sharky_55 While Miyazaki dived into steampunk, sorcery, magical realism and spirit worlds Isao Takahata was dealing with grimmer, more grounded works. Most know him for the staggeringly heartbreaking war film Grave of the Fireflies, some for the nostalgic character piece Only Yesterday, and fewer yet his most recent masterpiece Princess Kaguya, which has a little magic but does not strongly deviate from his usual emotional beats. And wedged somewhere in the middle is Pom Poko, a bizarre and twisted lovechild of the two dominant styles that seems to be too ambitious for its own good. The film carries an environmentalist message, which is not something Ghibli has been afraid to broach in the past. But it also differentiates itself from Nausicaa and Mononoke because it is set in modern day Japan and speaks directly to the viewer. It is more immediate, and therefore to some, more 'preachy'.It lends itself even more immediacy by framing itself like a documentary, with a narrator first providing backstory of the Japanese economic expansion into the rural habitat, and then thereafter constantly interjecting with bits of exposition and recap. The intended effect of this frame narrative doesn't exactly hit right until the very end; the past tense suddenly gains a great deal more poignancy, because the whole film because a porthole into the past, a product of the entire tanuki population's pleading...which has more or less failed and sent them back into human hiding or the dirt ground. It winds back to the 1960s, where industrial construction machines are devastating the countryside Tama Hills like ladybugs devour a leaf, and how the local group of tanuki have decided to fight back. The tanuki have a long history in Japanese folklore, said to possess magical shape-shifting powers, being able to speak and write, having an innate mischievous nature but working against them, their laziness and fondness for party and feast. Their body-changing abilities also apply to their testicles, which can morph and take all sorts of forms and functions - this particular point has drawn a bit of ire from the western audience and illustrates the cultural divide. The tanuki are drawn matter-of-factly, and the testicles themselves only a small presence amongst their bag of tricks, but the prudish backlash exists nonetheless. Takahata presents this double nature of the tanuki in the most visible way, through his animation. When they are sly and angry, they snake through the trees grass with slender bodies and lean eyes, determined in their goal. Yet most of the time their form is more typical of anime animals, great big saucers for eyes, pudgy bellies to rub and drum, waddling around with an endearing, goofy look. Perhaps a little too cheerful at time; the film treats death a great deal more flippantly than Takahata ever has, with the tanuki barely containing their laughter as they celebrate a victory at the cost of three human deaths. They covet hamburgers and television a little more, and don't even seem to blink twice at their own kin's passing, their bloodlust only gleefully abated by an even stronger desire for human junk food. Sure, this is humorous enough ("Leeeeeaave the tempura") at times, and we can laugh alongside them when their final efforts are taken as a spectacular ghost parade show, but these characters are never quite developed along, and the tone bounces around so erratically that it is hard to feel too strongly for their losses. It's quaint, light- hearted (especially on death), and then only finally, and eventually, frank, silent, devastating. Like the humans, it's all a little too late.

jamestrusler Sometimes it's a little rough around the edges and I'd be lying if I said it managed to land every punch, but it's an immensely satisfying and thought provoking movie that will touch your heart.Its approach and execution demonstrates that of Japan's unique culture. The train of thought is often perplexing to follow although I find this to be a benefit to the message.Its multi-layered offering will almost certainly be appreciated by all ages.What a wonderful approach to a well trodden path! Please watch this.

alexybj21 I Have Seen All Of Studio Ghibli's Movie's.... Honestly This Movie Is NOT At The Top And NOT At The Bottom.... If I Had The Place The Movie Here Is Where I Would Place It- 1. Grave Of The Fireflies 2. Ponyo(On The Cliff By The Sea) 3. Spirited Away 4. My Neighbor Totoro 5. Princess Mononoke 6. Howls Moving Castle 7. Kiki' Delivery Service 8. Laputa: Castle In The Sky 9. Whisper Of The Heart 10. Porco Rosso 11. Pom Poko~~~~~~~~~~~ 12. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 13. My Neighbors The Yamadas 14. The Cat Returns 15. Only Yesterday 16. Tales From EarthseaPom Poko Is NOT A Bad Movie, Its Just Not One Of My Favorites Although The Animation Is So Beautiful!Overall It Is Still A VERY Good Movie!

ghoolsby I enjoyed Pom Poko very much, and I think Disney will find a way to make money on it as soon as they can convince the American audience that Raccoons are marsupials.During the monster parade, they show the standard scene of a drunk who is amazing by amazing stuff. Where did this begin? Was it Japan, America or somewhere else? I think an early Gamara movie has a similar scene.In American toons, the drunk who sees amazing stuff usually produces a pint bottle and drops it on the ground.Just like fruit carts will always be pushed over in the chase scene of every movie, every movie with amazing things will have a drunk to see it.