After the unexpected death of her father, 11-year-old Momo Miyaura leaves Tokyo with her mother and moves to an old remote island in Seto Inland Sea. The only memento she has from her father is an unfinished letter with only two words inside: "Dear Momo"—along with her heart's unrest from it.
In the new and unfamiliar small town, Momo reluctantly tries to adjust to the outmoded wooden buildings, silent crop fields, and mysterious isolated shrines. One day, while exploring the attic of her new home, she finds a worn out picture book about youkai. Following this discovery, strange things begin to happen around town, and Momo is greeted by the arrival of three troublesome youkai.
Momo e no Tegami tells the story of a young girl as she struggles to adapt to her bizarre new life and ultimately come to terms with her father's mysterious letter.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
8thSin
"A Letter to Momo" had reportedly taken the director Okiura Hiroyuki 7 years to produce. Allow me to be the first to say, the time and effort spent on perfecting this film have not gone to waste. I was fortunate enough to watch this latest masterpiece at the 2011 TIFF screening. The art/animation in this movie is top-notch. Production I.G. with assistance from P.A. Works, Studio Pierrot, and CG by Dandelion resulted in stunning visual quality down to the tiniest details. What I especially liked, was the amount of attention paid to body language and gestures. There's so much information to be gleaned from visuals alone,and that's what I find most interesting about Japanese films. There was also this action sequence near the end that just blew me away. I don't want to spoil, but I have not seen such breathtaking hand-drawn animation since watching "Tonari no Totoro" in the late '80s.
The story begins with the protagonist, Momo, moving to a small fictional island named Shiojima with her mother. Their new house appears to be haunted, and she feels absolutely miserable about moving out of Tokyo. Being a city girl that she is, Momo struggles to adjust to the country life. Instead of playing with the local kids, she eventually befriends three Youkai in her house - Iwa, Kawa, and Mame. Momo begins to appreciate the life on the island, and come to realize the meaning of his late father's unfinished letter to her.
The character development in this movie is absolutely phenomenal. It begins with a light comedy, but through numerous adventures and mishaps on the island, we slowly learn about her past. The transition from comedy to drama is seamless, and it really makes you to care about the protagonist by the end... This film has what I call magic, something Ghibli films of late desperately lack. Although the local kids were severely underused in this movie, I think the three Youkai were the true supporting cast. Their chemistry with the protagonist was excellent, and the humor just comes naturally. Mame's character was especially funny in a quirky way. One can easily tell how much thought and planning has been put into this film just by watching the impeccable timing at which Mame's character was used as comedic relief every single time.
Every piece of music appears to be fully orchestrated, especially the violins stood out to build tension in action scenes. Momo's voice acting by child actress and seiyuu Miyama Karen was a perfect fit, as well as the three Youkai.
"A Letter to Momo" is almost like a homage to Studio Ghibli's kids movies - "My Neighbor Totoro", "Spirited Away", and "Ponyo". It sticks to the tried and tested formula of supernatural spirits that only interacts with kids, and somewhat predictable plot development. However, the producers have managed to merge various elements from all those films into an exciting original story. "A Letter to Momo" is a magical crowd- pleaser with great pacing and a heartwarming story. It's a solid movie that anime and movie fans should not miss.
Possibly the best all-ages anime movie since "Spirited Away" (2001).
Dandey
A letter to Momo has comfortably been sitting in my 'plan to watch' list for quite a few years now. I'm disappointed that i've left this little masterpiece alone for such a long time, however, glad it has since migrated to my completed list. In my eyes, this film could truly hold it's own against some of the most recognized Ghibli films. This film, in short, is about a young protagonist named Momo who moves towns with her mother after the death of her father. It's not long until she discovers that the new house she has moved into includes three Youkai that for somereason are only visible to her. Learning that these three characters aren't leaving any time soon, she befriends them, making life in this new town bearable.
Although not entirely necessary, the character development for the protagonist was extremely refreshing. The detailed depth that Momo received not only helped fans and viewers relate/understand her greater, it played a big part in how the supporting characters in relation to Momo were perceived.
The artwork in this film was outstanding. It doesn't take long at all to realize the effort and time that went into creating such a visually appealing film. A letter to Momo could have been a silent film and it still would have succeeded due to the amount of body language and emotional features that was included. You are able to tell exactly what each character are thinking at all times, simply from looking at them.
There really isn't a lot to say about the sound aspect of this film. The sountrack was wonderful and enhanced the overall feel of the film in every scene. A lot of the music was instrumental and every piece was performed well. Every main and supporting voice actors suited their roles perfectly.
A letter to Momo is simple, but done exceptionally well. It's truly a shame that its popularity is so low because it is without a doubt one of the most brilliant anime films of the decade. Although having never watched this, it had such a nostalgic feeling throughout the entire movie. I would recommend all ages to give it a try. 9/10
gwern
An attempt at an all-ages family film dealing with childhood traumas (in this case, the loss of a parent) with fantasy/supernatural entities as acoping mechanism; very Ghibliesque, particularly similar to _My Neighbor Totoro_ in using the device of a move to the remote countryside (an island) to live in an old-fashioned building and encountering folkoric creatures. Sounds promising, yet I was disappointed. The basic trouble with _Momo_ is that it executes well on *none* of these aspects. Momo herself is an ultra-bland character who cannot stand any comparison with Ghibli heroines like Sen or Shizuku. The island setting is woefully underused throughout the movie (except forthe pig-chasing scene). The architecture and backgrounds are accurate but again, bland. The music is unmemorable and cannot be commented on. The trio of supernatural characters are more irritating than they are ever interesting or endearing and I wished that almost all of their scenes didn't exist as the humor is nonexistent. The animation is adequate but again bland, except for whoever worked on the pig-chasing scene and the pulsating spirits at the shrine (who stand out as the most visually interesting aspect of the movie, and give the later bridge scene its interest). And the plot...
The plot has a truly outrageous reliance on cliches - from the guilt of Momo telling her father to leave right before his accidental death to her mother conveniently developing Anime Coughing Sickness (yes, really! they really had the chutzpah to use that cliche!) to endlessly predictable scenes (serious question: in the mirror-breaking scene, is there anyone who from the first cut didn't know that that mirror was going to break?) to scenes so illogical that the movie can't even depict the events (why on earth would a doctor agree to cross the bridge at the end in the middle of a typhoon...? don't ask _Momo_, it just cuts straight from getting across to the happily-ever-after). It compounds these scenes with a lack of imagination (no use of the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" is just criminal) and in the ending where it commits the greatest of sins for this kind of movie by forcing a heavy-handed conclusion and collapsing the border of reality/imagination. It has the bad taste of, like pornography, insisting on showing you everything. I could have maybe tolerated all the rest of it and considered it mediocre but still watchable far down the list after the Ghibli movies, _Wolf Children_, etc, but that choice of ending is a final kick in the nuts and insult to everyone who watches it.
naegero
So this is my first review on an anime movie. I really enjoyed this movie. It has a brilliant story and I actually thought it was a Studio Ghibli movie. The movie basically had everything: a great stroy, great characters and a drawing style (?!) I really enjoyed. There was just one thing that I kinda disliked about the movie and that was Momo's character in the beginning. Otherwise everything was pretty perfect. A total 9 for me, I'd recommend Momo e no Tegami to everyone who likes Studio Ghibli movies and movies that have a really nice and touching storyline without being too deep. A movie thatI would rewatch!
cici_LPS
This film has all the pomp of Ghibli but none of the substance. My biggest complaint personally was the three goblins. They were pretty much your run-of-the-mill Disney-style comic-relief caricatures, and I honestly just found them annoying to no end. Even aside from that they were kind of just bland and unfunny. There's also the climax. It's rather shoe-horned in, and comes mostly out of nowhere. It also is essentially just one massive plot-hole. Without giving to much away, it's immediately immediately clear to anyone with half brain cell that the plan the characters are attempting, has a huge flaw. I was interested to see how theywould overcome this flaw, and well basically they just sweep it under the rug. Half way through the climax, the screen fades to black, and the film cuts to the next day, and everything is resolved somehow.
Other than than that, the film is honestly just kind of bland and unremarkable. The beginning and the end and a few moments here and there feel a little heartfelt, but even they are pretty cliche and unmoving. The shinto stuff was also kind of cool, but you can find that anywhere. I probably could have gotten over my first two complaints if there was really anything to like about the film, but there isn't. It's just a mediocre film, with a few flaws that gently push it down into "bad" territory.
Honestly, you're better off just rewatching your favorite Ghibli film.
TammyS29
Story 6/10: The story was okay. It dragged in bits and sometimes felt rushed, especially at the scene were Momo is trying to save her mom. Did they explain how the Dad die? I think I missed that part. A few tear-jerking moments and funny bits. Art 7/10: The animation was nice. It looked realistic and the facial movements were so life like. Sound 6/10: I liked the ending theme. Character 6/10: Momo was THE blandest character every. I know she was coming to terms with her Dad's death, but she had no likable qualities, maybe up until the end. She just went along her day withmostly a monotonous posture. Her development happened at the very end when she finally found her peace. Not much is known about the other characters. I did like the three Goblins, especially the forgetful on. He was very cute. They didn't really dwell on their backgrounds and how they become to be. Just that they were guardians to come to protect the loved ones of those who had died.
Enjoyment 4/10: I didn't really like it as much. But it did come with a nice underlying message about over coming heartbreak and finding forgiveness.
Overall 6/10: It's a good time waster if you want background noise. Some funny moments, some sad moments and some sweet ones. I guess it's a nice film to watch with the family, just wasn't up to my speed.
BeebopJazzAttack
It is very hard to deal with the death of a loved one. It's even harder to watch a child loose a parent at such a young age and the spouse, even though they must move on. Knows now that the person they married, they dedicated their love to is gone. This painful reminder sets up our story for the young Momo and her mother. Leaving Tokyo after the sudden death of her father, Momo and mom move out to a big island where the grandparents live. Now they must adjust to a new life, as Momo has difficulties with this, her mother fits inpretty quick, looking for job and even meeting an old friend. But it's harder for Momo. Losing her father so suddenly and him leaving a mysterious letter that only reads: "Dear Momo" she is trying to find her place in this new home. But things suddenly change drastically when she believes her new home is haunted. After hearing strange noises, food mysteriously disappearing and voices coming from the attic. Momo ventures up there to find three goblins have made it their home. There names are Mama, Iwa and Kawa and they have no intentions of leaving.
Much like the environmental, action packed films of studio Ghibli, this film is more family based and has a slice of life feeling to it. From the opening credits of the ship sailing a beautiful crested blue sea to large fielded mountains surrounded by the ocean I knew I was in love right away. For I love Japanese culture and their agricultural ways of living. I am just a snobby American, living in my four sided box which I leave in my box on wheels to my job and then come home and eat TV dinners. I would love to live on an island, grow my own fruits and vegetables, walk every where and swim in the ocean. So whenever I watch anime that deals with this kind of setting, it puts me in a nostalgic mood to just get up and leave. But of course there are other reasons to like A LETTER TO MOMO. Being an anime of course it has spiritual elements to it and the goblins come into play here. I liked them a lot and their character designs, especially Mame who looks like a naked green gremlin. They have all their own unique characteristics and its fun to watch them interact with Momo, as she gradually gets more use to them. Even when she teaches them things like not to steal, they pay her back with teaching her how to overcome fears and open up and ultimately that develops Momo into a fully fleshed out character. As she learns more about the goblins, we learn more about Momo and even her last days with her father.
I've always liked Production I.G. and they do a good job with the characters here. Making the humans look very realistic (no big boobs here) and the goblins all stand out as their own. The film was written and directed by Hiroyuki Okiura who does a great job with telling his story and pacing it. Hardly dwendling, except for maybe the beginning of act 3 where things kind of slow down and become slightly tedious. But he, like a lot of Japanese filmmakers can make the simplest things special. Where else would you find people talking about a clock or being chased by wild boars entertaining in the same aspects. Because the dialog is good and the story is fun. It's one of the kidder anime out there, but A LETTER TO MOMO is a beautiful little film and might even be a hidden gem. If you love anime see it for sure.
Noitora33
A Letter to Momo is one of the most stand-alone anime movies and yet it was a total letdown for me. The anime was very lengthy. The story was filled with unnecessary details. The three demons were extremely ugly. But that is not even the point. The point is that they were extremely annoying. The animation was average. I have seen way better way many times. The playing was so slow the 2-hour duration was very hard to pass, at least the first 1.5 hours. I definitely got some 'Spirited Away' vibes from the film. But in quality, it wasn't even close. I won't recommend this anime.
floecity
ももへのてがみ is follows a girl who moves to the seaside with her mother after the death of her father. Shortly after her arrival, she meets 3 strange gods that were sent as guardians to watch over her & her mother. [STORY]: 7 It's an lively story with an interesting take on gods & spirits. My problem with this story is that the comedic take on it is a little TOO comedic. There are ways to make a story lighthearted & funny without making is outrageous & I just think it was a little too much. I'll explain more in the characters section. The story is WAY too predictable & it's alittle annoying how I was able to predict everything.
It's cliche & overall, the story just does TOO much in a bad way in many areas.
[ART]: 8
I quite enjoyed the art. It's not fantastic, but the characters were well drawn & very animated--as in very alive with their movement.
Could've done better with the scenery though. It wasn't bad, but it was just eh.
[SOUND]: 9
I don't know what else to say except for the fact that I liked it.
It fits.
That's all I have to say about that lol
[CHARACTERS]: 6
Momo:
Typical annoying brat.
The only thing I enjoyed was her realistic reactions to the guardians sent to look after her. She had good character development, I guess.
At least she didn't just stay the same.
Side-characters:
Could've done more with them. They lacked purpose. Most of the time I was wondering "Why are you even here?"
They SORT OF were useful in developing the family, but eh. Not really.
Guardians:
I hate them. My GOOOOSH, do I hate them.
I was sort of fond of the little guy, but the other 2 just annoyed me.
[ENJOYMENT]: 7
It wasn't BAD, but it wasn't excellent. It was just 'good'.
As I've said multiple times before, it could've done better.
[OVERALL]: 7
I don't think you'll hate it if you watched it, but don't jump into this expecting to love it or be super fond of it after you're done.
I'm really picky with how I like my stories & characters, so I don't think most people will dislike a lot of the characters as much as I did lol
KD7BWB
Come Lion Tamers! I have been lucky enough to find one more anime I like! "A Letter to Momo" - 2011, 2-Hrs. This is a 2-hour movie of very high quality. For those of you who enjoy anime movies, you're in for a treat! But first I want to talk about the production as a whole, and mention the production company. I'm amazed how many anime I've watched from this talented company. 'Production I.G.' has made dozens of high quality stories and has contributed to the production of other peoples' works as well. Just a few of the 297 Movies and Series they've been involved with: Attack on Titan,Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell, Usagi Drop, xxxHOLiC, Blood: The Last Vampire; and many others.
The artwork is very flat, with sometimes a slightly enhanced parallax for a great 2.5d effect, the colors are soft, without being muted. Artwork reminds one of Studio Ghibli artwork. The characters seem a bit strange at first, but once you settle in to the style, it begins to become something very special.
The music is not something that stands out, which in this case, is exactly what the company intended. All the music works just fine, seemingly very simple and understated, but at the end of this story, it is the normalcy that stands out and comes through with the heart and and strong feelings that everything else brings to bear.
Dialog, is very strong. The Japanese is excellent, and the Dub-English is also excellent.
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The primary characters are dealt with deftly with nuance and sensitivity. A mother has lost her husband in a ship-sinking. So she sells her condo in Tokyo, and returns with her young daughter, back to the place of her own birth. To find peace, and maybe some healing of wounds. Her old stomping ground is an island just off the coast. The terrain so rugged that the place has been built as a set of huge terraces, to do farming. Still being done since ancient times.
At first, the move is very 'rocky', because our young daughter was used-to Tokyo, and its hustle and bustle. Things get much worse over time, before they get better. Things are just too quiet, where the only fun thing for the daughter to do, is jump off the newly constructed bridge (to the mainland), with the rest of the kids; into shallow water. Most people are elderly, so the kids are few, and some are kinda out-there, as it were. At least as our young lady Momo sees it.
But at some point after settling into the patterns of a slower way of life, things get positively unusual for Momo. Fantasy beings become common place, only to cause nothing but consternation for Momo, and disbelief for her mother. Everything from 'Guardian Oni' to 'Kodoma' (words I normally don't use, but I have to here, since it's a Japanese Anime, with Japanese References everywhere). By the end of the story, they become not only not dangerous, but most of them become her friends so important, that they assist Momo in saving her mothers' Life.
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This is a story of Life, death, rebirth, and renewal of spirit. Of finding our way, and finding sometimes; simplicity is better than complexity. That faith in ourselves, and in our friends, is more important than what 's watchable on television. And sometimes, the courage to be what we have be, to things that saves loved ones, reassure our friends; and make a statement about how the future should end, is the meaning behind the meaning.
'A Letter for Momo' is at first slow, and seems like it goes no-where for the first 30-minutes. But those of you who have the courage to see what is meant, and the tolerance to see a mini-script for real Life, might see what I see, and truly enjoy an outtake for the future of the Human Race.
I give 'A Letter to Momo' a solid 9.
EvanLoh
Pros: 1. Heartwarming family story, reminded me of Ghibli movies and Wolf Children 2. Great ED theme Cons: 1. Plot may be quite cliche 2. Need time to get used to the art and animation<LONG REVIEW>
A Letter to Momo is a movie I stumbled upon coincidence. I never heard anything about it. After reading some reviews on MAL, I decided to check it out and surprisingly I do like it.
Now if you also haven't heard of this movie before, it's one of your typical family drama movies but mixed with Youkai or spirits in English. Now is this movie worth watching, I'd say yes, but it definitely isn't the best movie out there, or even near that, but it's still a good movie with a satisfying conclusion.
The main thing that stood out the most in this movie is the characters. Each character is enjoyable to follow with. Our main character, Momo, although isn't the most original character out there, is still pretty likable and relatable. The 3 Youkais that follows Momo everywhere are also pretty fun to watch. Their relationship developed throughout the movie. You can see Momo hating these Youkai at first but in the end came to accept them. The whole climax of the movie is also thanks to the help of the Youkai.
The art and animation needs time to get used to because it's pretty different from what we get nowadays. It's very simplistic and if you can get used to it, then there's nothing more to say on this part. It's decent, nothing breathtaking.
Overall, this is a solid family drama movie. It isn't anything breathtaking, but if you are finding a movie similar to Wolf Children and Spirited Away, then be sure to check out this one. You will like it. That's it. Thanks for reading. :)
EvenWeirder
A Letter to Momo is a sweet coming of age story where a child becomes introverted and frozen by grief over the death of her father. She is visited by 3 spirits to overcome this pain, become social again, and move on in her life. This feels like a long lost Studio Ghibli film, as it has a similar to vibe to their chill films like Whisper of the Heart, Only Yesterday, Totoro, etc. The animation is also a similar style to Ghibli in that it has great detail on the facial expressions of the characters and the backgrounds. The story is like a fairy talethat kids could enjoy and get attached to, even if the subject matter can be emotional at times.
You do care for the main character as everyone around her attempts to help her recover. She is also adjusting socially to a new environment that all audiences can connect to.
I'm only docking points because it is still a standard story that has been told many times both in anime and live action. Also, if you are not into films geared towards general audiences and only like mature shows, you can skip this one as well.
I'm glad I checked it out, and its merits a watch if you are a fan of these types of Ghibli-esque dramas.
Neil1998
Think My Neighbor Totoro meets When Marnie Was There but just not as captivating as the aforementioned films and a bit too by the book for its own good. There are several elements about A Letter to Momo that feels clichéd and familiar which isn't necessarily a bad thing but the problem is that the film doesn't do anything to add to these particular tropes that hasn't already been done before. That being said I can't really find anything about it that I really dislike either though the pacing can be really slow especially at the start. Though I have to be honest, I didn'tcare about the three Yōkai who are essentially the Totoro-esque mascot characters. I did not find them all that funny or endearing whatsoever. In fact, after a while they just got really annoying to watch. In the end, A Letter to Momo feels like a desparate Ghibli wannabe that does kind of work though without ever reaching the stellar heights of many of it's precursors.
Sidewinder51
Rate a 10 English Dubbed Wonders on earth are almost infinite, The most common wonder of them all is the afterlife. Most deaths always end on a sad note and have long or short term negative effects. This was a beautiful sentiment that it doesn't have to be that way. I suggest having some tissues handy. Story I can't think of any thing i did not like from start to finish. All actions made sence and the best part they were not predicable. Not many movies can capture emotions from me. Art Matched the story. Transitions were smooth.Sound -nothing negative. Found the voice characters to be all good picks.
Character
No matter who the character was given the great background each one had you could not help appreciating them all.
Enjoyment
This Movie will be a favorite of mine for a while. Those who had a recent death i would suggest watching this. Or even those afraid of dying.
Ah-hey-go
A Letter to Momo is a surprisingly quiet and humane movie. You look at the box and its got these three obnoxious monsters in this weird fun pose and then you watch it and a generational divide is immediately established in the film, as Momo is brought to a part of Japan where kids her own age appear exceptionally rare, and this isolation is farther reinforced by her first encounter with any inhabitants of the island. Her grandparents, while no doubt beloved, could never take the place of any friends she might have once had before she came here. This is something that her motheris no doubt aware of, as once they find somebody the same age as Momo, she immediately forces them together, much to the disgust of Momo. Her mother’s actions, while well intended, only lead to Momo feeling even more isolated.
Momo’s reaction to the other children could only be described as fear. With so few surrounding allies for her to have, the few people in this new life that she could possibly relate to means that much more to her, so the idea of not befriending them seems that much more terrible. There is no backup option. This is probably why she didn’t jump off the bridge. The film never explicitly says so, but it’s readily apparent that she doesn’t want to be seen as a coward, so she acts as if the jump is beneath her and moves on.
This is why the yokai are such an important thing for Momo’s growth. I don’t particularly like the term “coming of age” film as what defines “coming of age” seems fairly arbitrary, but considering how much focus is put on her maturing as a character, it seems to be the only fitting term here, and the yokai definitely help her grow. These creatures are nothing more than rowdy troublemakers, but for somebody whose life is as mundane as Momo’s, she needs the thrill that these guys force on her. (Also, the small one is a real cutie in a kind of repulsing way.)
The inclusion of the supernatural in an otherwise slice of life setting does lead to several fairly obvious comparisons that one could make but I find that Wolf Children just makes the most sense, partly because it came out a few months after this film, but for the most part I feel the thematic contrast leads to an interesting comparison. Sure, in both films a single mother and her children move to bumbfuck nowhere with supernatural events occurring in an otherwise mundane story, but that’s really where the comparison ends.
For instance, while Momo is initially terrified of the yokai, Hana immediately accepts the potentially terrifying because she knows that it will lead her to a better life. And while sure, you could look at the supernatural elements literally, I much prefer viewing them as metaphors. In Wolf Children’s case they represent the anxiety one might have in the unknown world of parenthood, while in A Letter to Momo they represent the unknown world of adolescence. In both scenarios, my interpretation of what the supernatural’s presence means revolves around the age of the characters, which is why I find the character’s reactions to the supernatural so interesting. Hana, as a grown woman has matured enough to accept the unknown as a part of life. Momo, still a child, needs somebody to give her a helpful nudge, whether it’s her mother forcing her to talk with a complete stranger or the yokai forcing her into the water when she’s too scared to take the dive.
Immaturity is also essential to understanding the final conflict of the film, which, without spoiling too much, revolves around Momo childishly clinging to the past, while her mother races towards the future. Both parties have a lot more in common with each other than either of them is aware of, but they never revealed anything to the other party. This is what led to the emotional climax of the film, regardless of what the yokai did leading up to the event. They just triggered the inevitable in order to help both Momo and her mother grow as people and deepen their relationship with one another. The end result of this maturation is summed up simply, and effectively in the final shots of the film. Momo is finally, without anyone else to guide her in any way, able to jump into the water and deal with the uneasiness of her adolescence.
8/10
This Review is actually the script to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y338TjBCqrU
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giraffenanime
Let's do a quick review for a short yet sweet movie, shall we? Story; Three unusual droplets fall from the sky, accidentally onto Momo Miyaura's head on the way the way to the remote island's in Seto Inland Sea. After the unexpected death of her father, Momo and her mother look for a new start on an island with fresh air and sea for days. Although it as supposed to be relaxing, Momo's mom has to over work herself and their accommodations seem to be haunted by three creepy Guardians. You get to watch this young girls summer pass by in the flash, get closer tothe island dwellers and learn that adults also have emotions. Art; Stunning. The sea, lights, the captivating mountain top and the spirits of the land. Absolutely beautiful. Sound; Suited the film, but nothing caught my ear. Character; My favourite character was the adorable little sister Umi. Passing the days by on the island, seeing the unexplained and one of the sweets kids towards Momo.
Overall, I'm happy I didn't drop the film. I was about to at first since it was a. bit slow at the beginning, and maybe I just don't have a heart for this movie but Momo at the start (along with mom over working herself and hiding her emotions away from her daughter) annoyed me. New island, family member passing, not knowing a single person and feeling alone... I know what's she's going through, but with her attitude I couldn't help but not care.
I highly suggest you watch this movie at least once. It's a good one to watch with family (hopefully children won't be frightened by the Guardians, hehehee)
blushinggeek
I always enjoy supernatural stories and I am especially interested in Japanese folktales or anything youkai, *wink. Although A Letter to Momo doesn’t center more on that aspect, just seeing those three troublesome youkai is enough to pique my attention, *wink. A Letter to Momo When this movie started, the first thing I noticed was the animation. I love that it instantly reminds me of my fun childhood memories in the countryside. You could say that the animation alone already gave that fun rural vibe which fits perfectly in this movie’s setting. Definitely a big plus for me! As I mentioned above, A Letter to Momo isn’t moreon the youkai aspect but they played a big role in this story. As per synopsis, Momo and her mother moved to the countryside (more accurately to be called an island) after her father’s death. In there we get to see her struggle to adapt in her new environment plus her heart’s unrest because of her father’s unfinished letter.
Her quiet and lonely life in that unfamiliar town took quite a turn by the arrival of three troublesome youkai. These three youkai have peculiar appearance and personalities. Although they can be annoying sometimes, I have to say that they are mostly fun to watch. Their shenanigans were usually hilarious with some of them leaving you face palming, lol. It was also interesting to know more about them, especially on their “secret mission”. I think it was pretty fascinating.
After giving me a laugh, this movie also left me in tears. A Letter to Momo delves more on the struggle of the remaining family members after the death of their loved one. Here we see how Momo and her mother deal with their own grief differently, which also resulted in conflict later on in the movie. During that time, there’s also an incident regarding her mother’s asthma that made the three youkai act. Watching that scene on the bridge with the youkai never gets old to me. You really have to look forward on that when you decided to watch this movie, *wink.
A Letter to Momo is definitely one of those few anime films that I believe could hold its own against some of the most loved Ghibli films. Highly recommended!
