The animation does what Ghibli does, it makes you forget you're watching instead of living in the world. A kid rescues what he thinks is a hurt animal, and it opens into a summer that feels like stepping into a dream you didn't know you were having. The pacing sags in the second half, but by then you're too deep in the spell to care.
Five kids arrive at a remote mountain camp expecting a lazy summer away from adults. Their plans for quiet days in nature derail when they rescue what looks like an injured puppy, only to discover their new friend is actually an alien named Pochi. Pochi was on Earth hunting for a mysterious substance prized across the universe until a fight left him badly hurt. Grateful for the kids' help, he rewards them with a sightseeing trip to the moon, where they find a sprawling alien city waiting to be explored. When the lunar government bars travel to Earth, the children are stranded and must cross the galaxy to find a safe way home, all while aliens tied to the secretive Space Show pursue them. The film is a science fiction and fantasy adventure about how helping a stranger can open doors to worlds you never imagined existed.
