I heard that it was double-featured with “Totoro” in Japan. Is that true?
Yes. At that time no one thought that people would want to see “a movie about two little kids and a Monster in rural Japan”, and “Totoro” was considered a big investment risk. Still, Miyazaki and the editors of “Animage” wanted to make this movie, which was Miyazaki’s pet project for a long time. So they thought up the idea of risk-sharing. “Grave” was a well-known book, and because of its “educational” value, a certain level of audience could be expected. (Indeed, “Grave” was chosen by many school boards as a movie to show their students – and “Totoro” along with it, since it was in the package.) Toshio Suzuki, then the chief editor of “Animage” (now a producer at Studio Ghibli) went to Shinchosha, the company which published the book. Since Shinchosha was looking for an opportunity to enter the movie business, they agreed to produce the movie “Grave”. Both Tokuma and Shinchosha knew they were going to lose money, but they still went ahead with the project (they did lose money from th
Yes. At that time no one thought that people would want to see “a movie about two little kids and a Monster in rural Japan”, and “Totoro” was considered a big investment risk. Still, Miyazaki and the editors of “Animage” wanted to make this movie, which was Miyazaki’s pet project for a long time. So they thought up the idea of risk-sharing. “Grave” was a well-known book, and because of its “educational” value, a certain level of audience could be expected. (Indeed, “Grave” was chosen by many school boards as a movie to show their students – and “Totoro” along with it, since it was in the package.) [Toshio Suzuki], then the chief editor of “Animage”, went to Shinchosha, the company which published the book. Since Shinchosha was looking for an opportunity to enter the movie business, they agreed to produce the Grave of the Fireflies. Both Tokuma and Shinchosha knew they were going to lose money, but they still went ahead with the project (they did lose money from the theatrical release).
