A classic Studio Ghibli movie will be back in print this summer. Shout Factory is releasing a Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray of Grave of the Fireflies on July 8. Unlike many Ghibli movies, the 1989 film directed by Isao Takahata isn’t exactly suitable for the whole family. Rated PG-13 due to blood and gore, this dark journey is set during the final days of World War II in Japan. Grave of the Fireflies Limited Edition Steelbook is up for preorder for only $23 at Walmart.
$23 (was $27) | Releases July 8
For the extras, this 1080p Blu-ray version of the film comes with a deep dive into its storyboards, a look at several deleted scenes that were only produced as storyboards, image galleries, a collection of trailers, an interview with director Isao Takahata, and an interview with the late film critic Roger Ebert.
Preorders at Walmart are available for $23, four bucks less than retail price for Ghibli Blu-ray Steelbooks. Amazon has a listing for Grave of the Fireflies but hasn’t opened preorders yet for the Steelbook Edition.
Grave of the Fireflies is also receiving a new standard edition Blu-ray with a plastic case and cardboard sleeve. At the moment, however, standard edition preorders are $25 at Amazon and Walmart, so you’re better off grabbing the Steelbook Edition.
While films produced by Studio Ghibli regularly focus on fantasy and contain environmentalism themes, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the rare exceptions here as it is based on the personal accounts of World War II survivor Akiyuka Nosaka. Grave of the Fireflies centers around 14-year-old Seita and and his four-year-old sister Setsuko, war orphans struggling to survive in the Japanese countryside food shortages, abusive relatives, and bombing raids by the Allied forces.
The film pulls no punches with its subject matter, but it’s still an all-time animated classic with a strong message at its core and fleeting moments of happiness during this bleak story. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster with this movie.
Grave of the Fireflies’ case design looks more like last year’s The Boy and the Heron Steelbook release than the earlier releases in the Studio Ghibli Steelbook series. Grave of the Fireflies previously released on Blu-ray in 2012 and has received a steelbook release with the old, singular background color aesthetic. Prior Blu-ray releases of the film have been out of print for years, though.
For a more whimsical, lighter adventure, you might want to look at Studio Ghibli’s other movies, especially the ones directed by Hayao Miyazaki. You can’t go wrong with greatest hits like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke–which are beautifully animated and have timeless stories to tell–while other movies like Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service are also fan favorites.
If you’re a fan of releases, we’ve gathered all the Studio Ghibli movies below that come inside of this sturdy protective cover. These all feature a uniform style across them–Grave of the Fireflies with this particular style has been sold out forever–and they’re all in a standard Blu-ray format, save for The Boy and the Heron, which includes 4K and standard Blu-ray discs.
For fans of Studio Ghibli’s signature art style, you might also want to grab the new All-in-One Edition hardcover omnibuses published by Viz Media. These are essentially a collection of screenshots taken from each movie and used to retell those stories in print, allowing you to really admire the art of each film.
Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service are available now, and Ponyo is up for preorder. Each book is a chunky, surprisingly affordable hardcover filled with gorgeous full-color art.
Other new and upcoming books based on Ghibli films include The Art of the Boy and the Heron, which releases on May 27, and My Neighbor Totoro: The Official Cookbook, which released earlier this month.
