Furusato Japan

Movies about children playing music (or singing) to enter a competition. In both, a good student is friends with a delinquent. In both, their music teacher is hiding a dramatic secret. Furusato Japan is more of a group thing though, since they're a whole chorus. 

The two films feature extended metaphors for two contrasting periods of post-war Japanese history, yet are different in almost every other respect. Furusato Japan deals with Japan in the aftermath of the Second World War, as it struggles to recover from the destruction caused by heavy allied bombing and still remains a 'developing' country. Only a mere forty years afterwards and Japan has been transformed into the second largest economy in the World, with much speculation that in time it may even overtake the United States. The source of this growth is high investment, savage competitive instincts and a lack of awareness of the growing resentment of the surrounding world. Or so it is presented in Twilight of the Cockroaches, or Gokiburi-tachi no Tasogare- a far less attractive portrayal of the Japanese economy or of the national character.  read more 

Both have a very realistical flair about themselves, and rather realistical character designs. Music also an important component in both titles. In 8-gatsu it's rather modern and put more into focus, while in Furusato Japan it is supporting the the piece more from the background, in a subtle methaphor guding the plot.  

Both anime movies presents us the life after the Second World War, but there is a little time difference because in Gen the movie starts right after the atomic bombing while in Furusato Japan after 10 years of the end of WW2! Both movies are showing us how hard it was for the kid's in that period, the education first of all and then the rest, economy etc. So the movies include stealing, fighting etc. In both movies there is some sad moments for losing a friend/parent. The difference in the movies is that in Furusato Japan they also focusing on singing old Japanese folk songs for they loved ones. But the meaning in both movies is the same, and they are very sad but true stories if I may say so! read more