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Grave of the Fireflies: 2005 Live-action TV Movie
In 2005, Nippon TV, a close affiliate of Studio Ghibli produced a live-action version of the acclaimed 1988 animated feature, Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) directed Isao Takahata and based on a book by Akiyuki Nosaka. The live-action movie, which was made for TV to commemorate 60th anniversary of end of World War II, was directed by Toya Sato.
The new movie followed the main plotline of the original version almost exactly. The most significant difference was that the movie revolved around Hisako Sawano, Seita's aunt, more deeply. As the story develops, the movie portrayed how and why Seita's changed from being very caring and considerate to cold-hearted and selfish. In the 1988 version, the aunt's husband stayed at home; here, her husband fought in the war and perished, which had an great impact on her attitude towards Seita and Setsuko. Seita's cousin also plays a major role in the new movie. In Ghibli's screenplay, she only had one or two lines in the entire movie. In Nippon's story, she casually develops an relationship with Seita and becomes very outspoken against her mother's actions.
| Seita Yokokawa actor: Hoshi Ishida
Seita is the son of Japanese naval command, he has much pride in his father's work. | | | Setsuko Yokokawa actress: Mao Sasaki
The playful little sister of Seita, her favorite food is congee with eggs. | | | Hisako Sawano actress: Nanako Matsushima
Seita's aunt, who is burdened with the responsibility of taking care of Seita and Setsuko after their parents are gone. | | | Natsu Sawano actress: Mao Inoue
Hisako's oldest daughter, she is very sympathetic towards Seita and Setsuko and blames her mother for their misery. | | | Yoshie Sawano actor: Jun Kaname
Hisako's brother-in-law, he stayed behind during the war because of a bad leg. | | | Kyoko Yokokawa actress: Yui Natsukawa
Seita and Setsuko's mother, she suffers from a heart disease. | | | Kyoshi Yokokawa actor: Ikki Sawamura
Seita's father, he's the colonel of a Japanese naval fleet. | | | Natsu Mitsumura actress: Keiko Kishi
Natsu Sawano of present time, she recalls the story of Seita and Setsuko after coming across a can of droplets. | | | Keiko Mitsumura actress: Mao Inoue
Natsu's granddaughter who is trying to comprehend what her grandma and great-grandma had gone through during World War II. | | | Genzo Sawano actor: Tsuyoshi Ihara
Hisako's husband, who has been called into the battlefield. | | | Teizo Sawano actor: Shota Horie
Hisako's only son who suffered asthma. | | | Hana Sawano actress: Mayuko Fukuda
One of three daughters of the Sawano family. | | | Yuki Sawano actress: Narumi Iihara
One of three daughters of the Sawano family. | | | Toshiyuki Yoshioka actor: Katsuhisa Namase
A policeman and also a friend of the Sawanos | | | Merchant actor: Hideo Takamatsu
A Merchant selling rice and eggs | | | Farmer actor: Mansaku Fuwa
Farmer who is forced to sell overpriced vegetables during wartime. |
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