Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
AtsushiPilchzuki
A short, single-plot film, incredibly moving and almost tear-inducing (for me).
Despite such a short time, since there are practically only two characters, you can get attached to them. The ending is expected for everyone, but still incredibly moving. Honestly, of course a different ending would have been better for my emotions, but I'm happy with this conclusion.
In my opinion, the forest atmosphere served its purpose, and the sound effects were also top-notch. Definitely a very good voice actor for Gin.
I know it was supposed to be sad, but the ending song could have been a bit different.
Definitely worth watching and deserves its rating.
Read at the sourceErxie
Short and bittersweet. The power of love is not some miraculous magical way of achieving the inevitable but the magical way love is strong and powerful enough in its base level that makes eternity possible is I feel the message of this movie. Loved the animation, the almost ghibli esque art style. the heartfelt soundtrack, and the lovely voice acting. I wish everyone should watch this movie at least once.
The story is unique in its simplicity. Yes, the art style is more than fitting for the story. The characters leaves a deep impression on you and that is thanks to the wonderful voice acting. Anyone who wants a heartfelt beautiful story I feel would love this.
Read at the sourcesillares
The story was -decent-, If you try to ignore the fact that our main character is a child and the love interest is a grown man, you can perhaps enjoy this. I don't understand, if they wanted to make a romance, why wouldn't they just make him a child too? Just make them the same age. I can not get myself to watch and overlook grooming and pedofilia, it makes it just not enjoyable. There are scenes that try to be 'bonding' that were pretty questionable. Like a 4 year old girl accidentally showing a grown man her underwear, the man telling her at age 10 she's starting to look like a woman, etc. The characters have no development whatsoever. Story is cliché. The art style is nice, it's the only thing redeemable about this.
Read at the sourcetwinktaro
What is with the obsession of having a old spirit or creature be attracted to a child/teenager. I'm so sick of anime romances being centred around an adult man and a 15 year old girl. Gin met Hotaru when she was 6 for Christ's sake and she's only 15/16 at the end of the film. I wouldn't have minded if she was the only one with a crush, that's normal, but why was this grownass man interested in her??!?!
Even if we ignore the weird as hell age difference, this movie was just incredibly basic. Soundtrack, voice acting, and animation were all just fine. Nothing special but also not terrible, just incredibly basic. I mightve given this a higher review if I didn't find the story so goddamn creepy. Why did she have to be a child???
Read at the sourceelumizu
Hotarubi no Mori e (known in English as Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light) tells a short delicate story about connection, time, and the fragile boundaries that sometimes exist between people. Rather than building drama through complex plot twists or intense conflict, the film unfolds gently, relying on atmosphere and emotion to guide the narrative. The story begins with Hotaru Takegawa, a young girl who becomes lost in a mysterious mountain forest while visiting relatives during summer vacation. In the middle of that unfamiliar wilderness, Hotaru encounters Gin, a mysterious man wearing a fox mask. Gin rescues her from wandering deeper into the forest, but immediately explains a strange and important rule: if a human ever touches him, his existence will disappear. This simple condition s…
Read at the sourceKhaledkucci
One of the shortest and most amazing movies I've ever watched in my life. On a Friday, about 4 months ago, at the beginning of 2025, in January, when the sun rose, a new, dazzling day, I watched this movie. I don't know what to say other than that it's a masterpiece worth watching. The characters are extremely realistic and even the story is something unique. I highly recommend it.
The movie was truly amazing and full of exciting creativity, and the story is a Japanese folk tale.
Many people said the ending wasn't good, but for me it was the opposite. This ending is more realistic, romantic, sad, and beautiful at the same time.
A wonderful movie, and I hope Hotaru forgets Gin so she never suffers in her life. But she said she will never forget him, and neither will he.
10/10
Read at the sourceBee-ku
I saw this movie a little more than 10 years ago, when I was 13. Now that I've seen it again, I'm reminded of the memories of that time as well as the feelings I had the first time I saw it. You and I know we wanted to see romance, we wanted it with every part of our being. Did we get it? Yes, but I never expected that ending, I didn't think a kid would take away my happiness. I have to admit, I like that, despite being 45 minutes long, they give me a story that at least for me is very well done, as well as they managed to perfectly make us get attached to the characters. Nothing more to say, Hotarubi no Mori e is a movie that I love and will hurt for all my life.
Read at the sourceaegulli
I tried liking it. I really did but it sits so wrong with me.
Why did they have to bring romance into it? It was perfectly fine, until suddenly he's a pedophile.
I came in not knowing anything, and I watched it and it was alright at first, until I realized they were trying to push a romance narrative. I do not understand why so many people can overlook the fact that the girl is 6 when he meets her and by the time they kiss she *just* started highschool. On the other hand, they make it very clear he is an adult, and has been alive far longer than she has.
Outside of that glaring issue, the characters have no substance and no character arc. They do nothing to flesh out the characters, or give them any kind of resemblance of a personality, which also makes the grooming aspect of this even…
Read at the source_akshatts_
This movie is out of the world, It is a masterpiece hands down.
Creators has done an absolute stunning work in it, The Story writing, The Direction, The Animation everything is just soo perfect. Applause for the animators the did an amazing job, every expression, every emotion conveyed in such a beautiful way,
The emotion that every scene contains, Emotion of Meeting, Emotion of Leaving, Emotions of Staying together. Everything great.
The Story is based on a Non-human boy, and a Human Girl, it revolves around them, sounds boring right? But believe me It's not, you'll be so glad after watching it. It revolves around both of them on how they met and how they fell in love by the time. Years and years passed they used to meet during Summers only so how they used to wait for summer every year…
Read at the sourceCxttonCandyyy
Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light was incredibly disappointing. Based on the trailer, rating, synopsis, and cover, I really expected this to be a cute, sweet, heartwarming movie. Unfortunately it's just a tale of pedophilia and grooming. I didn't realize this was meant to be a romance going into it, so that's my fault I suppose. Regardless, this anime is just 40 minutes of an adult flirting with a child and watching her grow older. The whole thing is gross, but this would've been a decent story if not for the egregious age gap. I only gave this 2 stars instead of 1 because the art was decent.
Read at the sourcetenori_ojousama
Hotarubi no Mori e is really well-thought out movie. This movie brings out the idea of how a loved one's life can be so transient.
The love story of Gin and Hotaru start when Hotaru is a little girl. Gin is a spirit whose touching of any human can result in his perishing. Hotaru is a normal human girl. Although Gin and Hotaru never got to make physical contact early on, their relationship builds through the moments spent with each other. Despite both of their being able to meet only on specific times of the year, their love remains loyal year by year. However, one day, on the way home from the festival they attend, Gin makes contact with a human being, resulting in his death. At last, Hotaru gets to touch Gin; although the contact is short, she gets to enjoy the last few seconds with her…
Read at the sourceRyanSpring
The Light of a Firefly Forest is a very simple anime, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in all circumstances, but in my opinion it does this anime a disservice. It's very bare bones from top to bottom. There are very few characters, very little development of said characters, very few plot points and very little to take away from it after your viewing is over. Perhaps comparing against Shinkai- a man genuinely in the conversation of the best to ever do it- is not the fairest of comparisons, but when I look at movies of a similar length, such as The Garden of Words, or even of significantly shorter length such as Voices of a Distant Star, and then I compare the amount of plot and emotional impact between those and this it makes it quite clear there really is no comparison.
The one core r…
Read at the sourcemerily57
This movie made me cry from start to end. If you love movies like kimi no nawa, u should definitely watch it.
It was a well made story, that you could tell what was going to happen but makes your cry anyways
The art style is lovely, the color scheme is really fitting to the story
Characters feel a little off on somethings but mostly human.
It may seem like the same "impossible love history" for most people, but you can tell that it's not a romantic love, but a lovely friendship built on trust.
If you have some spare time, you could give it a try and 70% not regrett it
Read at the sourceYoAdi
"Into the Forest of the Fireflies' Light" is a sweet gentle tale about a spirit and a young girl and the close friendship they develop over the course of years. Their interactions are heartwarmingly sweet. The animation is neat and the background score is good. Though there is nothing much in the story, the serenity and magical vibe of this short film keeps one's interest alive. The main characters receive just enough characterization to make us feel slightly nostalgic by the end.
It is basically just a relaxing story which is recommended when you want to watch something peaceful so it might not be appealing to all the people.
Read at the sourceWolfieGrrrl
The gorgeous animation and the soundtrack come together to create a wistful summer forest backdrop for the bittersweet relationship between Gin and Hotaru. The groundwork for the characters is laid out neatly and simply so as to not distract from the atmosphere. It is admittedly confusing how old Gin is supposed to be because he appears older than Hotaru and his backstory in the forest leaves room for questions. Hotaru, meanwhile, meets him when she is a little girl and develops feelings for him by the time she is in high school. If you can ignore the questionable age gap due to its supernatural element, their relationship is very cute as it develops and changes through the years.
If you yearn for your own magical forest adventure with youkai, watch this movie.
If you like to spend your…
Read at the sourcenylish
This review is a little longer. If you want to read it, then you're welcome to. For those who just want the essentials, then yes! I recommend this anime because it's like a carousel of feelings. The story is so deep and well shaped that it becomes one of the best drama/romance anime.
After a very long time (probably 7 years), I decided to write a review for this movie. Months don't go by without me remembering this experience I had. I can't believe it. I've only seen the movie once, and I didn't think it could mention such a strong feeling on me. I think I know the reason why! Before I saw the movie, I found it by chance in an amv ("you can be king again"). This combination of sequences, with the music in the background, fit together beautifully. You say they are one and the same unique d…
Read at the sourceMissAmelia19
Oh the ending. If I couldn't hug the people that I love... then sorry, but I wouldn't want to live in this world.
I loved watching the friendship between the two grow. From when she was a young girl to a young adult. And being able to see them reconnect each summer, like things had never changed. I have friends that I don't see often, and a friend that I know that I won't see for a long time, and I hope I'm still able to reconnect the friendship like these characters have.
I still can't get over the not being able to hug thing. Nothing beats being hugged strongly by someone that you feel safe and loved by. And the fact that these characters haven't been able to experience that is actually heart breaking.
Read at the sourceitsukienthusiast
Well, where should I start with this one... We basically have two options here: If you are looking for a simple, yet full of emotions and conceptions of love story, then I can say this is definitely worth your 45 minutes. On the other hand, if the current circumstances that revolve you aren't really that favorable for you to be able to dive in this work , I need to warn you this might turn out to be a big disappointment in the end.
Story: 7/10
A childhood adventure setting where a girl spend every single summer vacation time with a spirit, who is faded to disappear once a human touches him. Along the way, they both develop a beautiful relationship that can't be quite fit in a limited shape of "love", given this emotion blooms into different forms and, ultimately, comes to an end.
Taking…
Read at the sourceDontReadPls
What is this Anime?
Girl meets boy. uh oh boy not human. uh oh boy die if girl touch boy?
I foresee emotional distress in my near future.
Did I like it?
This was a very enjoyable show. It is a feel-good, calming story, yet it keeps you engaged with a likable variety of characters. Despite the short run-time you can get emotionally attached to the characters and at no point is it obvious as to how the story of this unlikely couple will end (well, of course... until the end of the movie)
Read at the sourceXDraa
even though the anime is short and dense and can't be accepted because of the ending :/ this anime is really good
From the story, I quite understand, I don't understand, but from the story it's also good (7)
the art is also good especially the heroine who grew up and the mc (8)
the sound is good
good character, i really like the mc I enjoy watching because this movie is also not too long, only 45 minutes
so this anime is a must for those of you who like romance but the ending....
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walaupun anime singkat padat dan tidak bisa di terima karna endingnya :/ ini anime bagus banget sih
dari story sih lumayan paham enggak paham sih, tapi dari storynya juga bagus (7)
art nya juga bagus apalagi si heroine ya…
Read at the source
