Tokyo Godfathers is Satoshi Kon's third film, and takes after the old western film, "Three Godfathers." Three homeless people find a baby girl in a garbage heap, and struggle with what to do with her. The transvestite Hana names her Kiyoko, and has delusions of raising her. The ex-family-man Gin wants nothing to do with this idea, insisting they go to the police.

Through their struggles with Kiyoko, each is brought face to face with the past they fled from. Hana meets "her" transvestite "mother," Gin has a chance meeting with his daughter (also named Kiyoko), and the teenager Miyuki keeps running into her father. The baby becomes their redemption, and the movie leaves the feeling that they won't spend another day on the street.