Nooooooo! Someone apparently has the bright idea to make a live-action adaptation of Grave of the Fireflies, based on Akiyuki Nosaka's semi-autobiographical novel about two orphaned Japanese children struggling in war-torn Japan: Dresden to produce live action Grave of the Fireflies.
According to Screen Daily, Dresden Pictures as acquired the UK rights to make a live action adaptation of the story, which was made into Isao Takahata's classic 1988 animated feature, aka one of the most heartbreaking movies ever made. Seriously, it's both incredible and devastating.
A live action version was made for Japanese broadcaster NTV in 2005 but Dresden Pictures is the first production company outside of Japan to have optioned development rights to the story.While I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with a live action adaptation, I really do feel like Studio Ghibli's animated feature told the definitive version of the story. It's a masterpiece in every way. If you haven't seen it, the movie was recently released for the first time on Blu-ray.
Produced by Liam Garvo and James Heath through Dresden Pictures, there are plans to start shooting in 2014.
The story is based on Nosaka’s experiences during and after the firebombing of Kobe, Japan in 1945. It centres on the struggle of two orphaned Japanese children – 14 year-old Seita and his four year-old sister, Setsuko – during World War II.
Nosaka wrote Grave of the Fireflies as a personal apology to his sister regarding her death and was awarded the Naoki Prize for best popular literature.
However, there's also speculation that Dresden Pictures might change the story's setting to reflect the aftermath of the German bombing raids on Britain during the war. Man, I really hope not. Transplanted out of its Japanese setting, Grave of the Fireflies would most certainly lose something of its soul. Please, no! More here: 'Grave of the Fireflies' for live-action adaptation.
