Pom Poko
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Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ; Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko, "Heisei-era Raccoon War Pom Poko") (1994) is an anime (Japanese animation) film written and directed by Takahata Isao at Studio Ghibli.
The story takes place in contemporary Japan, where a group of Tanuki (Japanese "raccoon dogs") is threatened by a gigantic suburban development project outside Tokyo cutting into their forest habitat, terraforming and dividing their land. The Tanuki are portrayed according to the Japanese folklore: as a highly sociable, mischievous species, able to use "illusion science" to transform into almost anything but too fond of tasty treats and too gullible to be a real threat (unlike the wicked kitsune and other shapeshifters). Visually, the Tanuki are portrayed three ways: the realistic dogs, the "humanoid" form they wear when no one else is looking (this one is based on traditional Japanese good-luck figurines) and the "cartoony" form which they fall into while doing something outlandish or whimsical.
The Tanuki begin fighting for the diminishing resources of their habitat, but then decide to unify against the humans to stop the construction. 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.
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 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.
Although it is not among the most popular Studio Ghibli films, and is often regarded as strange by Western audiences because of heavy references to Japanese superstitions, folklore, and traditions (and also the Tanuki using their testicles to create illusions), Pom Poko is a thoughtful, humane film which powerfully presents the themes of humanism and ecological distress.
Ponpoko 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.
External links
- Pom Poko at nausicaa.net // Hayao Miyazaki Web (http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/pompoko/)
- Template:Imdb titleja:平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ