Beautiful Animation, equally great story

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2012)

An enjoyable, lovable, and depressing film. The story and characters develop slowly, but effectively. (I'm going to try my best to avoid writing spoilers for my first review; spoilers honestly defeats the purpose of this review)
The movie focuses on a beautiful relationship between a young brother and sister. They do everything a typical child probably does; they play, they learn and read, and help out at home. But during the fire-bombings of Japan, they are forced to abandon their typical lifestyle as they deteriorate from abuse from their neighbors, family, and their own pathetic struggles to survive during the war. As the kids realize and succumb to their own desperation and struggles, I just couldn't stop crying.
What makes the movie brilliant is its animation. Sure, it could easily be done with live action, but there's so much that could be done in animation; The character look ironically cheerful; emotions are dramatized as tears are enlarged 10 times. The houses burning down are slowed down; they aren't graphic, but they reveal the severity of Axis Japan's situation.
As a 16 year old, I've watched a whole lot of films. Not all of them are good, and even fewer animated movies break out of the shell that they are made "just for kids." But out of all the movies I've seen, this is honestly one of the best. It is emotional, powerful, and unforgettable. I can't explain the magnitude of the movie's greatness, from the scenes that make me smile wryly to the scenes where I sob uncontrollably; It'd be best to experience the movie instead.