The Digikomi x Amazon Anime Convention is in full swing and until March 15 you will be offered a colorful program of various live stream shows about Japanese animation films and series. To celebrate the event, Amazon has one started huge anime sale*where there is almost everything that makes a fan’s heart beat faster: At manga*, Computer Games*, toys-* And Clothing* can really save money.
Above all, we at FILMSTARTS want you to do that large selection of Blu-rays and DVDs* to your home theater heart. Numerous classics such as “Dragon Ball Z”*, “Sailor Moon”*, or “A piece”* are on sale. Kids of the 90s should go crazy with joy.
But the absolute highlight of the campaign is the best animated film of all time. In our ranking “The Last Glowworms” deserves first place. If Isao Takahata’s anime classic has eluded you so far, you should definitely give it a try, even if you’re not really into animated movies otherwise.
Why you should have seen “The Last Fireflies”.
The story about the young teenager Seita, who fights for survival in the devastated city of Kobe with his little sister Setsuko towards the end of World War II, not only received the highest rating in FILMSTARTS criticism. The anti-war film is also featured on the well-known review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes with incredible 100% positive reviews from critics. Renowned American film critic Roger Ebert counts “The Last Fireflies” one of the best war movies ever made and hoped in 2000 that film lovers would not be put off by the anime look.
You should be doing it for the movie though be in the right mood, because Isao Takahata’s masterpiece is guaranteed to stir emotions. In fact, it’s so sad that it made our list of the 25 Most Depressing Movies of All Time. If you have a happy movie night in mind with lighthearted entertainment, The Last of the Fireflies may not be your first choice.
A personal tip at the end: the British heavy metal band “The Raven Age” processed the film into a great song (“Grave Of The Fireflies”) that gets under your skin. You can find the song on the 2019 album “Conspiracy“* or from your trusted music streaming provider.