Sumikko Gurashi Movie 2: Aoi Tsukiyo no Mahou no Ko

This movie is the pinnacle of cuteness!
The designs and animations of the characters are simply adorable and watching them interact with each other is pure joy. But can you fill a 65 minute movie with cuteness alone? Not really. Luckily, there's a surprisingly moving story, touching upon themes like homesickness, unfulfilled dreams, and making up for one's mistakes, so it's actually very relatable even for adults. The pace is kind of slow, but I didn't mind it. The resolution is great, because it has a touch of bittersweet. With that said - it's still primarily aimed at kids, and you'll notice especially with the narrator's ... childish way of speaking. By the way, the characters themselves don't talk - instead they have their dialogue written next to them. I liked this, because it preserves the pureness of the characters.

Speaking of characters, they represent typical outcasts: We have an ice bear who's constantly freezing, a shrub of weed, leftover tapioca pearls and even a ball of dust (and many more). Watching them live through their daily struggles and mishaps will make you just wanna give them a hug and tell them it's ok :)

All in all, I enjoyed this movie a lot, smiling throughout most of it and even teared up at times. I left the movie theater feeling like a more positive person. Would recommend!