Pom poko
IMDB rating	7.6/10 (994 votes)
Directed by	Isao Takahata
Written by	Cindy Davis Hewitt Donald H. Hewitt
Starring	Kokondei Shinchou as Narrator Makoto Nonomura as Shoukichi Yuriko Ishida as Okiyo
Running time	119 min
Language	Japanese
IMDb profile

Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ; Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko, "Heisei-era Raccoon Dog War Pom Poko") (1994) is an anime (Japanese animation) film written and directed by Takahata Isao at Studio Ghibli. Image File history File links Pom_poko_poster. ... Description: Rating stars. ... Isao Takahata (高畑 勲 Takahata Isao) (born October 29, 1935) is one of the most famous directors of anime, or Japanese animated films. ... Yuriko Ishida (jp: 石田ゆり子; Ishida Yuriko born October 3, 1969 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period – Kofun period – Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period – Nanban contacts Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period – Japanese expansionism – Occupied Japan – Post-Occupation Japan Heisei Heisei (平成) is the current era name in Japan. ... Binomial name Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) The Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides, with nycto- = Gr. ... // Atom, star of the long-running science fiction series Mighty Atom (also known as Astro Boy to Western audiences). ... Isao Takahata (高畑 勲 Takahata Isao) (born October 29, 1935) is one of the most famous directors of anime, or Japanese animated films. ... Studio Ghibli (スタジオジブリ) is a Japanese animation film studio, and a subsidiary of Tokuma Shoten. ...

Synopsis

The story begins with a prologue set in late 1960s Japan. A group of Tanuki (Japanese "raccoon dogs", Nyctereutes procyonoides) is threatened by a gigantic and ongoing suburban development project in the hills of Tama on the outskirts of Tokyo, cutting into their forest habitat and dividing their land. Construction continues in contemporary (early-90s) Japan, and with the amount of living area and food decreased, the Tanuki begin fighting for the diminishing resources of their habitat, but then decide to unify against the humans to stop the development. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Tanuki with typically enlarged scrotum, in a print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. ... Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ... Tokyo ) (help· info), literally eastern capital, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and includes the highly urbanized central area formerly known as the city of Tokyo which is the heart of the Greater Tokyo Area. ...

Consistent with Japanese folklore, the Tanuki are portrayed as a highly sociable, mischievous species, able to use "illusion science" to transform into almost anything, but too fun-loving and too fond of tasty treats to be a real threat (unlike the wicked kitsune and other shapeshifters). Visually, the Tanuki in this film are depicted in three ways at various times: as realistic animals, as anthropomorphic animals which occasionally wear clothes, and as cartoony figures based on the manga of Shigeru Sugiura (of whom Miyazaki is a great fan). They tend to assume their realistic form when in view of humans, their cartoony form when they're doing something outlandish or whimsical, and their anthropomorphic form at all other times. Statue of kitsune at Inari shrine adjacent to Todaiji Buddhist temple Nara, Japan. ... Anthropomorphism, also referred to as personification or prosopopeia, is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, and others. ... For other uses, see Manga (disambiguation). ...

It's worth noting to western viewers that prominent testicles are an integral part of the Tanuki of folklore, and thus shown on the ones in the movie who also use them in their shapeshifting. They remain unchanged in the DVD release, though the English dub (but not the subtitles) refers to them as "pouches." Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ... In printed material In printed material, a subtitle is an explanatory or alternate title. ...

Several prominent Tanuki lead them, including aggressive chief Gonta, old guru Tsurugame, Oroku the wise-woman personage, and the young and resourceful Shoukichi. Using their illusion skills, they rally help of the Tanuki elders from Shikoku and stage a number of diversions, culminating in a "ghost parade" to make humans think the growing town is haunted. When all efforts fail, in an emotional scene they stage one last grand illusion, temporarily transforming the urbanized land back into its pristine state before dissolving into the human world. Finally, one group of Tanuki desperately attempt one option that was previously unthinkable; they arrange television coverage and publicly reveal themselves to plead their case against the destruction of their habitat. While this moving appeal comes too late to stop the construction, the favourable public reaction pushes the developers to at least include some parks for the Tanuki.

Their strength exhausted, the Tanuki most trained in illusion are left with no choice but to abandon those who can't transform into humans, disperse, and blend into the human society. One day Shoukichi, who also did so, is coming home from work when he sees another Tanuki running toward a golf course to meet his companions. Overjoyed, Shoukichi transforms back into a Tanuki and joins in the gathering.

In an emotional final scene, Shoukichi's friend, Ponkichi (pictured above) addresses the viewer, asking humans to be more considerate of Tanuki and other animals less endowed with transformation skills, and not to destroy their living space. The fourth wall is the imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. ...

Although it is often regarded as surreal by Western audiences because of heavy references to Japanese superstitions, folklore, and traditions, Pom Poko is a thoughtful, humane, humourous and entertaining film which powerfully presents the themes of humanism and ecological distress.

The Tanuki practicing their transformations

Image File history File links Screenshot from Pom Poko File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Screenshot from Pom Poko File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Cast

Here are the Japanese/English voices:

• Narrator - Kokondei Shinchou/Maurice LaMarche
• Shoukichi - Makoto Nonomura/Jonathan Taylor Thomas
• Okiyo - Yuriko Ishida/Jillian Bowen
• Seizaemon - Norihei Miki
• Fireball Oroku - Nijiko Kiyokawa
• Gonta - Shigeru Izumiya
• Inugami Gyobu - Gannosuke Ashiya
• Bunta - Takehiro Murata
• Kincho Daimyoujin the Sixth - Beichou Katsura
• Yashimano Hage - Bunshi Katsura
• Abbot Tsurugame - Kosan Yanagiya
• Tamasaburo - Akira Kamiya

Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor, born in Toronto. ... Jonathan Taylor Thomas Jonathan Taylor Thomas (born September 8, 1981 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as Jonathan Taylor Weiss) is an American actor and teen idol. ...

Trivia

The film plays heavily upon Japanese folklore and here are some basic facts which may help you find the film less baffling.

• Tanuki in Japanese folklore are mischievous, lazy, cheerful and gullible creatures who use their supernatural shape-shifting powers to trick humans. It is often said that a Tanuki would put a leaf on top of their head and chant in order to change its form into anything (for example, a monk). They are also said to try to con humans with leaves turned into banknotes, although in the film this act is meant to be prohibited.

• Statues of tanuki can be seen everywhere in Japan, especially in temples and shrines, often holding a barrel of sake.

• In Japanese folklore, foxes are also supernatural creatures (known as kitsune) with an ability to transform itself into a human form. However, in contrast to the absent-minded tanuki, kitsune are usually portrayed as more witty, cunning and sometimes malicious. Kitsune are also messengers of (or sometimes a depiction of) Inari, the Shinto god of rice. In the film, a tanuki manages to terrify the humans planning to move a shrine by appearing as a white fox. Statues of kitsune mark the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 outdoor Inari shrines scattered throughout Japan.

• Most of the characters in the monster parade are Yokai, creatures from Japanese folklore.

• The songs which appear in the film are known as warabe uta, songs which are sung as part of traditional children's games, often with lyrics incomprehensible to modern Japanese. (The melancholic electronic melodies which Japanese pedestrian crossings play are often famous warabe-uta.)

• In keeping with Japanese folklore, the original Japanese version of Pom Poko made numerous references to raccoon testicles in song, conversation and in relation to transformation. All of these references were removed from the English dub, but are included in full on the English language subtitle track of the DVD.

• Pompoko is a word for the sound of tanuki tsutsumi (tanuki drum): according to Japanese legends, a tanuki would inflate its belly (or in other version its testicles) and beat upon it with its paws to scare wayfarers: pon poko pon poko pon.

• Sightings of real tanuki in urban areas happen more frequently in recent years. This is blamed on the decrease in their natural forest habitat due to development projects like the one shown on this film.

• Tama hills is a vast area of gentle hills spanning two prefectures and many towns and cities on the southwestern flank of Tokyo. Most of it is a patchwork of modern suburbia and hilly forests. Tama New Town, where the film is set, is a real residential development project (Japan's largest) built in the 1970's, spanning the cities of Tama, Machida, Inagi and Hachioji (which are all part of Tokyo.) Another Ghibli film, Whisper of the Heart, is set at the same location and shares some of the environmentalist undertones (although it is not its main theme).

• The train station which appears in the film is Seiseki-Sakuragaoka station on the Keio line, in Tama City, Tokyo.

Tanuki with typically enlarged scrotum, in a print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. ... Sake barrels at Itsukushima Shrine Sake (é…’; pronounced IPA: SAH-KAY in Japanese) is a Japanese alcoholic beverage, brewed from rice. ... Statue of kitsune at Inari shrine adjacent to Todaiji Buddhist temple Nara, Japan. ... Inari (Japanese: 稲荷) is the Shinto god of fertility, rice, and foxes. ... Shinto (Kanji: 神道 Shintō) (sometimes called Shintoism) is a native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... The ghost of Oiwa manifesting herself as a lantern obake. ... Warabe uta: Japanese childrens traditional songs External link [1] Categories: Stub | Japanese music ... Tanuki with typically enlarged scrotum, in a print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. ... Binomial name Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) The Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides, with nycto- = Gr. ... Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ... Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ... Machida (町田市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ... Inagi (稲城市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ... Hachiōji (八王子市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 km west of the center of Tokyo. ... Tokyo ) (help· info), literally eastern capital, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and includes the highly urbanized central area formerly known as the city of Tokyo which is the heart of the Greater Tokyo Area. ... Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば; Mimi o Sumaseba, literally If You Listen Closely) is an anime feature film produced by Studio Ghibli based on the manga of the same title by Aoi Hiiragi. ... The Keio Electric Railway (京王電鉄 Keio Dentetsu) is a private railway in Tokyo, Japan. ... Tama (多摩市; -shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. ...

External links

• Pom Poko at nausicaa.net // Hayao Miyazaki Web
• Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko at The Internet Movie Database
• Musings on the cultural differences exemplified in the movie

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) [1] is an online database of information about actors, movies, television shows, television stars and video games. ...