2012 Movie
Dir. Hiroyuki Okiura · Japan · Japanese
A quirky coming-of-age animated journey of grief, accompanied by cute, ugly yokai creatures
If I must imagine strange creatures to process grief over a parent, I would rather have it be the fluffy Totoro rather than three creepy looking Gollum-esque yokai creatures that lick legs, steal random food items, and overall act like terrible roommates. Still, there’s a certain gremlin-like charm to A Letter to Momo that could captivate animation fans. As these yokai spirit creatures push Momo to explore her new quaint island town, and as Momo eventually befriends them or force them to act better through threats, it’s precisely the sort of chaotic, whimsical adventure that can get a girl to open up, to hope again, and to be open to what life still has to offer. The pacing might deter some viewers, but A Letter to Momo still works as a touching coming-of-age journey marked by loss.
A shy 11-year-old's life takes a strange turn when she discovers three hungry goblins living in the attic of her new house. She misses her old life. She misses her father so very much. Until she makes some new ghoulish friends.
"A beautifully connected film on a spiritual level. Overall, Okiura stays very focused on Momo's emotional journey, which is smart."
— Brian Tallerico
After her father’s death, 11-year-old Momo Miyaura moves with her mother Ikuko to a small island town, where she discovers a message from her father, and three goblin-like creatures invisible to everyone else.
There’s an obvious comparison between A Letter to Momo and several titles to Studio Ghibli with the blend of spirits and reality, but unlike the ethereal colorful fantasy of the famed studio, A Letter to Momo has muted colors, a clearer distinction between real and imaginary, and creepy character designs that are just shy of becoming horrific. Reality is more lovely than fantasy here, and it makes so much more sense for a film all about moving past grief and learning to open up again.
Please don’t endanger yourself in a typhoon, though.
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
"The stunning animation, from the energy of its characters' faces and bodies to those entrancing backgrounds securely rank the film alongside other worthy entries in post-Miyazaki anime."
— Allegra Frank