Grave of the Fireflies is a harrowing Studio Ghibli masterpiece that chronicles the struggle of siblings Seita and Setsuko during WWII, capturing the brutal realities of war, loss, and resilience.
Its themes of human fragility, the cost of conflict, and emotional survival resonate deeply, yet many anime with similar depth remain overlooked. Here are 15 underrated series and films that echo its poignant storytelling.
1. Barefoot Gen (1983)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.01
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Prize
- Summary: A young boy survives the Hiroshima bombing, navigating starvation and despair while protecting his family.
- Similarities: Unflinching portrayal of WWII trauma, focus on familial bonds, and survival against impossible odds.
2. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.13
- Studio: Bones, Kinema Citrus
- Awards: Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award
- Summary: Siblings Mirai and Yūki endure a catastrophic earthquake in Tokyo, relying on strangers to reunite with their family.
- Similarities: Sibling dynamics, human resilience in disaster, and grounded emotional stakes.
3. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.89
- Studio: AIC
- Summary: A boy is thrust into a dystopian world ravaged by war, confronting child soldiers and resource scarcity.
- Similarities: Anti-war messaging, psychological trauma, and critique of human cruelty.
4. In This Corner of the World (2016)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.38
- Studio: MAPPA
- Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
- Summary: A young woman in WWII-era Hiroshima faces daily hardships while clinging to hope and creativity.
- Similarities: Civilian WWII perspective, quiet resilience, and bittersweet storytelling.
5. Giovanni’s Island (2014)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.94
- Studio: Production I.G
- Summary: Two brothers on a post-WWII occupied island befriend a Soviet commander’s daughter amid political tension.
- Similarities: Childhood innocence amid war, displacement, and cross-cultural empathy.
6. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.58
- Studio: Production I.G
- Summary: A paramilitary officer in an alternate-history Japan grapples with guilt after a deadly encounter with a rebel girl.
- Similarities: Psychological weight of violence, moral ambiguity, and dystopian societal collapse.
7. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (2010)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 8.47
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: Seven teens endure brutal abuse in a post-WWII reformatory, forging unbreakable bonds to survive.
- Similarities: Brotherhood in adversity, systemic cruelty, and hope amid despair.
8. The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.81
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Summary: A traumatized girl rediscovers her voice through a school musical, confronting past pain.
- Similarities: Emotional healing, trauma recovery, and ensemble-driven catharsis.
9. Colorful (2010)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.75
- Studio: Sunrise
- Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
- Summary: A soul reincarnates into a suicidal boy’s body, learning to value life through his fractured family.
- Similarities: Redemption, existential reflection, and fragile human connections.
10. Millennium Actress (2001)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.29
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: An elderly actress recounts her life, blurring memories of love, loss, and wartime Japan.
- Similarities: Nostalgia, wartime backdrop, and meditation on memory and regret.
11. Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)
- Streaming: RetroCrush
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.62
- Studio: Group TAC
- Summary: Two boys embark on a surreal train journey, confronting themes of mortality and existential purpose.
- Similarities: Philosophical depth, allegorical storytelling, and emotional resonance.
12. To the Forest of Firefly Lights (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.89
- Studio: Brain’s Base
- Summary: A girl befriends a spirit in the woods, facing the inevitability of separation as she grows older.
- Similarities: Ephemeral bonds, grief, and acceptance of loss.
13. Hadashi no Gen 2 (1986)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.34
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: The sequel to Barefoot Gen follows Gen’s continued struggles in post-bombing Hiroshima.
- Similarities: Direct continuation of wartime trauma and survival themes.
14. The Wind Rises (2013)
- Streaming: Max
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.25
- Studio: Studio Ghibli
- Awards: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
- Summary: Aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi balances ambition and guilt during Japan’s pre-WWII militarization.
- Similarities: Historical introspection, moral conflict, and Ghibli’s signature emotional depth.
15. Patema Inverted (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 7.55
- Studio: Rikka
- Summary: In a world split by gravity, two teens from opposing societies uncover buried truths about their past.
- Similarities: Societal division, hope amid oppression, and fragile alliances.
Why These Anime Work for Grave of the Fireflies Fans
These series and films mirror Grave of the Fireflies’ unflinching exploration of human suffering, resilience, and the quiet moments of hope that persist in darkness.
Whether through historical realism, dystopian allegories, or introspective character studies, each title confronts the cost of conflict and the fragility of life.
For viewers moved by Seita and Setsuko’s journey, these underrated gems offer equally profound narratives that linger long after the screen fades to black.
