7.4/10
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52 user 66 critic

Pom Poko (1994)

Heisei tanuki gassen ponpoko (original title)
PG | | Animation , Comedy , Drama | 16 July 1994 (Japan)
Pom Poko Poster
Clip
1:08 | Clip

On Disc

at Amazon

A community of magical shape-shifting raccoon dogs struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development.

Director:

Isao Takahata

Writers:

Hayao Miyazaki (idea), Isao Takahata

Stars:

Shinchô Kokontei, Makoto Nonomura, Yuriko Ishida | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Videos

See all 2 videos  »

Photos

See all 27 photos »
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Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shinchô Kokontei Shinchô Kokontei ... Narrator (voice)
Makoto Nonomura Makoto Nonomura ... Shôkichi (voice)
Yuriko Ishida ... Okiyo (voice)
Norihei Miki Norihei Miki ... Seizaemon (voice)
Nijiko Kiyokawa Nijiko Kiyokawa ... Fireball Oroku (voice)
Shigeru Izumiya Shigeru Izumiya ... Gonta (voice)
Gannosuke Ashiya Gannosuke Ashiya ... Inugami Gyobu (voice)
Takehiro Murata Takehiro Murata ... Bunta (voice)
Beichô Katsura Beichô Katsura ... Kinchô Daimyôjin the Sixth (voice) (as Beichou Katsura)
Bunshi Katsura Vi Bunshi Katsura Vi ... Yashimano Hage (voice) (as Bunshi Katsura)
Kosan Yanagiya Kosan Yanagiya ... Abbot Tsurugame (voice)
Akira Kamiya ... Tamasaburô (voice)
Rei Sakuma Rei Sakuma ... (voice)
Tomokazu Seki ... Male Tanuki B (voice)
Minoru Yada Minoru Yada ... (voice)
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

As the human city development encroaches on the raccoon dog population's forest and meadow habitat, the raccoon dogs find themselves faced with the very real possibility of extinction. In response, the raccoon dogs engage in a desperate struggle to stop the construction and preserve their home. Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

raccoon | tanuki | studio ghibli | anthropomorphic animal | anthropomorphism | See All (26) »

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence, scary images and thematic elements | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

Buena Vista International [France] | Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Release Date:

16 July 1994 (Japan) See more »

Also Known As:

Pom Poko See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hakuhodo,Nippon Television Network (NTV),Studio Ghibli See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

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. See more »

Goofs

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

Quotes

Additional Voices: [turning around] I have no face!
See more »

Alternate Versions

The English dubbed version censors all references to testicles. See more »

Connections

References My Neighbor Totoro (1988) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are they called raccoons in the English dub when a Tanuki is a raccoon dog?
See more »

User Reviews

 
One of my favorites from Ghibli
29 November 1999 | by freakus – See all my reviews

This a very different, more dynamic film than a lot of other Ghibli works. Although it bears some thematic resemblance to "Mononoke" and "Naussica" in its nature vs. man plot, it plays out much differently through its use of humorous protagonists. Though on the surface the tanuki may look like cuddly teddy bears, they are fierce in their war with the humans. The animation of the transformation scenes and the action shots make this a very appealing film and the characterization is first rate (especially the three old masters)!

It may be helpful for non-japanese audiences to do a little reading on japanese folklore. I caught a lot of the references but much of it went over my head.
30 of 36 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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