Roger Ebert said it is an "emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation."
Grave of the Fireflies is not for children and is a deeply sad movie. However, the film was initially shown as a double feature with the much lighter My Neighbor Totoro. It is the only theatrical Studio Ghibli film before From Up on Poppy Hill in 2011 that Disney never had the North American distribution rights to. Roger Ebert said it is an "emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation." Unfortunately, it is not currently available to rent or stream currently in the US.