View source for Hotarubi no Mori e

{{Short description|Japanese manga series by Yuki Midorikawa}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use list-defined references|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| image           = Hotarubi no Mori e (manga cover).jpg
| caption         = The ''[[tankōbon]]'' cover of ''Hotarubi no Mori e'', first published in Japan in 2003
| ja_kanji        = 蛍火の杜へ
| ja_romaji       =
| genre           = [[Romance novel|Romance]], [[Supernatural fiction|supernatural]]<ref name="ANN_news_21Feb2011"/><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| author          = [[Yuki Midorikawa]]
| publisher       = [[Hakusensha]]
| publisher_en    =
| demographic     = ''[[Shōjo manga|Shōjo]]''
| imprint         = Hana to Yume Comics
| magazine        = [[LaLa DX]]
| published       = July 2002
| volumes         = 1
| volume_list     =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsuhen
| author          = Yuki Midorikawa
| publisher       = Hakusensha
| publisher_en    =
| demographic     = ''Shōjo''
| magazine        =
| published       = September 5, 2011
| volumes         =
| volume_list     =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = film
| director        = [[Takahiro Omori]]
| producer        = {{ubl|Shuko Yokoyama|Hirofumi Sugawara|Masanori Miyake|Tomomi Kyōtani}}
| writer          = Takahiro Omori
| music           = [[Makoto Yoshimori]]
| studio          = [[Brain's Base]]
| licensee        =
| released        = September 17, 2011
| runtime         = 44 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Hotarubi no Mori e'''''|蛍火の杜へ||{{lit|Into the Forest of Fireflies Light}}|lead=yes}} is a [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] [[shōjo manga|''shōjo'' manga]] written by [[Yuki Midorikawa]]. It was published in the {{nowrap|July 2002}} issue of ''[[LaLa DX]]'' in Japan, and in {{nowrap|July 2003}} it was reprinted in a ''[[tankōbon]]'' [[short story collection]] of the same name, which included four romantic one-shot stories written by Midorikawa.  ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' tells the story of a young girl named Hotaru and her friendship with Gin, a strange young man wearing a mask, who she meets at the age of six in a mountain forest near her grandfather's country home. Hotaru learns that her friend is supernatural and that touching Gin will cause him to disappear forever.  Hotaru returns every summer to spend time with Gin, and their relationship matures as both struggle with its limitations.  The inspiration to write the story came suddenly to Midorikawa, who immediately drew the [[manga]]—a process that went smoothly despite some initial conflicting elements.  ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' is considered a starting point for Midorikawa's best-known work, ''[[Natsume's Book of Friends]]''.
A 44-minute [[anime]] film with the same title was produced in 2011 at the anime studio [[Brain's Base]] and directed by [[Takahiro Omori]].  The film starred Japanese voice actors [[Ayane Sakura]] and [[Kōki Uchiyama]], and its soundtrack included music by [[Makoto Yoshimori (composer)|Makoto Yoshimori]].  The film maintained a strong following for months in Japan after its opening on {{nowrap|September 17, 2011}}.  The European premiere of ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was on {{nowrap|October 8, 2011}}, at the [[Scotland Loves Animation]] festival, where it won the Jury Prize.  It was screened at the [[Leeds International Film Festival]], Anime Contents Expo and [[Anime Expo]] convention, and also won the Animation Film Award at the 66th&nbsp;Annual [[Mainichi Film Award]]s.
The anime was released on [[Blu-ray Disc]] (BD) and DVD in Japan on {{nowrap|February 22, 2012}}.  An additional story related to the original manga and anime film, titled {{Nihongo|''Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsuhen''|蛍火の杜へ 特別編}}, was released in a keepsake edition of the manga 12&nbsp;days prior to the release of the anime.  Both the keepsake edition manga and the limited edition BD ranked No.&nbsp;13 on Japan's [[Oricon]] sales chart shortly after their release.  Sakura reported experiencing a strong emotional reaction to the story while recording the voice of Hotaru, and Midorikawa acknowledged that the story had a positive impact on her career.  Reviewers universally praised the anime film for its beauty, simplicity, and tenderness, likening it to the works of [[Hayao Miyazaki]] of [[Studio Ghibli]] and [[Makoto Shinkai]].  There were few criticisms, most commonly focusing on its short length.
==Plot==
The original ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' [[shōjo manga|''shōjo'' manga]]{{r|Manga-News_21Feb2011}} and subsequent film tell the story of a six-year-old girl named Hotaru Takegawa, who gets lost in a forest inhabited by a  mountain spirit, as well as ''[[yōkai]]'' (strange apparitions from [[Japanese folklore]]). She is found by a mask-wearing, human-like entity named Gin, who informs Hotaru that he will disappear forever if he is touched by a human. Gin then leads Hotaru out of the forest. Hotaru returns to visit Gin in the forest over the next few days and they become friends despite the limitations on their interactions. Although at summer's end she must leave Gin to return to the city and her studies, Hotaru promises to return to visit him every summer holiday.
As the years go by, Gin hardly ages while Hotaru physically matures and grows closer to his apparent age. Upon reaching adolescence, Hotaru begins to struggle with their budding romance and their uncertain future together, while Gin wishes he could touch and hold the young woman that Hotaru has become. When Hotaru reaches high school, Gin takes her on a date to a [[Japanese festivals|festival]] in the forest hosted by the spirits. The night ends in tragedy when Gin mistakenly touches a young boy who snuck into the spirit festival, though before he disappears, he and Hotaru embrace and confess their love for one another. The story ends with Hotaru accepting her pain and moving on with her life, though she will always treasure the memories of her time with Gin.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|pp=49–98}}{{r|THEM_Review|Anime_Planet}}  The 2011 anime film adaptation of the story{{r|ANN_news_21Feb2011}} follows all of the events from the manga, adding only a few additional scenes.{{r|Hotarubi_no_Mori_e_(anime)}}
{{Nihongo|''Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsu-hen''|蛍火の杜へ 特別編|Hotarubi no Mori e special edition}}, published in 2011, expands on the original story with a short episode told from Gin's perspective.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|p=171}} When Hotaru is a teenager, she shares some pudding with Gin before she leaves at the end of the summer. After Hotaru leaves, the ''yōkai'' attempt to cheer Gin up by bringing him a couple of [[persimmon]]s, one of the most prized treats on the mountain. Impressed with the taste, Gin thinks of sharing one of these persimmons with Hotaru next year. After discussing ways to preserve the persimmon with the ''yōkai'' and a spirit named Matsumino, Gin sets off to find ice on the highest mountain peak, but is disappointed to find none during the summer. When Gin returns scratched up from his fruitless search for ice, Matsumino feels sorry for him and offers to deliver the persimmon to Hotaru for him. However, not knowing where she lives, Matsumino gets lost and grows hungry. After he returns from his unsuccessful attempt to find Hotaru, Matsumino apologizes to Gin for eating the persimmon and Gin forgives him. The story concludes with Gin seeing Hotaru the following summer and wondering if he will be able to tell her about his feelings for her.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|pp=159–170}}
==Production==
===Manga===
The author, [[Yuki Midorikawa]], explained in the postscript of the ''Aizoban Hotarubi no Mori e'' reprint that the idea for the story came to her more easily than for any other work up until that point.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|p=171}}  Although she had been planning to write a story as challenging as ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' once she had gained more experience writing manga, she decided to undertake the project sooner when the idea for the story suddenly came to her.  Afraid that she might lose the idea, she promptly began to draw it, and Midorikawa's writing progressed smoothly despite having numerous conflicting ideas for the development of the story.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=69}}
The story came from Midorikawa's desire to draw several scenes.  She was interested in drawing a scene where a boy dodges a girl who is falling towards him.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=140}}  She also wanted to draw a shadowy summertime forest,{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=69}} which would allow her to expand the range of tones and blacks used in the manga.  A third inspiration was the desire to depict a more tranquil summer festival than those she had drawn before.  She was also eager to create the mask worn by Gin at the festival, which resembled the face of a [[fox]] whose typical slitted eyes were replaced by oval ones to give the mask a "creepy" hybrid fox-[[primate]] appearance.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=140}}
The supernatural love story between Hotaru and Gin is considered a starting point for Midorikawa's best known work, ''Natsume's Book of Friends'', which also depicts ill-fated interactions between humans and ''yōkai'' (sometimes referred to as ''ayakashi'').{{r|Comics_Natalie_5Sept2011}}{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=25}}  In both stories, differences in lifespan and other insurmountable barriers mar their relationships and attempts to understand each other.{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=25}}
Prior to the anime film's theatrical release in 2011, Midorikawa published an additional chapter to the story, ''Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsuhen''.  Since the original story was already complete and she initially felt uncomfortable about adding to it, she opted instead to expand on the story from Gin's perspective.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|p=171}}
===Anime===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; font-size: 88%;"
|+ Cast{{r|Hotarubi_no_Mori_e_(anime)}}
|-
! Voice actor
! Role
|-
|[[Ayane Sakura]]
|Hotaru Takegawa
|-
|[[Kōki Uchiyama]]
|Gin
|-
|Shinpachi Tsuji
|Hotaru's grandfather
|-
|Izumi Sawada
|Hotaru's mother
|-
|Hayato Taya
|{{Nihongo|Ryōta|亮太|}}<!-- Who is this character? The boy from school? I skimmed both anime and manga, and could not find that name. I could only find it in the DVD credits. -->
|-
|Kanehira Yamamoto
|Shadow ''yōkai''
|-
|Masanori Machida
|Beech Tree Hand ''yōkai''
|-
|Hiroki Gotō
|Lion ''yōkai''
|-
|[[Asami Imai]]
|Masked child (younger brother)
|-
|Mami Uchida
|Masked child (older sister)
|-
|Kumiko Tashiro
|Child at the festival
|}
According to animation director Yumi Satou, the anime project originated with his personal wish to animate the original manga, which he enjoyed.{{r|Official_Mainichi_Award}} The project was given approval in early 2011,{{r|ANN_news_14Jun2011}} and according to the film's producer, Shuko Yokoyama, the anime was originally planned as an [[original video animation]], which would not have been released in theaters.  However, the popularity of ''Natsume's Book of Friends'', which was also written by Midorikawa and developed by the same production staff, gave them the support they needed to create an anime film.{{r|Official_JuryPrize}} The film was produced by the studio Brain's Base and directed by Takahiro Omori, starring Japanese voice actors [[Ayane Sakura]] as Hotaru and [[Kōki Uchiyama]] as Gin.{{r|ANN_news_14Jun2011}}  Satou had frequently worked together with Yokoyama on previous projects.{{r|ANN_news_6Oct2011}}  Other staff included Akira Takata (character design), Yukihiro Shibuya (art), Hiromi Miyawaki (color design), Hitoshi Tamura (photography), and Kazuhiko Seki (editor).{{r|Official_Staff}}  The anime film had a very small staff because it was a very short film and was produced domestically, unlike the TV series, ''Natsume's Book of Friends'', which was primarily [[Outsourcing|outsourced]] to other countries—a common trend in anime production.{{r|Official_JuryPrize}}
In March 2011, midway through production, the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]] struck Japan.  Despite the national tragedy, the production crew continued its work, and according to Omori, the team hoped that their work would help soothe the nation after it had time to recover.  Omori speculated that this was part of the reason for the strong positive reception and the awards the anime later received.{{r|Official_Mainichi_Award}}
The setting in the manga was based on a [[Shinto shrine|shrine]] in the [[Kumamoto Prefecture]] of Japan, known as [[Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine]], which is dedicated to [[Izanagi|Izanagi-no-Mikoto]] and [[Izanami-no-Mikoto]] from [[Japanese mythology]].  The animation crew spent two hours searching the location for settings on which they could base their art.  Because the story was set in the forest of a mountain god, Omori intended the art to represent a "different world" where the background scenery was obscure and the blue sky was slightly brighter than normal.  Omori and his crew devoted extra attention to lighting and coloring, making the forest dim with light coming through the canopy and landing on the characters with the appropriate intensity.  The contrast between light and dark was also used during the festival scene to emphasize its bizarre nature, reminding the audience that Hotaru should not be there.  Because of the significance of the summer season to the story, Omori deliberately loaded the film with summer scenes, such as rustling leaves and chirring of [[cicada]]s.{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=26}}
{{multiple image
| footer    = Both the manga and anime were set at the [[Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine]] in the [[Kumamoto Prefecture]] of Japan.
| align     = left
| image1    = Hotarubi no Mori e (poster).jpg
| width1      = 150
| image2    = Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine 001.jpg
| width2      = 170
}}
According to the Omori, the idea for the opening scene was suggested by Yokoyama; following traditional [[cinematography]], the images of scenes indirectly related to the main story were played while the opening credits appeared.  Originally intended to show Gin's life before meeting Hotaru, Omori allowed the viewer to decide its relationship in time with the main story.  Omori also opted to start Hotaru's narration from a time after the story's main events; showing Hotaru as an 18-year-old who had just graduated high school and heading back to visit her relatives near the forest.  By having Hotaru tell the story in retrospect, Omori thought it provided a more human feel and gave more meaning to the final scene, where Hotaru expresses her hopes for the future by saying, "Come on, let's go."{{Sfn|Omori|2011|pp=4–5}}
One of the difficulties in adapting the manga to anime, according to Omori, was that the developing relationship between Hotaru and Gin had to be shown visually, rather than through monologue.  One way in which this was done used Hotaru's yearly change in height—by subtly showing the convergence of the length of their strides when walking, the audience is led to perceive a change in their relationship.  Omori also wanted to portray more depth to Hotaru's character by expanding on her school life.  Although the manga depicted a brief flash of her life in middle school, the anime depicted scenes from both aspects of her life.{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=26}}
Omori shared a draft of the film with composer [[Makoto Yoshimori (composer)|Makoto Yoshimori]] so that he could write music to match the tempo.  However, there was some disagreement over the ending theme, which Omori and Yoshimori discussed at length over email.  Although neither would compromise on key points, the issue was eventually settled and the ending theme was finalized.{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=26}}
Hotaru's voice actor in the anime film, Ayane Sakura, was a fan of Midorikawa and owned the original manga.  In an interview, she mentioned that she was thrilled to get an audition and ultimately the role, and also admitted that she shed tears while recording.  Kōki Uchiyama, who played Gin, read the manga for the audition, and confessed that he was concerned at first about how to portray his character, though his work made him feel good.  The film was initially pre-scored, where the voice acting was recorded prior to the creation of the animation, but later re-recorded for the final version.{{r|Official_Dubbing}}  According to Omori, this allowed the animation to emphasize natural pauses in the dialogue and let the cast set the rhythm and tempo.{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=25}}
==Media==
===Manga===
The manga was first published in the {{nowrap|July 2002}} issue of [[Hakusensha]]'s ''[[LaLa DX]]'' in Japan.  It was first reprinted on {{nowrap|July 10, 2003}}, in the ''tankōbon'' entitled ''Hotarubi no Mori e'',{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=191}} which included four previously published romantic [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot stories]] by Yuki Midorikawa. In addition to the titular short story, the book included "Hanauta Nagaruru" (April 2003), "Kurukuru Ochiba" (November 2002), and "Hibi Fukaku" (January 2003).{{r|Manga-News_21Feb2011}} As part of the 2003 ''tankōbon'' short story collection, each of the four one-shot stories were set in a different season: "Hanauta Nagaruru" in spring, "Hotarubi no Mori e" in summer, "Kurukuru Ochiba" in fall, and "Hibi Fukaku" in winter. Within the ''tankōbon'', the stories were arranged in order from spring to winter, although they were originally published in a different order.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=65}} As of {{nowrap|May 15, 2012}}, the ''tankōbon'' was on its 19th&nbsp;printing.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=191}}
On {{nowrap|September 5, 2011}}, 12&nbsp;days prior to the anime movie's premiere in Japan, a new story related to ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was published as part of a keepsake edition of the original manga, {{Nihongo|''Aizoban Hotarubi no Mori e''|愛蔵版　蛍火の杜へ|}}.  The 12-page story, titled {{Nihongo|"Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsuhen"|蛍火の杜へ 特別編|}}, is one of four short stories included in the keepsake edition, which also includes the original "Hotarubi no Mori e" and two other older works by Midorikawa: {{Nihongo|"Taion no Kakera"|体温のかけら|}} (2003) and {{Nihongo|"Hoshi mo Mienai"|星も見えない|}} (2005).{{r|ANN_news_5Sep2011}}
{{Graphic novel list/header
| OneLanguage    = yes
| WithTitle      = yes
| Width          = 100%
| LineColor      = FCC
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| Volume          =
| RelDate         = July 10, 2003
| ISBN            = 978-4-592-17890-3
| ChapterListCol1 =
* Story 1: {{Nihongo|"Hanauta Nagaruru"|花唄流るる||lit. "Overhearing a Flower Song}}
* Story 2: {{Nihongo|"Hotarubi no Mori e"|蛍火の杜へ|}}
| ChapterListCol2 =
* Story 3: {{Nihongo|"Kurukuru Ochiba"|くるくる落ち葉||lit. "The Falling of Autumn Leaves'}}
* Story 4: {{Nihongo|"Hibi Fukaku"|ひび、深く||lit. "Deepening the Scar"}}
| Summary         =
| LineColor       = FCC
| OriginalTitle   = 蛍火の杜へ
| TranslitTitle   = Hotarubi no Mori e
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| Volume          =
| RelDate         = September 5, 2011
| ISBN            = 978-4-592-19840-6
| ChapterListCol1 =
* Story 1: {{Nihongo|''Hotarubi no Mori e''|蛍火の杜へ|}}
* Story 2: {{Nihongo|''Taion no Kakera''|体温のかけら|}}
| ChapterListCol2 =
* Story 3: {{Nihongo|''Hoshi mo Mienai''|星も見えない|}}
* Story 4: {{Nihongo|''Hotarubi no Mori e Tokubetsuhen''|蛍火の杜へ 特別編|}}
| Summary         =
| LineColor       = FCC
| OriginalTitle   = 愛蔵版　蛍火の杜へ
| TranslitTitle   = Aizoban Hotarubi no Mori e
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
===Anime===
The anime film, ''Hotarubi no Mori e'', is categorized as a [[Drama film|drama]]/[[Romance film|romance]], with a running time of 44&nbsp;minutes. In March 2011, the anime version was to be put on display at the Anime Contents Expo in [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba, Japan]], along with new work on ''Natsume's Book of Friends'',{{r|ANN_news_21Feb2011}} but the event was canceled following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.{{r|ANN_news_17Mar2011}}  The opening date for the film was announced on {{nowrap|June 4}} on the film's official website.{{r|ANN_news_14Jun2011}}  On {{nowrap|June 18}}, special pre-order tickets were sold along with the limited offer of a free poster.{{r|ANN_news_14Jun2011}}  Around a week later, four television commercials focused on the anime's main characters were [[Streaming media|streamed]] from the film's official website.{{r|ANN_news_24Jun2011}}  Sixteen days before the official release, a 96-second trailer was posted on Cinema Today, a Japanese movie website.{{r|ANN_news_1Sep2011}}
The film opened in Japan on {{nowrap|September 17, 2011}}, playing at Theater Umeda in [[Osaka]] and [[Ikebukuro]]'s Cine Libre in [[Tokyo]].{{r|ANN_news_14Jun2011}}  The European premiere of ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was on October&nbsp;8,&nbsp;2011, at the [[Scotland Loves Animation]] festival in [[Glasgow]], followed by interviews and a Q/A session with the animation director and the producer.{{r|Official_JuryPrize|ANN_news_6Oct2011|ANN_news_16Jan2012}}  It was screened again at the Scotland Loves Animation festival in [[Edinburgh]] on October&nbsp;14, along with two other short films produced by Brain's Base studio.{{r|ANN_news_13Oct2011}}  It was also a late addition to the 2011 [[Leeds International Film Festival]] and shown as a free presentation on {{nowrap|November 18}} in [[Leeds Town Hall]].{{r|ANN_news_16Nov2011|LIFF}}  ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was one of 60&nbsp;titles screened at the first Anime Contents Expo held at [[Makuhari Messe]] in Chiba in late {{nowrap|March 2012}}.{{r|ANN_news_27Dec2011}}  It was also shown on {{nowrap|June 30, 2012}}, at the [[Anime Expo]] convention at the [[Los Angeles Convention Center]].{{r|ANN_news_21Jun2012}}
Limited edition copies of the [[Blu-ray Disc]] and DVD were released in Japan on {{nowrap|February 22, 2012}}.  The limited edition sets included card set illustrations, stickers, a 40-page booklet, a strap with an attached mask (like Gin's), and other limited time specials.  The DVD was also released at the same time without these extras.{{r|Official_Goods}}
====Music====
{{Infobox album
| name         = Hotarubi no Mori e Original Soundtrack Kisetsu no Matataki
| type         = soundtrack
| artist       = [[Makoto Yoshimori]]
| cover        =
| alt          =
| caption      =
| released     = {{Start date|2011|8|24}}
| recorded     =
| venue        =
| studio       =
| genre        =
| length       = 41:14
| language     =
| label        = [[Aniplex]]
| director     =
| producer     = Makoto Yoshimori
| compiler     =
| chronology   = [[Makoto Yoshimori]] albums
| prev_title   = [[Natsume's Book of Friends#Anime|Natsume's Book of Friends]] Season 3 Soundtrack
| prev_year    = 2011
| year         = 2011
| next_title   = [[Natsume's Book of Friends#Anime|Natsume's Book of Friends]] Season 4 Soundtrack
| next_year    = 2012
}}
{{Track listing
| headline     = "Hotarubi no Mori e Original Soundtrack Kisetsu no Matataki" track listing
| extra_column = Artist
| all_writing  = [[Makoto Yoshimori]]
| title1       = Natsu o Miteita ({{lang|ja|夏を見ていた}})
| extra1       = Yoshimori, [[Sizzle Ohtaka]]
| length1      = 5:28
| title2       = Komorebi no Komichi ({{lang|ja|木漏れ日の小道}})
| extra2       = Yoshimori
| length2      = 2:58
| title3       = Ojii-chan no Tenohira ({{lang|ja|おじいちゃんの手のひら}})
| extra3       = Yoshimori
| length3      = 3:05
| title4       = Aru Hi, Mori no Naka ({{lang|ja|ある日、森の中}})
| extra4       = Yoshimori
| length4      = 2:47
| title5       = Natsu to Machiawasete ({{lang|ja|夏と待ち合わせて}})
| extra5       = Yoshimori
| length5      = 3:44
| title6       = Chokoreito ({{lang|ja|ちょこれいと}}), ''Chocolate''
| extra6       = Yoshimori
| length6      = 1:52
| title7       = Yurayura to Hirahira to ({{lang|ja|ゆらゆらとひらひらと}})
| extra7       = Yoshimori
| length7      = 4:02
| title8       = Aki mo Fuyu mo Haru mo ({{lang|ja|秋も冬も春も}})
| extra8       = Yoshimori
| length8      = 4:26
| title9       = Tsuki no Ito Akaki ni ({{lang|ja|月のいとあかきに}})
| extra9       = Yoshimori
| length9      = 3:34
| title10      = Kanakana Shigure ({{lang|ja|かなかなしぐれ}})
| extra10      = Yoshimori
| length10     = 3:48
| title11      = Yamagami no Mori e ({{lang|ja|山神の森へ}})
| extra11      = Yoshimori
| length11     = 3:31
| title12      = Shuiro no Inori ({{lang|ja|朱色の祈り}})
| extra12      = Yoshimori
| length12     = 1:54
| total_length = 41:14
}}
==Reception==
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin: .5em 0 0 .5em;"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Result
|-
| rowspan=2|2011
| [[Scotland Loves Animation]]
| Jury Prize
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Mainichi Film Award]]
| Animation Film Award
| {{won}}
|-
|}
The keepsake edition manga, ''Aizoban Hotarubi no Mori e'' by Midorikawa, ranked No.&nbsp;13 on Japan's [[Oricon]] comic sales chart during {{nowrap|September 5–11, 2011}}, with 40,641&nbsp;copies sold during its first week.{{r|ANN_news_14Sep2011}}
In Japan, the anime was considered a hit, attracting many fans at each screening in Tokyo for several months.{{r|UK_Anime_Review}}  Following its European premiere at the Scotland Loves Animation festival in Glasgow, ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was awarded the Jury Award.{{r|ANN_news_16Nov2011|Official_JuryPrize}}  In {{nowrap|January 2012}}, it won the Animation Film Award at the 66th&nbsp;Annual [[Mainichi Film Award]]s and received at the awards ceremony held on {{nowrap|February 13, 2012}}, in [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]], Japan.{{r|Mainichi66|ANN_news_17Jan2012}} The limited edition Blu-ray Disc also ranked No.&nbsp;13 on Oricon's weekly BD sales chart between {{nowrap|February 20–26, 2012}}, with 7,171&nbsp;copies sold in the five days following its release.{{r|ANN_news_28Feb2012}}
The anime film of ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' was well received by its reviewers,{{r|THEM_Review}}{{r|UK_Anime_Review}} and likened to the works of [[Hayao Miyazaki]] of [[Studio Ghibli]]{{r|THEM_Review}} and [[Makoto Shinkai]].{{r|UK_Anime_Review}} UK Anime Network's Andy Hanley, who attended a screening at the Scotland Loves Animation festival, said it is "beautiful in its simplicity", though noting that the climax seemed a bit rushed and sudden, leaving the audience to struggle with their emotions.{{r|UK_Anime_Review}}
{{Quote box
|quote = This is a ten-year tale of love, and the weight of the story is on loss. However, what is left at the end is renewal.
|source = Director Takahiro Omori, September 2011{{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011|p=26}}
|align = left
|width = 25em
}}
Nicole MacLean of [[THEM Anime Reviews|T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews]] described it as a "vignette of bittersweet nostalgia", praising the anime for being a "gorgeously detailed piece with beautiful animation."  Browne also wrote favorably of the story's progression, noting that its dark undertones grew heavier as the main character matured, and that the consistent characterization of Hotaru from childhood to her early teens was impressive, especially given the film's length.  Browne's criticisms were limited to noting the film's short length, a clash between the cartoonish depictions of the forest spirits and the rest of the movie, and an issue with one element of plot development near the end of the film.  She did note that sensitive viewers may interpret some aspects of the story as inappropriate, such as the initial age difference between the main characters and the way Gin punishes Hotaru as a child when she tries to touch him.  In the case of the former, Browne noted that their romance developed only when Hotaru began to approach Gin's physical age, and with the latter, she noted that no harm was intended.  In both cases, she also mentioned that cultural differences must be considered.{{r|THEM_Review}}
Both Yokoyama and Satou noted the "Japanese-ness" of the anime during the panel discussion following the main showing at the Scotland Loves Animation festival.  Yokoyama had originally been concerned that foreign audiences would not fully understand and appreciate the work, but the reaction of the audience at the Glasgow showing alleviated his concerns.  According to Yokoyama and Satou, elements of the story that exhibited strong elements of Japanese culture included the watermelon eating scene, the part where Gin hits young Hotaru over the head with a stick, and the scene where young Hotaru gets scared at night when she sees the face of a ''yōkai'' in the patterns of the wood panels on the ceiling.{{r|Official_JuryPrize}}
Midorikawa attributed the success of ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' to the quality of the story, noting even those readers of the original manga who were critical of her artwork were drawn to read the story from start to finish.  She speculated that hiding Gin's face behind a mask had helped mitigate some of the artistic issues for which her earlier work had been criticized. The intense pressure experienced by Midorikawa early in her manga writing career was relieved as a result of the positive feedback she received upon her success with ''Hotarubi no Mori e''.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003|p=69}}  In 2011, she expressed excitement for the new anime film and having the manga reprinted in a new short story collection, remarking that her attempts to write about her feelings and recent experiences in relation to ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' brought tears to her eyes.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|p=19}}  She described the story as a "precious work" that helped her build social connections.{{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011|p=171}}
==References==
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{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="Hotarubi_no_Mori_e_(anime)">{{cite AV media | title = Hotarubi no Mori e | type = DVD | language = ja, en | year = 2011 | publisher = Aniplex | asin = B0092EXBP6}}</ref>
<!--<ref name=OST>{{cite AV media | script-title=ja:蛍火の社へ オリジナル・サウンドトラック 季節の瞬き |trans-title=''Hotarubi no Mori e'' Original Soundtrack Kisetsu no Matataki | type = CD | language = ja | year = 2011 | publisher = Sony Music Japan | asin = B005470QAS}}</ref>-->
<!--
<ref name="Official_Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/music/index.html |script-title=ja:音楽 |trans-title=Music |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920012625/http://www.hotarubi.info/music/index.html |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
-->
<ref name="Official_Staff">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/staff/index.html |script-title=ja:スタッフ·キャスト |trans-title=Staff & cast |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426031251/http://www.hotarubi.info/staff/index.html |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Official_Goods">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/goods/index.html |script-title=ja:商品情報 |trans-title=Goods |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305072928/http://www.hotarubi.info/goods/index.html |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Official_JuryPrize">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/special/report02.html |script-title=ja:スペシャル |trans-title=Special - "Jury Prize" |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921022058/http://www.hotarubi.info/special/report02.html |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Official_Dubbing">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/special/report01.html |script-title=ja:スペシャル |trans-title=Special - "Dubbing Report" |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921022051/http://www.hotarubi.info/special/report01.html |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Official_Mainichi_Award">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotarubi.info/special/messege02.html |script-title=ja:スペシャル |trans-title=Special - "Mainichi Film Award" |website=hotarubi.info |language=ja |publisher=Aniplex |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921011319/http://www.hotarubi.info/special/messege02.html |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--Needing translation for inclusion
<ref name="Official_News">{{cite web | url = http://www.hotarubi.info/news/index.html | script-title=ja:最新情報 |trans-title=News | website = hotarubi.info | language = ja | publisher = Aniplex | access-date = August 28, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120626134632/http://www.hotarubi.info/news/index.html | archive-date = June 26, 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref>
<ref name="Official_About">{{cite web | url = http://www.hotarubi.info/about/index.html | script-title=ja:作品紹介 |trans-title=About | website = hotarubi.info | language = ja | publisher = Aniplex | access-date = August 28, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121227113521/http://www.hotarubi.info/about/index.html | archive-date = December 27, 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref>
-->
<ref name="ANN_news_21Feb2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-02-21/yuki-midorikawa-hotarubi-no-mori-e-manga-gets-anime-film |title=Yuki Midorikawa's Hotarubi no Mori e Manga Gets Anime Film |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=February 21, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106233208/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-02-21/yuki-midorikawa-hotarubi-no-mori-e-manga-gets-anime-film |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_17Mar2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-17/anime-contents-expo-2011-cancelled/ |title=Anime Contents Expo 2011 Cancelled (Updated) |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910101934/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-17/anime-contents-expo-2011-cancelled/ |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_14Jun2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-14/hotarubi-no-mori-e-slated-to-open-on-september-17 |title=Hotarubi no Mori e Slated to Open on September 17 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509183317/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-14/hotarubi-no-mori-e-slated-to-open-on-september-17 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_24Jun2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-24/hotarubi-no-mori-e-film-tv-ads-streamed |title=Hotarubi no Mori e Film's TV Ads Streamed |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510013346/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-24/hotarubi-no-mori-e-film-tv-ads-streamed |archive-date=May 10, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_1Sep2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-09-01/hotarubi-no-mori-e-anime-film-trailer-streamed |title=Hotarubi no Mori e Anime Film's Trailer Streamed |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=September 1, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509205242/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-09-01/hotarubi-no-mori-e-anime-film-trailer-streamed |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_5Sep2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-09-05/natsume-midorikawa-draws-new-hotarubi-no-mori-e-story |title=Natsume's Midorikawa Draws New Hotarubi no Mori e Story |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=September 5, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015145336/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-09-05/natsume-midorikawa-draws-new-hotarubi-no-mori-e-story |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_14Sep2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-09-14/japanese-comic-ranking-september-5-11 |title=Japanese Comic Ranking, September 5–11 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=September 14, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818220404/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-09-14/japanese-comic-ranking-september-5-11 |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_6Oct2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-07/scotland-loves-anime-begins-in-glasgow |title=Scotland Loves Anime Begins in Glasgow |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818231225/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-07/scotland-loves-anime-begins-in-glasgow |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_13Oct2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-13/scotland-loves-anime-comes-to-edinburgh-friday-to-sunday |title=Scotland Loves Anime Comes to Edinburgh Friday to Sunday |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003033852/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-13/scotland-loves-anime-comes-to-edinburgh-friday-to-sunday |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_16Nov2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-16/free-children-anime-screening-at-leeds-festival-november-18 |title=Free Children's Anime Screening at Leeds Festival, November 18 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230075834/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-16/free-children-anime-screening-at-leeds-festival-november-18 |archive-date=December 30, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_27Dec2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-27/1st-anime-contents-expo-title-list-announced |title=1st Anime Contents Expo's Title List Announced |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=December 27, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907215008/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-27/1st-anime-contents-expo-title-list-announced |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_16Jan2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-16/scotland-loves-anime-to-return-in-october |title=Scotland Loves Anime To Return in October |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=January 16, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818231443/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-16/scotland-loves-anime-to-return-in-october |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_17Jan2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-17/hotarubi-no-mori-e-663114-win-at-66th-mainichi-film-awards |title=Hotarubi no Mori e, 663114 Win at 66th Mainichi Film Awards |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605173159/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-17/hotarubi-no-mori-e-663114-win-at-66th-mainichi-film-awards |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_28Feb2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-28/japan-animation-blu-ray-disc-ranking/february-13-19 |title=Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking: February 20–26 |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=February 28, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707063633/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-28/japan-animation-blu-ray-disc-ranking/february-13-19 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ANN_news_21Jun2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-21/japan-film-society-to-screen-hotarubi-no-mori-e-film-at-anime-expo |title=Japan Film Society to Screen Hotarubi no Mori e Film at Anime Expo |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728063822/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-21/japan-film-society-to-screen-hotarubi-no-mori-e-film-at-anime-expo |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Manga-News_21Feb2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2011/02/21/Yuki-Midorikawa-%3A-2-Animes |title=Yuki Midorikawa : 2 Animes |publisher=Manga News |language=fr |date=February 21, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106163857/http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2011/02/21/Yuki-Midorikawa-%3A-2-Animes |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Comics_Natalie_5Sept2011">{{cite web|url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/56028 |script-title=ja:緑川ゆき「蛍火の杜へ」愛蔵版に特別編12ページ描き下ろし |trans-title=''Hotarubi no Mori e'' keepsake edition (News) |publisher=[[Comic Natalie]] |language=ja |date=September 5, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116111944/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/56028 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="THEM_Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1389 |title=Hotarubi no Mori e |work=Review |last=Browne |first=N. |publisher=[[THEM Anime Reviews|T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews]] |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812042126/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=1389 |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="UK_Anime_Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-anime.net/anime/In_the_Forest_of_the_Fireflies_Light.html |title=Anime Review: In the Forest of the Fireflies Light |work=Review |last=Hanley |first=A. |publisher=UK Anime Network |date=October 15, 2011 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111181340/http://www.uk-anime.net/anime/In_the_Forest_of_the_Fireflies_Light.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Anime_Planet">{{cite web|url=http://www.anime-planet.com/anime/hotarubi-no-mori-e |title=Hotarubi no Mori e |publisher=Anime Planet |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627041828/http://www.anime-planet.com/anime/hotarubi-no-mori-e |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Mainichi66">{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/cinema/mfa/etc/history/66.html |title=コンクールの歴史 第66回毎日映画コンクール |trans-title=History of the 66th Mainichi Film Competition |publisher=Mainichi News |access-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022210402/http://mainichi.jp/enta/cinema/mfa/etc/history/66.html |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="LIFF">{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsfilm.com/films/forest-fireflies-light/ |title=In the Forest of the Fireflies Light: Leeds International Film Festival |publisher=Leeds International Film Festival |access-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016082009/http://www.leedsfilm.com/films/forest-fireflies-light/ |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
===Literature cited===
{{refbegin}}
* <!-- {{Sfn|Midorikawa|2003}} -->{{cite book | last = Midorikawa | first = Y. | title = Hotarubi no Mori e | script-title=ja:蛍火の杜へ |trans-title=Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light | language = ja | publisher = [[Hana to Yume|Hana to Yume Comics]], [[Hakusensha]] | year = 2003  | isbn = 978-4-592-17890-3 }}
* <!-- {{Sfn|Midorikawa|2011}} -->{{cite book | last = Midorikawa | first = Y. | title = Aizoban Hotarubi no Mori e | script-title=ja:愛蔵版 蛍火の杜へ |trans-title=Favorite Book: Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light | language = ja | publisher = [[Hakusensha]] | year = 2011  | isbn = 978-4-592-19840-6 }}
* <!-- {{Sfn|Omori|2011}} -->{{cite AV media notes | title = Hotarubi no Mori e | script-title=ja:蛍火の杜へ |trans-title=Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light | last1 = Omori | first1 = Takahiro | language = ja | year = 2011 | type = Blu-ray insert booklet | publisher = Brain's Base }}
* <!-- {{Sfn|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011}} -->{{cite journal | title=Hotarubi no Mori e | volume = 5 | date = September 2011 | pages = 21–26 | journal = Pash! Deeep!!! | publisher = Shufu to Seikatsusha | language = ja | ref = {{harvid|Pash! Deeep!!!|2011}}}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.hotarubi.info/ ''Hotarubi no Mori e'' anime official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Anime News Network|manga|3538}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q89913709}}
{{Mainichi Film Award - Animation Film Award}}
{{Brain's Base}}
[[Category:2002 manga]]
[[Category:2011 anime films]]
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2011 manga]]
[[Category:Brain's Base]]
[[Category:Animated films based on manga]]
[[Category:Hakusensha manga]]
[[Category:Hakusensha franchises]]
[[Category:Romance anime and manga]]
[[Category:Shōjo manga]]
[[Category:Supernatural anime and manga]]
[[Category:Manga adapted into films]]
[[Category:Yōkai in anime and manga]]