Grave of the Fireflies is returning to Netflix Japan on July 15, 2026, alongside an educational outreach program, and a book based on an NHK documentary about its production is being published on June 24, 2026.
Studio Ghibli's 1988 film Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata and based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel, is returning to Netflix Japan on July 15, 2026. The film first streamed on Netflix in over 190 countries (excluding Japan) in September 2024, where it ranked 7th in the Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 for non-English films in its first week. It became the first Ghibli film on Netflix Japan in 2025, with subtitles in 33 languages and dubbing in 10. The Japanese audio description is narrated by Shota Yasuda (SUPER EIGHT), and the English version by Patrick Harlan.
Alongside the re-release, Netflix is launching the #NetflixEssay project, which includes a children's essay workshop on July 11 and a note campaign from July 15 to August 31. Netflix is also supporting free school screenings for middle schools across Japan, providing free viewing codes to approved schools. This signals a strategy to treat the film as both a seasonal viewing event and a classroom resource.
Separately, a book based on the NHK ETV special Grave of the Fireflies, Isao Takahata, and the Seven Notebooks will be released on June 24, 2026. Written by NHK director Yoko Terakoshi, the book examines Takahata's creative process through seven preserved notebooks and interviews with staff, and includes previously unpublished materials. The documentary and book offer a documented look at the unfinished state in which Takahata felt he released the film.
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1h ago
Studio Ghibli's 1988 film "Grave of the Fireflies" will begin streaming again on Netflix in Japan on July 15. The film, directed by Isao Takahata and based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel, follows siblings Seita and Setsuko during World War II. It first streamed on Netflix in over 190 countries (excluding Japan) in September 2024, where it ranked 7th in the Netflix Weekly Global Top 10 for non-English films in its first week. It became the first Ghibli film on Netflix Japan in 2025, with subtitles in 33 languages and dubbing in 10. The Japanese audio description is narrated by Shota Yasuda (SUPER EIGHT), and the English version by Patrick Harlan. Alongside the re-release, Netflix is launching the "#NetflixEssay" project, including a children's essay workshop on July 11 and a note campaign from July 15 to August 31. Netflix is also supporting free school screenings for middle schools across Japan, providing free viewing codes to approved schools.
6d ago
A book based on the NHK ETV special 'Grave of the Fireflies, Isao Takahata, and the Seven Notebooks' will be released on June 24, 2026. Written by NHK director Yoko Terakoshi, the book examines director Isao Takahata's creative process through seven preserved notebooks and interviews with staff, and includes previously unpublished materials.