Okko's Inn (2018)

[PictureGuy]

Okko’s Inn opens with a happy moment. Okko and her parents are at a festival, and clearly they are one happy family. But that does not last long. On their way home, they are involved in a horrific traffic accident which kills Okko’s parents. Okko somehow escapes alive.

Okko’s Inn is a heartwarming film, an uplifting feel good story, and one which will bring more than a few tears to your eyes. It is directed by Kitaro Kosaka, who previously worked in the art department for various Studio Ghibli productions, and for some non-Ghibli movies such as Metropolis and The Boy and the Beast.

After being orphaned, Okko goes to live in an inn owned and operated by her grandmother. There she meets the ghost of a young boy called Uribo, who talks her into helping her grandmother as the “junior innkeeper.” Other spirits arrive. They are the ghost of a young girl named Miyo, and a demon named Suzuki. Through their friendship, Okko develops her sense of identity and finds her place in the world.

The art is nothing fancy, which is good for a simple story. Though the character designs stand out. Everything technical in this film is made to look simple. This is a slice of life movie. It is also a potential coming of age story, I say potential because Okko is a bit young to fully come of age.

Some of the talk of death, especially of Okko’s parents, may be a bit too intense for very young children. Outside of that, Okko’s Inn can be enjoyed at most any age. It can currently be seen on Netflix Streaming.