A Letter to Momo
Encyclopedia
is a 2011 Japanese anime
drama film. The film is directed by Hiroyuki Okiura
, and is produced by the animation studio Production I.G. This film follows the 13-year-old Momo, who has a hard time coping with the sudden changes after her father's death.
A Letter to Momo made its international debut at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
, and it will also became the first Japanese anime film to be featured in the Warsaw International Film Festival. In addition, it was nominated for the "International Competition" award and the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award at the 27th Warsaw International Film Festival
and the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival
respectively. It will open in Japanese cinemas on 21 April 2012..
, Momo's family moves to her mother's childhood home, a remote island named Shio.
Momo does not adapt well to her new surroundings. Her father left her an unfinished letter containing only two words, "Dear Momo". As she tries to make sense of these two words and guess what her father was trying to tell her, some strange incidents occur on the island, which is otherwise tranquil. People's orchards are ransacked by an unknown person, and some of their prized belongings start to go missing. Momo also starts to hear strange sounds coming from the attic in her house.
Momo's mother refuses to believe Momo about the strange sounds from the attic, so Momo herself embarks on an adventure to discover the source of these disturbances. During her investigations, Momo meets up with Kawa, Mame and leader Iwa, a group of imp
s, each of which have a different personality. In addition, Momo discovers that the mysterious two-word letter from her father is connected to all the strange occurrences, and to her arrival at Shio.
announced this film in its lineup of 2011 and 2012 films on 15 February 2011. More details of the film were announced on 11 July 2011. It was announced that the director Hiroyuki Okiura
will be in charge of this film. He previous work as a director includes the 2000 film Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. The film A Letter to Momo is Hiroyuki's first film in 11 years after Jin-Roh. He had spent 7 years coming up with the script, directing the film and creating the storyboard for this film.
will voice the 13 year old lead character Momo, while actress Yuka is voicing Momo's mother. In addition, actor Toshiyuki Nishida
will be voicing a character in this film.
. This song is an acoustic piece, and it creates an image of the rich natural scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. The "美しき場所" in the song title is the old way of describing "a beautiful place to live". Hara wrote the song's lyrics and composed the music, with Junichi Soga as the editor of the song.
Yuko Hara, who is the keyboardist for the Japanese band Southern All Stars
, reportedly spent 5 years working on this piece of music. She said that "I loved animation from a very young age, so being able to contribute the theme song for this film makes me happy and honored.".
that took place from 8 to 18 September 2011. It was screened at the festival under its "Kids" programming. Later, it was announced that the film will be shown at the 44th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival that ran from 6th to 16 October 2011 and at the 16th Busan International Film Festival, which took place on 6th to 14 October. It will be shown in Busan as part of the festival's "Wide Angle" program.
Additionally, A Letter to Momo was screened at the 27th Warsaw International Film Festival
. This is the first Japanese anime
film to be showcased at the Warsaw International Film Festival and it competed at the festival under its International Competition section. Also, it was announced that this film will be competing for the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award at the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival
, which took place from 6 October to 16 October 2011.
and will be serialized in the Monthly Asuka
magazine, published by Kadokawa Shoten
. This manga is written by Akiko Kitami, and the first chapter of the manga will be published in the November 2011 issue of the magazine. Kitami's previous works have also previously been serialized in the Monthly Asuka.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
drama film. The film is directed by Hiroyuki Okiura
Hiroyuki Okiura
is a Japanese animation director and animator.Okiura, who entered the industry at the age of 16 with no academic background , is known for his detailed effects animation in, for example, the chopper attack scene in Patlabor The Movie 2, and more recently his highly realistic character animation in...
, and is produced by the animation studio Production I.G. This film follows the 13-year-old Momo, who has a hard time coping with the sudden changes after her father's death.
A Letter to Momo made its international debut at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
2011 Toronto International Film Festival
The 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 8 and September 18, 2011.Buenos Aires, Argentina was selected to be showcased for the 2011 City to City programme. The opening film was From the Sky Down, a documentary film about the band...
, and it will also became the first Japanese anime film to be featured in the Warsaw International Film Festival. In addition, it was nominated for the "International Competition" award and the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award at the 27th Warsaw International Film Festival
Warsaw International Film Festival
Warsaw International Film Festival , also known as the Warsaw FilmFest, is a film festival held every October in Warsaw, Poland. The festival has been held every year since 1985....
and the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
respectively. It will open in Japanese cinemas on 21 April 2012..
Plot
Momo is a shy and imaginative 13-year-old girl who is suffering because of her father's recent death and the resultant extreme changes in her life. From the big city of TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Momo's family moves to her mother's childhood home, a remote island named Shio.
Momo does not adapt well to her new surroundings. Her father left her an unfinished letter containing only two words, "Dear Momo". As she tries to make sense of these two words and guess what her father was trying to tell her, some strange incidents occur on the island, which is otherwise tranquil. People's orchards are ransacked by an unknown person, and some of their prized belongings start to go missing. Momo also starts to hear strange sounds coming from the attic in her house.
Momo's mother refuses to believe Momo about the strange sounds from the attic, so Momo herself embarks on an adventure to discover the source of these disturbances. During her investigations, Momo meets up with Kawa, Mame and leader Iwa, a group of imp
Imp
An imp is a mythological being similar to a fairy or demon, frequently described in folklore and superstition. The word may perhaps derive from the term ympe, used to denote a young grafted tree.-Folklore:...
s, each of which have a different personality. In addition, Momo discovers that the mysterious two-word letter from her father is connected to all the strange occurrences, and to her arrival at Shio.
Voice cast
- Karen MiyamaKaren Miyamais a Japanese actress. She used to be part of the Gekidan Tohai talent agency, and is now part of Horipro talent agency.-Drama:* Akumado keyakushida ona—Matsunaga Misaki（2010 episode2）* Kimiga yidanohi- sayaka（2010）* IRIS * Uramiya Honpo Special...
as Momo. - Yuka as Ikuko, Momo's mother.
- Toshiyuki NishidaToshiyuki Nishidais a Japanese actor. Outside of Japan, Nishida is best known for his portrayal of Pigsy in the TV series Monkey.Toshiyuki Nishida has received ten Japanese Academy Award nominations, winning twice, for Dun-Huang in 1988 and Gakko and Tsuribaka Nisshi 6 in 1993...
Development
Distributor Kadokawa PicturesKadokawa Pictures
is a Japanese movie studio.-History:One of the most famous studios in Japan and founded in 1942 as , it is best known for having produced the giant monster Gamera film series and the Daimajin Trilogy. It also produced the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyoshiro film series and the television series Shōnen Jet...
announced this film in its lineup of 2011 and 2012 films on 15 February 2011. More details of the film were announced on 11 July 2011. It was announced that the director Hiroyuki Okiura
Hiroyuki Okiura
is a Japanese animation director and animator.Okiura, who entered the industry at the age of 16 with no academic background , is known for his detailed effects animation in, for example, the chopper attack scene in Patlabor The Movie 2, and more recently his highly realistic character animation in...
will be in charge of this film. He previous work as a director includes the 2000 film Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. The film A Letter to Momo is Hiroyuki's first film in 11 years after Jin-Roh. He had spent 7 years coming up with the script, directing the film and creating the storyboard for this film.
Casting
The main voice cast members of A Letter to Momo was first announced on 17 November 2011. It was announced that actress Karen MiyamaKaren Miyama
is a Japanese actress. She used to be part of the Gekidan Tohai talent agency, and is now part of Horipro talent agency.-Drama:* Akumado keyakushida ona—Matsunaga Misaki（2010 episode2）* Kimiga yidanohi- sayaka（2010）* IRIS * Uramiya Honpo Special...
will voice the 13 year old lead character Momo, while actress Yuka is voicing Momo's mother. In addition, actor Toshiyuki Nishida
Toshiyuki Nishida
is a Japanese actor. Outside of Japan, Nishida is best known for his portrayal of Pigsy in the TV series Monkey.Toshiyuki Nishida has received ten Japanese Academy Award nominations, winning twice, for Dun-Huang in 1988 and Gakko and Tsuribaka Nisshi 6 in 1993...
will be voicing a character in this film.
Theme song
In an announcement made on 11 July 2011, it was revealed that the theme song for the film A Letter to Momo is the song by Japanese singer Yuko HaraYuko Hara
Yuko Hara plays the keyboards for Southern All Stars. She is an accomplished vocalist, and writes many of her own songs....
. This song is an acoustic piece, and it creates an image of the rich natural scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. The "美しき場所" in the song title is the old way of describing "a beautiful place to live". Hara wrote the song's lyrics and composed the music, with Junichi Soga as the editor of the song.
Yuko Hara, who is the keyboardist for the Japanese band Southern All Stars
Southern All Stars
, also known by the abbreviations or SAS, is a Japanese pop/rock band that formed in the mid 1970s.The band is composed of Keisuke Kuwata , Yuko Hara , Kazuyuki Sekiguchi , Hiroshi Matsuda and Hideyuki "Kegani" Nozawa...
, reportedly spent 5 years working on this piece of music. She said that "I loved animation from a very young age, so being able to contribute the theme song for this film makes me happy and honored.".
Film festivals
A Letter to Momo made its international debut at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival2011 Toronto International Film Festival
The 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 8 and September 18, 2011.Buenos Aires, Argentina was selected to be showcased for the 2011 City to City programme. The opening film was From the Sky Down, a documentary film about the band...
that took place from 8 to 18 September 2011. It was screened at the festival under its "Kids" programming. Later, it was announced that the film will be shown at the 44th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival that ran from 6th to 16 October 2011 and at the 16th Busan International Film Festival, which took place on 6th to 14 October. It will be shown in Busan as part of the festival's "Wide Angle" program.
Additionally, A Letter to Momo was screened at the 27th Warsaw International Film Festival
Warsaw International Film Festival
Warsaw International Film Festival , also known as the Warsaw FilmFest, is a film festival held every October in Warsaw, Poland. The festival has been held every year since 1985....
. This is the first Japanese anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film to be showcased at the Warsaw International Film Festival and it competed at the festival under its International Competition section. Also, it was announced that this film will be competing for the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award at the 31st Hawaii International Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
, which took place from 6 October to 16 October 2011.
Box office
A Letter to Momo will be released in Japanese cinemas on 21 April 2012. According to staff members of the film, it will debut in over 300 theater screens on its opening weekend.Accolades
| Year | Name of Competition | Category | Result | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 27th Warsaw International Film Festival Warsaw International Film Festival Warsaw International Film Festival , also known as the Warsaw FilmFest, is a film festival held every October in Warsaw, Poland. The festival has been held every year since 1985.... |
International Competition | A Letter to Momo | |
| 31st Hawaii International Film Festival Hawaii International Film Festival The Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks... |
Halekulani Golden Orchid Award | A Letter to Momo |
Manga
A Letter to Momo will be adapted into a film mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and will be serialized in the Monthly Asuka
Monthly Asuka
is a monthly Japanese shōjo manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten, aimed at teenage girls. Much like its sibling publication Shōnen Ace, it places some emphasis on anime tie-ins and spinoffs...
magazine, published by Kadokawa Shoten
Kadokawa Shoten
is a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
. This manga is written by Akiko Kitami, and the first chapter of the manga will be published in the November 2011 issue of the magazine. Kitami's previous works have also previously been serialized in the Monthly Asuka.