It's brutally sad throughout, though beautifully realized, with who are possibly the two most sympathetic leads ever. The thing that hit me the hardest though, other than the ending, was that man standing over the ruins shouting, "long live the emperor!" :(

Highly apellative, a totally expendable japanese animation, it's far to be a masterpiece like some people open their mouths to say.

Incredibly sad but a real anime classic

More frustrating than sad.

Good, but manipulative and predictable. It certainly doesn't live up to its reputation as The Saddest Film of All Time.

Moves too slowly and doesn't make its point clearly enough. Not a bad film, though.

all i felt was frustration with the idiotic main character, no sadness

This is an adult Japanese animated movie that explores how war effects the most vulnerable and innocent people in the most horrific ways. This is one of the saddest and most haunting movies I have ever seen.It's unflinching deception of two young lives ravaged and then ultimately destroyed by war's brutality left me in tears and emotionally drained This is a masterpiece in film making and one of the greatest movies I have seen.Two Thumbs Very Enthusiastically Up !

a sad animation

Cartoons can make me laugh, but I dont seem to be able to feel sympathy for a drawing, and so whilst this film has a lot to commend it, I didnt feel a huge emotional connection with the characters. In addition, knowing how it ended left me feeling that any emotional involement with the characters was even less rewarding Its a film with a simple message that will stay with me, but not one that involved me emotionally, as I would have hoped the subject matter would have done.

Honestly, not a bad movie... but depressing :(

The start of the film essentially tells you how everything's going to end up, but you find yourself really hoping it isn't true. It's tragic, and emotionally devastating, and everything's more effective by the realistic actions of the characters (especially Setsuko). It really is probably the best movie to show people who are against anime by sheer principle.

Gut wrenching and superbly made though I must admit, I was expecting more of an emotional impact even despite how sad the story is.

overrated

I dare you! Nay! Double dare you: Show this to your kids under the pretext that it's a Disney movie! A thoroughly grim account of how the Japanese suffered during World War II, watched together with the companion piece 'Barefoot Gen' it'll be a pleasant afternoon for the whole family.