Giovanni no Shima

Extreme circumstances invokes the true human nature in our hearts. Let that be kindness, bitterness or perhaps any other emotions and the consequences that follows. In just the first few minutes of the films, they managed to show an already clear difference between them. Giovanni no Shima beginning on a clear, bright sky while Hotaru no Haka begins in darkly lit places filled with despair. Though both films does show how there is a brighter side to everything, Giovanni no Shima has a different sweetness that Hotaru no Haka lacks. The sweetness or perhaps bitterness to be able to face ethnic differences. Both films being about war times where siblings walk together for a chance towards a better tomorrow. If not anything more, the two managed to be a heartbreaking tale on the regards of war.  read more 

Both have a pair of siblings that try to survive a catastrophic situation both end in tragedy and are super sad => biggest difference: Tokyo Magnitude 8 takes place in the modern time, is about brother and sister, and has an earthquake as a catastrophe Whereas Giovanni no Shima takes place in Japan around 1945-50 + later years, is about 2 brothers and has war and the later occupation of the soviets as their catastrophic situation.  

Both titles have reference to Kenji Miyazawa's "Milky Way Railroad". 

Films set during WWII Japan. Giovanni's Island tells a more extraordinary story compared to the slice-of-life In This Corner of the World. Similar art style, interspersed with traditional folk/children's songs. 

Similar plot, same era. At the end of World War II, a Japanese family is forced to leave their home due to Soviet occupation. 

Both titles is provided with historical facts about post war Russia and Japan relationships. 

Both movies have the same book as their center story:Night on the Galactic Railroad by Kenji Miyazawa In both movies the main character pair plays the role of Cantarella and Giovanni both have tragic storyline. => biggest difference: Bungaku takes place in th modern world and is about a girl who eats books whereas Giovanni no Shima takes place around 1945-1950 + later years, and is about 2 siblings. Both are highly recommendable  

Very straightforward recommendation. The history of the family in the light of devastating historical events based on the real story. I guess Hadashi no Gen was one of the inspirations for creating Giovanni no Shima. 

The fight of children against hunger and cold is depicted realistically in both movies. While Giovanni no Shima is based on real events and Flanders no Inu is fictional, the hardships and struggles the main characters must face in desperate times are very similar.  

The main characters of both films (young boys) have an immense fascination with trains. After they both happen to receive a toy train set as a present when a close relative comes back after a trip, the two both dreamed of fantastical tales of their adventures on their imaginary train. Needless to say, both male protagonists cherish their gift and their love for trains is an important theme in both these movies. 

The storylines for both films are impacted by the event of the Japanese defeat in the Second World War and involve the Soviet Union's takeover of islands formerly occupied by Japanese citizens. Furthermore, the two films each tell a story of a pair of young lovers longing to reunite with each other after separation.