Grave Of The Fireflies is a gorgeous film, despite rarely receiving the acclaim of Studio Ghiblis other masterpieces, and its beauty is primarily down to the interaction of its adorable and complex protagonists. Setsuka, a four year old girl, and Sieta, her fourteen year old brother, are effectively orphaned while their father is fighting in World War II and their mother is killed in an air strike on their home. The film follows their struggle for survival and, in doing so, creates two of the most heartbreaking figures in animated cinema. The relationship between the siblings is tender and compelling. This is a clear example of Ghiblis interest in exploring the impact that World War II, and the nuclear bombings in particular, continued to have in Japanese culture throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. A measured portrayal of civilian life during the war, it succeeds in becoming both a morality tale for adults and a story of defiance, love and strength for children.