However the distraction with Gin and Hotaru realtionship did help me not be so pissed off with the guys abusing a child. I have to say as well in this short at the beginning, there was a lot of beating and one name calling to a child which I didn't appreciate.

I was gutted for Hotaru like she really did love him for who he is, not what he is. I nearly did have a lump in my throat with the pair of them finally hugging one another and he completely vanished. I was so bummed that Gin touched a human kid and had to disappear because he and Hotaru really loved each other. As Hotaru gets older, the two of them develop feelings for each other. I really thought this short was more interesting like we get to see a little girl being lost in the woods and meet up with a spirit guy who she spent a lot of years with.

The simple story, serene quality & magical vibe helps keep the interest alive while evoking feelings of nostalgia in surprising ways. Overall, To the Forest of Firefly Lights would've sufficed as a short film instead of aiming for feature-length but it still makes fab use of its 45 mins runtime, taking viewers through plethora of emotions. The story unfolds at a breezy pace, while the interaction between the two characters plus their growing intimacy for each other is sensibly handled & finely portrayed. Directed by Takahiro Omori, the film addresses first love, memories & passage of time in an apt manner, and is as exquisitely animated as it is beautifully told.

Short, sweet & sentimental, To the Forest of Firefly Lights (Hotarubi no Mori e) is a simple yet moving coming-of-age story following a young child who is rescued by a spirit after she gets lost in an enchanted forest, and covers her decade-long friendship with the same entity despite the limitations of their interactions.

Hotarubi no mori e movie trailer