Following the death of her father, Momo (Karen Miyama) moves with her mother Ikuko (Yuka) to the small island comunity of Shio, moving in with Ikuko’s aunt and uncle. Momo is still dealing with the regret of arguing with her father before his untimely demise in an accident; carrying with her an unfinished letter from him reading only ‘To Momo’. She soon has other things to worry about as three guardian spirits Iwa, Kawa and Mame (Toshiyuki Nishida, Koichi Yamadera, and Cho) arrive from Heaven to watch over Momo and her mother, taking the shape of yokai from a picture book in the attic.
“A Letter to Momo”, written and directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, is aimed squarely at children with a powerful message about loss and regret following the death of a parent. The animation is well-done, capturing the characters’ movements and the beautiful summer island scenery. In particular, the weather is depicted in stunning style, with darkening skies presaging rain, and the incredible force of a typhoon is palpable. Mina Kubota’s enjoyable score captures the youthful energy of Momo and the monsters. The puerile humour will no doubt appeal to young children, but often seems out of place given the dark subject matter, switching from contemplative drama to fart jokes rather than more character-driven comedy. There are several inexplicable elements to the plot, such as the yokai’s voracious appetites and kleptomania, and their reason for being there at all requires suspension of disbelief that may be beyond some older viewers.
The film deals with a young girl processing her father’s death; struggling with her guilt over her harsh words to him the last time they met. It is an important message for children and yet the film seems to struggle to examine this central tension outside of a few key scenes. The comic relief of the yokai, intended to break up the downbeat tone, is awkward and more emphasis on the other human characters, such as Momo’s new friends on the island, or her mother’s aunt and uncle may have provided more meaningful relationships for her. The film suffers in comparison to “Okko’s Inn” which had a similar theme and fantastical elements, but managed to bring them together in a more cohesive way. “A Letter to Momo” often feels unsure as to what age of child it is aimed at, failing to fully satisfy for either young children or older teens.
