Shinsuke Sato

Haruka's mother died when she was little. Her most precious keepsake is a mirror her mother gave her. She swore she'd always take good care of it, but as she grew older she eventually realized she'd lost track of it. She goes looking for it and spots a fox-like creature she recognizes as a being her mother once told her about - they take once-beloved items from neglectful owners. She follows the being, named Teo, and makes him promise to help her find her mirror. However, the mirror has been claimed by the most powerful being on Oblivion Island, so it won't be easy for Haruka and Teo to get it back.

I'd never heard of this movie prior to spotting it in a "going out of business" sale. The copy I purchased was an ex-rental version that didn't include any of the many extras mentioned on the back of the box. That said, the movie itself was decent. The CGI animation was okay - the movie was originally released in 2009, so it wasn't a surprise that the CGI looked better with some items than others. I recall liking how Haruka's childhood toy, Cotton, looked, but I also remember one particular part near the ending, in which Haruka's facial expression just looked odd and stiff.

The story itself wasn't really anything special and reminded me of several other children's movies I've seen. I preferred the bits involving Cotton, a formerly beloved toy that had truly been forgotten, more than any of the stuff involving the mirror. Also, the whole thing with the plane Teo had others help him build struck me as being a bit much.

It's a decent enough children's movie but not something I think I'll be adding to my "keeper" shelves.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)… (more)