To the Forest of Firefly Lights (2011)

This 40 minute anime is about a girl who befriends a sort of youkai (Japanese spirit) and then they meet and spend their summers from then on. You get the usual magical summer, the green forest, the cicadas, the friendly youkai, the countryside grandparent and the almost absent parents and you get yourself the typical setting for so many Japanese animated stories. And while the animation was OK and the story nice and the mood a mixture of calm magic and romance, that's basically what the entire thing is. It doesn't go anywhere.

Even when the girl grows up and develops womanly feelings, they are not really explored in any way. Her character doesn't change much from since she was 6 years old and there aren't really any other characters except her and the guy. When you have unchanging characters, the only thing remaining to entertain is the mood.

So, while I enjoyed watching it, I also felt that it didn't teach anything.

Fmovies: Both plot and characters were amazing and the plot was beautiful yet simple. The story is about a young girl and a spirit who become friends and spend every summer together. The characters were well though of and so was the plot, unfortunately people see this as it's simple so it's bad and not well though of which is not the case. I was amazed by how good the art was as well. I have to give this movie a 10/10 because this is the best animation or yet all movies i've ever seen.

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

To the Forest of Firefly Lights fmovies. 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

"It is sad not to love, but it is much sadder not to be able to love." The quote by Miguel de Unamuno becomes soulful and symbolic when we refer to it as in the context of this amazing anime. It's believed that the genre of romance has grown stiff and it seems very difficult to find a movie that does not deplete of originality and true sensuality, a genre that has nothing fresh to offer and most suggested things are a cliché these days. Well then, I'm truly glad I can say that whoever sports that belief is wrong. The evidence: Hotarubi no Mori e.

I don't understand why many people here seemingly disappointed with the simplicity of plot. 'Hotarubu no mori e' is one of those animes that gonna linger around in your head for while after watching. It's story of a little girl who gets into kinda of crush with a forest spirit. Beautiful soundtrack with breathtaking shots of forest and summer is delightful to watch.

The story is simple with no major twists or heavy drama, most of expressions of simple and short which makes this too romantic.

This is definitely a film that I would cherish and watch over and over. Nothing less to Ghibili studios'.