setsuko
is sick because of diarrhea, and Seita took him to the doctor. It's
clear now that Setsuko suffered malnutrition and there's no medicine
but feed her with nutritious meals. On the way home, Seita carried
Setsuko in his arms and told her gently that he will withdraw some
of his money to buy a lot of delicious food for her. But Setsuko weeps,
begging him not to leave her alone again. She said, "You can
have the money, I don't need anything, I just want oniichan
to be with me. Please don't leave me alone." Touched by her sister's
cry, Seita huged her tight and promised not to leave her, not ever
again. Then
Seita went to withdraw some of his money to buy food. In the bank
he heard that Japan had been defeated. Unbelieving of what he heard,
he can't stop thinking about his father in the navy. Is it why the
letters he sent never been replied? His father is already passed away
before he even realized it. Ruined, Seita walking way back home with
the bad news only to find his sister dying. Seita gave her a little
piece of watermelon and promised to make her rice and eggroll. Setsuko,
with her last strength, thanked to her brother then fell asleep. But
she never woke up again.
The
rain falls like millions of bullet to the ground. Seita hugs his sister's
body in silence. He had lost everyone, his mom, his dad and now, his
beloved sister. The next morning he bought charcoals for the cremation.
He collected all her sister's belongings such as the doll, wallet
and the one and only clothe she had. Seita put her sister into a straw
basket with all her belongings, except the fruits drop can. Then the
flame burns it all to ashes. Seita put some of Setsuko's ashes into
the can and keep it with him. He never return to the shelter again.
The shelter that witnessed their lives, the place where Setsuko spent
her last days. Back
to the present, the spirit of Seita and Setsuko sat down on a hill
together. Setsuko looks so happy to be with Seita again. She smiled
to her brother joyfully, and Seita told her gently that it's the time
to sleep. Setsuko nodded and laid her head on Seita's cradle. Seita
is watching the town where he used to live and once ruined to the
ground, now has become a town of lights.