Grave of the Fireflies makes it clear that The Wind Rises protagonist Jiro Horikoshi is far from the only person who saw his beautiful dreams perish in that inferno of conflict that American viewers are so used to thinking of as a righteous victory. — C.H.
Like so many other movies on this list, Grave of the Fireflies centers on young children who think they're going on a magical adventure—but they are unfortunately traveling in the real world, without any helpful spirits to protect them. Several Ghibli stories take place in a vague "postwar" setting, but while Japan makes its World War II surrender shortly into the runtime here, the fires of war are still burning hot enough to consume life, love, and family. Grave of the Fireflies makes it clear that The Wind Rises protagonist Jiro Horikoshi is far from the only person who saw his beautiful dreams perish in that inferno of conflict that American viewers are so used to thinking of as a righteous victory. — C.H.