This movie was so sad I couldn’t finish it because I was crying too hard. While it’s animated and a children’s movie, this film is really great in its depiction of how innocent people are hurt by war. The dedication of the boy for protecting his sister is enough to stir the emotions of viewers, and I think it’s one of Studio Ghiblis more serious and defeat sting films. It tackles the topic of death and shows how children are innocent and wonder filled, how facing things such as death and loss can be so tragic for some so young. The story is simple, one of survival, and the way the story is told is very poetic. There are moments of action, such as bombings, but the film focuses on the consequences of these actions rather than the violence itself. There are moments of great beauty in the movie, drawings of landscapes that depict a peaceful country side as well as moments of sadness. It is a cartoon, but it’s so distinct and emotionally evocative that it can be considered one of the greater anime films, especially when concerning the topic of war.