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To the Forest of Firefly Lights

Original title: Hotarubi no mori e
  • 2011
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
24K
YOUR RATING
To the Forest of Firefly Lights (2011)
Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
78 Photos
AnimeHand-Drawn AnimationIyashikeiAnimationDramaFantasy

Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.

  • Director
    • Takahiro Ômori
  • Writers
    • Yuki Midorikawa
    • Takahiro Ômori
  • Stars
    • Kôki Uchiyama
    • Ayane Sakura
    • Shinpachi Tsuji
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Takahiro Ômori
    • Writers
      • Yuki Midorikawa
      • Takahiro Ômori
    • Stars
      • Kôki Uchiyama
      • Ayane Sakura
      • Shinpachi Tsuji
    • 55User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Trailer

    Photos78

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    + 73
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    Top cast12

    Edit
    Kôki Uchiyama
    Kôki Uchiyama
    • Gin
    • (voice)
    • (as Koki Uchiyama)
    Ayane Sakura
    Ayane Sakura
    • Hotaru Takegawa
    • (voice)
    Shinpachi Tsuji
      Izumi Sawada
      • Mom
      • (voice)
      Hayato Taya
      • Ryota
      • (voice)
      Kanehira Yamamoto
      • Shadow
      • (voice)
      Masanori Machida
      Masanori Machida
        Hiroki Gotô
          Asami Imai
            Mami Uchida
              Kumiko Tashiro
                Amar Kumar Dang
                • Director
                  • Takahiro Ômori
                • Writers
                  • Yuki Midorikawa
                  • Takahiro Ômori
                • All cast & crew
                • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

                User reviews55

                7.824.2K
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                Featured reviews

                7ADI-0004

                A gentle tale

                "Into the Forest of the Fireflies' Light" is a sweet gentle tale about a spirit and a young girl and the close friendship they develop over the course of years. Their interactions are heart- warmingly sweet. The animation is neat and the background score is good. Though there is nothing much in the story, the serenity and magical vibe of this short film keeps one's interest alive. The main characters receive just enough characterization to make us feel slightly nostalgic by the end.

                It is just a basically relaxing story which is recommended when you want to watch something peaceful.
                9pinocchietto

                Romantic, sweet and simply story!

                A romantic, sweet and simple feature that hits the heart. A story of friendship and love without sin that lasts over time and over the years. I loved it so much that I wished it would last longer!
                8TheMovieAddict101

                Short,yet so amazing

                Hotarubi no mori e/ To the forest of Firefly Lights, is basically a 45 minute anime film, and is about Hotaru who is the main character, and she recounts a memory of her past with meeting, a spirit named Gin, and what happened after this event. The film is very emotional at times, especially, the ending which will pull your heart strings. It's also a very small film, in terms of characters, and story. This film can be watched at anytime (cause of the run time) and yet you feel many emotions after the film, and it will leave a small hole in your heart after being watched. Overall:8 out of 10
                8vizek

                Short and sweet

                Despite being such a short anime, it encapsulates the emotions and the story better than most romance anime do in 2 hours.

                The story is beautiful and well written, but there is nothing that stands out.

                And although the story was impressive, the same can't apply to characters of the movie... the cast is pretty average and undeveloped, which is expected for such a short anime.

                The animation and art style isn't something that is important in this movie... it was just an average, basic art.

                And finally the score... I had a feeling that the opening song was bad and out of synch with the story, but other than that it was solid.

                Overall this film was nice to watch, it was simple, emotional and just a real piece of art (because of what they achieve in less than 40 minutes). Once more I just want to say that despite being a short anime with nothing really impressive going on, it was emotional as hell.
                9rdvljunk

                wanted it to be much longer

                What a stunning beauty of an anime. The only shortcomming is that it is...right: short. I wished the beautifull moments, almost dreamlike, could be prolonged and extended. Now for this story itself it is just right I admit any longer and it would have destroyed the spirit of this movie. But simply I wish it was longer, I actually felt a bit sad when it was over so soon

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                Related interests

                Steve Blum and Kôichi Yamadera in Cowboy Bebop (1998)
                Anime
                Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
                Hand-Drawn Animation
                Natsume's Book of Friends (2008)
                Iyashikei
                Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
                Animation
                Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
                Drama
                Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
                Fantasy

                Storyline

                Edit

                Did you know

                Edit
                • Trivia
                  The author of the anime movie "Hotarubi no Mori e" made this movie as a tribute for her friend who died of cancer.
                • Quotes

                  Takegawa Hotaru: Time might separate us some day. But, even still, until then, let's stay together.

                • Connections
                  Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Saddest Anime Movies (2019)
                • Soundtracks
                  Natsu o Miteita
                  Performed by Shizuru Otaka

                  Lyrics, Music & Arrangement by Makoto Yoshimori

                  Courtesy of Aniplex

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                FAQ12

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                Details

                Edit
                • Release date
                  • September 17, 2011 (Philippines)
                • Country of origin
                  • Japan
                • Language
                  • Japanese
                • Also known as
                  • Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light
                • Production companies
                  • Aniplex
                  • Brains Base
                  • Hakusensha
                • See more company credits at IMDbPro

                Tech specs

                Edit
                • Runtime
                  • 45m
                • Color
                  • Color

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