Hotarubi No Mori E (Movie Review)

Hotarubi No Mori E (or literally translate in English as Into the Forest of Firelies) is a 45 minute 2011 anime film based on a one-shot shoujo manga written by Yuki Midorikawa which bares the same name and first published on July 2002.

The story follows a young girl Hotaru who always spends her summer at the mountains with her uncle since she was just a child. There she met Gin the time she was lost while playing, a neither spirit nor human who lives in a forest. She can play with Gin but she is not allowed to touch his skin as he would disappear. Since then, both of them are seeing each other every summer, a season which they always look forward to. 

Hotaru grew into a fine young lady as the years passed by, but Gin still remains as the young lad she met during her childhood days. However, their romantic relationship ended so fast at the very moment it was just about to begin. This is because of some accident that happened during the summer festival of the spirits of the mountain which Hotaru and Gin both witnessed for the first time together.

It is quite a tear-jerking movie which greatly plays on each viewers perception of romance and unexpected heartbreak. For me, it still left a big hole in my heart thinking that Hotaru never had a chance to confess how she truly felt for Gin.

Overall, the movie was great and the plot was fresh. Its a good example of love that grows in time which can captivate our souls. And at the very same time, it can truly break your hearts.