Reviewers universally praised the anime film for its beauty, simplicity, and tenderness, likening it to the works of Hayao MiyazakiВ of Studio GhibliВ and Makoto Shinkai. 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. Both the keepsake edition manga and the limited edition BD ranked No.В 13 on Japan'sВ OriconВ sales chart shortly after their release. An additional story related to the original manga and anime film, titled Hotarubi no Mori e TokubetsuhenВ (и›ЌзЃ«гЃ®жќњгЃё з‰№е€Ґз·Ё ?), was released in a keepsake edition of the manga 12В days prior to the release of the anime.

The anime was released onВ Blu-ray DiscВ (BD) and DVD in Japan onВ February 22, 2012. It was screened at the Leeds International Film Festival, Anime Contents Expo and Anime ExpoВ convention, and also won the Animation Film Award at the 66th AnnualВ Mainichi Film Awards. The European premiere of Hotarubi no Mori eВ was onВ October 8, 2011В at theВ Scotland Loves AnimationВ festival, where it won the Jury Prize. The film maintained a strong following for months in Japan after its opening onВ September 17, 2011. The film starred Japanese voice actors Ayane SakuraВ and KЕЌki Uchiyama, and its soundtrack included music by Makoto Yoshimori. Hotarubi no Mori eВ is considered a starting point for Midorikawa's best known work, Natsume's Book of Friends.ДЄ 44-minuteВ animeВ film with the same title was produced in 2011 at the anime studio Brain's Base and directed by Takahiro Omori. The inspiration to write the story came suddenly to Midorikawa, who immediately drew theВ manga-a process that went smoothly despite some initial conflicting elements. Hotaru returns every summer to spend time with Gin, and their relationship matures as both struggle with its limitations. Hotaru learns that her friend is supernatural and that touching Gin will cause him to disappear forever. Hotarubi no Mori eВ 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. It was published in the July 2002 issue of LaLa DX in Japan, and in July 2003 it was reprinted in a tankЕЌbon short story collection of the same name, which included four romantic one-shot stories written by Midorikawa. Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light) is a one-batzt shoujo manga written by Yuki Midorikawa.

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