Heisei tanuki gassen pompoko (1994)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Isao Takahata

Writer:

Isao Takahata (writer)

Release Date:

16 July 1994 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

A community of magical shapeshifting raccoons desperately struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development.

Plot Keywords:

Talking Fox | Maneki Neko | Tokyo Japan | Animal | Transformation

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shinchô Kokontei	...	Narrator (voice)
Makoto Nonomura	...	Shoukichi (voice)
Yuriko Ishida	...	Okiyo (voice)
Norihei Miki	...	Seizaemon (voice)
Nijiko Kiyokawa	...	Fireball Oroku (voice)
Shigeru Izumiya	...	Gonta (voice)
Gannosuke Ashiya	...	Inugami Gyobu (voice)
Takehiro Murata	...	Bunta (voice)
Beichou Katsura	...	Kincho Daimyoujin the Sixth (voice)
Bunshi Katsura	...	Yashimano Hage (voice)
Kosan Yanagiya	...	Abbot Tsurugame (voice)
Akira Kamiya	...	Tamasaburo (voice)
Rei Sakuma	...	(voice)
Tomokazu Seki	...	Male Tanuki B (voice)
Minoru Yada	...	(voice)

Also Known As:

Pom poko (USA) (dubbed version)
The Raccoon War (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for violence, scary images and thematic elements.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | French | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | France:U | Canada:G (Ontario/Quebec) (DVD rating) (2005) | Canada:G (Manitoba) (video rating) (2001) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) (2005) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG

Company:

Hakuhodo

Trivia:

Creatures shown in order of appearance during project poltergeist: - Shadows of hungry spirits. - Inari upon fox. - Foxes (Kitsune) performing Fox Wedding. - Lantern-spirit. - Skeleton. - Umbrella. - Fire breathing tiger. - Oni. - Shoki the Demon Slayer. - Agyo. - Tiny people performing funeral rights. - Raijin (God of Rain). - Fuujin (God of Wind). - Various squids and a fish. - Lantern. - Tengu. - Bulbs. - Bowing child-like samurai. - Maneki neko faced bowing samurai child. - Goblins. - Colorful beetles. - Wife spirit. - Spider. - Multi-headed woman. - Flame. - Skeleton. - Monkeys. - Rabbits. - Frogs. - Ryuu (dragon). - Train. - Dancing flames of white. - Man with reversible face. - Further indiscreet goblins. - Blue goblin. - Snake-like creature with man's face. - Purple spirit. - Camel-faced woman. - Four-legged cyclopic creature. - Mouth-creature. - Two oni. - Seven lucky gods (Benzaiten, Ebisu, Fukurakujo, Hotei, Daikoku). - Blue and flesh-colored goblins. - Walking stone legs. - Animated telephone poles. - Skeleton. - Fire & Firemen. - Tops. - Pill-like structures with eyes. - Flood. - Flying tanuki in flames. - Skeleton. - Seven lucky gods with goblins. - Amida Nyorai with Bodhisattva attendants.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The English-dubbed version incorrectly refers to the tanuki as "raccoons". Tanuki are actually "raccoon dogs" - they are in the canid branch of mammals.

Quotes:

Narrator: They used their balls as weapons in a brave kamikaze attack.

Movie Connections:

References Kurenai no buta (1992)

Great movie with lots of good action and humor.

This movie is one of my all time favorite Studio Ghibli movies (although I loved every single one I've seen). The way that Takahata portrayed the raccoons as how they acted when humans weren't around was great. It completely changed my view of raccoons.

The plot was very strong and also made you aware of modern day construction and how our forests are being destroyed. It also had great characters with many differences. There were smart ones, rough ones, calm ones, and ones that could pull through in times of hardship. Many showed compassion, and many didn't think anything through.

I also loved the human reactions to the raccoons. The raccoons made many very funny attempts to scare the humans and.. well I'll just leave it at VERY funny.

If you didn't like this movie, it may have been from the lack of understanding the portrayal of the raccoons, or because the humor isn't just your type of humor. I do believe that anyone, especially a Studio Ghibli fan (like me) would love this movie. It is great for the family, kids, or just adults.. There is definitely humor for all of them.