Rotoscopers
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman
    • Blue Sky Studios
    • Disney
    • Don Bluth
    • DreamWorks
    • Fox Animation Studios
    • Illumination Entertainment
    • LAIKA
    • Lucasfilm Animation
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar
No Result
View All Result
Rotoscopers
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman
    • Blue Sky Studios
    • Disney
    • Don Bluth
    • DreamWorks
    • Fox Animation Studios
    • Illumination Entertainment
    • LAIKA
    • Lucasfilm Animation
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar
No Result
View All Result
Rotoscopers
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews Animated Movies

Indie-mation (REVIEW): ‘A Letter to Momo’

Mayra Amaya by Mayra Amaya
August 29, 2014
in Animated Movies, Indie-mation, Reviews, The Latest Animation News
3 min read
0
indie_mation_a_letter_to_momo_screen_shot
514
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

a_letter_to_momo_posterWe first told you about A Letter to Momo almost a month ago when it opened in New York City. Beginning today August 29th Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, and Washington DC will be screening the film at local cinemas, with additional cities coming in the following weeks.

Luckily for those of you who have not made up your mind about seeing the film, I was given the opportunity to watch the film, so if you haven’t made plans for the weekend, I’ve just made them for you.

A Letter to Momo opens with Momo and her mother Ikuko moving from Tokyo to the small island of Shio after the death of her father Kazuo. Unfortunately for Momo, since the death of Kazuo, she has been carrying a heavy weight of guilt from the last words she ever said to him: “You’re selfish, and you’re a liar. I don’t care if you come back.”

What makes this even harder for Momo is the unfinished letter she found in her father’s desk addressed to her. The only words on the page, “Dear Momo”. Unable to deal with her guilt, and the unwritten words in the letter, Momo roams Shio in a constant state of depression. That is until she begins to see the yokai living in the attic whom have been sent from “up above” on a job of a delicate nature, which they cannot tell Momo about whatsoever. But when the yokai begin to wreak havoc in the village, their true purpose comes to light.

From the very beginning you understand that this film is going to be heavy thematically, but let me assure you this does not get in the way of the yokai’s fun. The film is sprinkled with lovely humorous moments of awkwardness from both the yokai spirits and teenaged Momo, as well as wonderful moments of self discovery.

a_letter_to_momo_still_3

The animation style lends wonderfully to the idea of combining the human world and the spirit yokai creatures. For the most part, the designs are simple and clean. But when it comes to the character designs, they carry something more human in their lines. The older man who is Ikuko’s uncle, has the lean muscles and chest of a field worker, and the local delivery man has the weather beaten face of a motorcycle driver when he smiles too widely. Not to mention the scenery incorporates wonderfully subtle human textures to contrast the watercolor spirit scenery. All of this lends to the feeling that two worlds are merging together to create the world in front of our eyes.

Overall, the film was a delight. At 2 hours long, it may be a bit too long, particularly if not accustomed to the slower pacing of the Japanese style of storytelling, but it makes for a completely satisfying story. Though the themes seem a bit dark and heavy, I assure you they are dealt with the utmost care, making the film suitable for the whole family. A word of caution: If you see the trailer and can’t help but compare this film to Studio Ghibli, you’re going to walk out disappointed. While I do recommend this film, judging it based on such a comparison is not fair to director Hiroyuki Okiura who is still a very young filmmaker but well on his way to becoming a legend himself.

✮✮✮

Tags: A letter to MomoHiroyuki Okiura
Previous Post

Episode 74: We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story – That’s Why You Don’t Join the Circus

Next Post

Indie-mation: ‘Patema Inverted’ Screening in NYC for One Week!

Mayra Amaya

Mayra Amaya

Mayra Amaya is a Theater graduate from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ where she also learned filmmaking. Amaya now resides in Brooklyn, NY where she works as an actor, writer and sandwich maker. You can follow her on Twitter (@amayasunwizard).

Related Posts

[REVIEW] ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ – If It Ain’t Broke… Just Add More?
Animated Movies

[REVIEW] ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ – If It Ain’t Broke… Just Add More?

July 1, 2022
Animation Addicts Podcast #257: Looking Back At The Disney Afternoon
Animation Addicts Podcast

Animation Addicts Podcast #257: Looking Back At The Disney Afternoon

June 28, 2022
[SERIES REVIEW] ‘Amphibia’: Disney Channel’s Magnun Opus
Disney

[SERIES REVIEW] ‘Amphibia’: Disney Channel’s Magnun Opus

May 21, 2022
Katy Perry to Star in Animated Musical Film ‘Melody’
The Latest Animation News

Katy Perry to Star in Animated Musical Film ‘Melody’

May 11, 2022
Load More
Next Post
patema_inverted_indie_mation

Indie-mation: 'Patema Inverted' Screening in NYC for One Week!

Discussion about this post

Popular Posts

  • Animation Addicts Podcast #257: Looking Back At The Disney Afternoon 63 views
  • [REVIEW] ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ – If It Ain’t Broke… Just Add More? 47 views
  • Animation Addicts Podcast #254: Swan Princess 9 Kingdom of Music – This Ain’t Your Momma’s Swan Princess 37 views
  • Animation Addicts Podcast #255: Swan Princess 10: A Royal Wedding – What Else Is There? 24 views
  • Animation Addicts Podcast #256 Alice In Wonderland – Know Your Drugs 21 views
  • 11k Fans
  • 12k Followers
  • 5.8k Followers
  • 5.3k Followers

Recently Added

[REVIEW] ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ – If It Ain’t Broke… Just Add More?

[REVIEW] ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ – If It Ain’t Broke… Just Add More?

July 1, 2022
Animation Addicts Podcast #257: Looking Back At The Disney Afternoon

Animation Addicts Podcast #257: Looking Back At The Disney Afternoon

June 28, 2022
Animation Addicts Podcast #256 Alice In Wonderland – Know Your Drugs

Animation Addicts Podcast #256 Alice In Wonderland – Know Your Drugs

June 21, 2022
Animation Addicts Podcast #255: Swan Princess 10: A Royal Wedding – What Else Is There?

Animation Addicts Podcast #255: Swan Princess 10: A Royal Wedding – What Else Is There?

June 14, 2022
Animation Addicts Podcast #254: Swan Princess 9 Kingdom of Music – This Ain’t Your Momma’s Swan Princess

Animation Addicts Podcast #254: Swan Princess 9 Kingdom of Music – This Ain’t Your Momma’s Swan Princess

June 7, 2022
Rotoscopers

© 2019 Rotoscopers

Important Links

  • About
  • Support
  • Contact
  • Store
  • Privacy Policy
  • User Posts

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman
    • Blue Sky Studios
    • Disney
    • Don Bluth
    • DreamWorks
    • Fox Animation Studios
    • Illumination Entertainment
    • LAIKA
    • Lucasfilm Animation
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar

© 2019 Rotoscopers

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Posting....