Yesterday was the start of a new week, and even though it's just the beginning, I'm already exhausted—both physically and mentally. I woke up really late yesterday morning, and after doing my morning routine, I decided to watch an anime movie I downloaded last Friday. I wasn't able to watch it immediately because I got really busy with our teaching demo during the weekends. Thankfully, yesterday I had free time (weehhh), so I watched it. I don't have much idea what it is all about—except that it is a historical anime, which I expect would either be engaging or boring.
It's been years since I started watching anime, so I thought I pretty much knew most of the good anime out there, but perhaps I'm just too presumptuous. There's definitely still a lot of hidden anime gems—ones that deserve more attention than what they've received. Those gems are just waiting to be discovered, and the movie that I've watched is totally one of them. So now join me as we take a whistledown visit on the life of a boy who lived in the era where tragedies happened and goodbyes are often spoken in Giovanni's Island.
About the Anime
Giovanni's Island (Giovanni no Shima) is a historical anime that aired on February 22, 2014. This movie was animated by Production I.G and was produced by Warner Bros. Japan. This is an original movie, but there are some references from Kenji Miyazawa's novel: Night on the Galactic Railroad. This one-hour and forty-two-minute movie is full of drama, so be prepared with some tissues, just in case.
On August 15th, they told us we had lost the war. At that time, we did not really understand. Then one day, everything changed. Many soldiers, wearing uniforms we had never seen before, arrived on the island. That was the day I met Tanya.
So the story started at the end of World War 2. The people in Shikotan thought that they'd be just alright after the war ended, but one day, a big ship came into their shore, and upon seeing the Russians who emerged from the ship, the people of Shikotan immediately felt fear. Many decided to leave the island, but unfortunately some didn't succeed. Their lives change when the Russians come, and some of these lives are of Junpei and Kanta.
However, as months passed by, they learned to cope with their new situation. Since they were forced to move out from their house because it will be used to accommodate the families of the Russian soldiers, they lived in the small stable next to their old house. Despite their difficult situation, their hope and happiness didn't vanish at all. Their imagination became the key to unlock a new world within them, a world where the railroad to other dimensions exists—the Galactic Railroad. This became their escape from their dire reality, but they aren't the only ones who are in a tough situation because of the aftermath of the war.
Tanya, a Russian girl, soon became friends with them. They later on got invited by her to their old house, where they saw how it was transformed and improved. Experiencing hospitality from Tanya's family, the boys couldn't help but dream of living with them. But good things don't usually last, and they'll soon realize that the aftermath of war is cruel, and no one is exempted from that.
I'm filled with different feelings the moment I finish watching the movie. I don't know if I'm happy or sad about it, but one thing is certain, and that is it is a great movie. The first time I saw it, I did feel some kind of 'graveyard of fireflies' vibes from it, which I brushed off because I thought it will be the kind of historical fiction with a heartwarming story. But I'm somehow correct and wrong with it because it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking (I won't spoil why hehe). It is said to be inspired by a real story of a person who lived in Shikotan, and that's why it's not surprising that the way they portrayed the events that happened in that period was convincing.
The movie made some references to Night on the Galactic Railroad, a novel written by Kenji Miyazawa. This novel was totally foreign to me because I hadn't heard of it before except when it was finally introduced in the movie. The way they incorporate some elements from the book into the lives of the boys amidst the aftermath was brilliant. Especially that scorpion part...even though I don't know the novel's story, that part really pinched my heart. I think those who read the book will really enjoy the movie, especially with its lovely visuals and imagery.
Its art style is simple, yet the character designs were fine and really helpful in distinguishing the characters from each other. Honestly, at first I didn't find the art style that appealing because it's too simple for me; however, when I saw them move, that's where it captivated me. The animation was really fluid, and it was mesmerizing how smoothly they moved. I've seen nicely animated anime, and upon seeing this movie, I can really say it's one of them. The colors that they used varied depending on the mood that a certain scene wanted to emanate.
As for the soundtrack, I don't have any issue with it because it is perfect. The background music and sounds were really on point—the moment I heard the sirens and eerie sound during a bomb attack, I really felt goosebumps because it sounded so real. Also, one of the things that amazed me is how good the voice actors were in voicing the characters. I was really surprised that they used real children in voicing the children characters, and also the foreign VAs did also a good job—especially the part where they sing. Hearing real children sing was definitely heartwarming for you can really feel their innocence and purity through their voices.
Overall, my personal rating for this anime movie is 9/10. It was definitely a great anime if you wanted something that's not like the usual anime now. It's a refreshing experience to watch this one, tho of 'course you can't expect a completely happy ending, but nevertheless it was a satisfying and heartwarming end. It was inspired by real experience, so it wasn't surprising that it ended that way. Anyways, if you're looking for a historical anime with nice storytelling, an engaging plot, good quality animation, and a great soundtrack, then look no more, for Giovanni's Island is definitely the one that you're looking for.
Before I end this review, I gladly share with you its trailer, so—
Have you watched this anime before? Or is this your first time seeing it? Feel free to share your thoughts about this anime in the comments. That's all for now, minna-san! I hope you enjoyed reading my review.
Arigatou and tanoshinde ne~
The pictures that didn't have source were screenshots from the anime while the last picture was edited in Canva.