Okko's Inn

Japanese attitudes towards mortality are investigated in this family-friendly animated feature, where the eponymous young heroine survives the car crash which kills both her parents, then struggles to readjust when she moves to her grandma's inn at a hot-springs resort. The film's Japanese title translates as "The Junior Inn-keeper is still in Primary School!" which gives some sense of the comic impulse behind its story of bereavement, where protagonist Okko's new friendship with a couple of child ghosts and a passing demon help her through her traumatic experiences. The values on display seem quintessentially Japanese by espousing restorative pride in providing flawless service to others, while the visuals match cutesy big-eyed character design with a keenly observed backgrounds that bring small-town Japan to life. It's possibly one of those children's films best appreciated by grown-ups, yet its faith in younger viewers to cope with its essentially serious themes make for an unusual offering that's both culturally fascinating and emotionally affecting.