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Studio Ghibli's saddest anime of all time is coming to Netflix

One of the most critically acclaimed animated war films in history will stream worldwide exclusively on Netflix this fall. The last firefliesStudio Ghibli’s 1988 anime war drama will premiere on Netflix on September 16, 2024.




The official Netflix anime account on X (formerly Twitter) has announced that it will stream Studio Ghibli's darkest animated film yet, set in Japan during World War II. The last fireflies will stream exclusively to Netflix subscribers in mid-September. The film follows two war orphans, Seita and Setsuko, as they struggle to survive in Kobe, Japan, during the final months of the Pacific War.

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Studio Ghibli's “The Last Fireflies” will be released worldwide on Netflix in September


The last fireflies is based on the semi-autobiographical short story from 1967 by Akiyuki Nosaka, who died in 2015 at the age of 85. The tragedies that Nosaka experienced in his life – such as the loss of two sisters to malnutrition and the death of his adoptive father in the bombing of Kobe in 1945 during World War II – inspired the events of his short story and his animated film. The last fireflies won the 58th Naoki Prize in 1967, an award that recognizes outstanding achievements in Japanese literature. Nosaka also won a Naoki Prize for American Hijikianother short story about the war-torn generation.

“The Last Fireflies” is undoubtedly one of Studio Ghibli’s darkest films


Isao Takahata, the late co-founder of Studio Ghibli, wrote and directed the animated adaptation of The last fireflies for the world-famous studio. While most of Studio Ghibli's animated films contain fantastic imagery and are usually suitable for viewers of all ages, these films often also deal with more adult themes such as the horrors of war. Unlike films like My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's little delivery service, The last fireflies is based on brutal reality and a dark tone and tells a touching story about the sufferers of World War II. Later animated films such as When the wind blows And In this corner of the world would continue to research the horrific consequences of war and the inhumane use of nuclear weapons, such as the infamous atomic bomb, the invention of which is attributed to J. Robert Oppenheimer.

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Although rights issues have prevented Max – Studio Ghibli's streaming home in North America – from The last firefliesother critically acclaimed films such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle And Princess Mononoke are available on the streaming platform. The Boy and the Heronthe latest animated film from Studio Ghibli and legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, will make its Max streaming debut on September 6th.

Studio Ghibli not only produces great animated films, but also has an online store where it sells a range of well-made merchandise for fans of all ages. One item that is unfortunately sold out is the iconic Sakuma Drops from The last firefliesas the Japanese confectionery manufacturer had to cease operations in 2022 due to inflation.


Source: Netflix via X (formerly Twitter)

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