Momo 2001

Momo arrives in town and meets Beppo and friends

Momo, an orphan girl, arrives in a bustling town and immediately forges a bond with Beppo, who treats her like a granddaughter. She also wins the heart of Gigi, who quickly falls in love with her. Alongside her new friends—Enzo, Bruno, Livia, Chicco, and Cassiopea the tortoise—the little group makes a home in an ancient amphitheatre and begins their everyday adventures.

The kids build a home in the ancient amphitheatre

The children and Momo convert the ancient amphitheatre into a cozy home and playground. They share meals, play, and plan adventures, turning the space into a sanctuary for their makeshift family. The sense of safety there stands in contrast to the trouble looming outside.

Gray Men invade and establish the Bank of the Time

The Gray Men invade the town, convincing many residents that they don’t have much time left to live. They establish a Bank of the Time to harvest people’s hours, turning time into a resource they can use to survive. The town’s calm begins to crack as fear spreads and the threat grows stronger.

Gray Man bribes Momo with a doll

One Gray Man offers Momo a beautiful doll, hoping to win her over with a gift. Her kindness and empathy touch him, and he begins to reveal his own longing, slipping into a Gray-Pink Man. The scene shows that even the cold invaders long for warmth and love.

Momo warns friends to warn their parents

Momo decides to warn her friends about the Gray Men and urges them to tell their parents to stay away. Her warning travels through the town, but it proves too late to prevent the invasion entirely. The fear continues to spread as the Gray Men tighten their grip on people's lives.

Gray-Pink Man is eliminated; Momo is captured and escapes

The Gray-Pink Man is exposed as a traitor and is eliminated, but the victory triggers the Gray Men to escalate their hunt. The President of the Gray Men orders Momo’s capture, turning the chase into a manhunt. Momo escapes with the help of Cassiopea and flees toward Master Hora's sanctuary.

Cassiopea guides Momo to Master Hora

Cassiopea leads Momo to Master Hora, the keeper of time, in a magical sanctuary. Hora reveals the true nature of the Gray Men and the secret place where time resides. He also tells Momo about the Music of Light, a song that can break the spell once it has been internalized.

Music of Light and the need to internalize it

Master Hora explains that the Music of Light can break the Gray Men’s spell, but Momo must sleep to internalize it. She falls asleep, and the town begins to morph into a vast metropolis as time itself slips away. The world feels larger and more chaotic as hours slip by without the usual rhythm of life.

Beppo and Gigi suffer consequences of Momo's absence

Beppo is crushed by Momo's disappearance and ends up in an asylum after trying to denounce the Gray Men to the authorities. Gigi is hired by television and warned that continuing to search for Momo could cost him his job. Their ordeals show the personal costs of the time thieves' grip.

Master Hora's plan to stop time

When Momo is awakened, Master Hora explains that stopping time for one hour could deprive the Gray Men of their power. The plan hinges on Momo’s courage to keep the invaders away from the Bank long enough. Everyone braces for a decisive moment when time can be paused to save them all.

The Gray Men' s theft of hours and the defense of the Bank

The Gray Men continue to siphon hours, keeping a reserve of cigars in their Bank to survive until Hora’s awakening. Momo and Cassiopeia fight to keep them away from storage, guarding the storehouse with all their courage and purity of heart. The struggle marks the turning point as their resistance weakens the invaders’ hold.

Momo defeats the Gray Men and frees the town

Momo uses the Music of Light to break the spell, defeats the Gray Men, and frees her friends from fear and control. The town regains its time and people begin to return to normal life. The Gray Men dissolve as their power over time collapses.

Beppo and Gigi find reunion and purpose

Beppo is released from despair and reunites with Momo, and Gigi resumes his work among the townspeople. The town slowly heals as the community supports one another and their playful rituals resume. The bond between Momo and her friends grows stronger than ever.