Pom Poko (1994)
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Pom Poko (1994) Poster
Japanese title: 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ
(Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko)
Comments on Movie: Pom Poko (1994)
"Pom Poko is weird, peculiar in cultural folklore, superstitions and traditions, but it has heart and moral issues that demand attention. Its unique narrative style, pacing and themes do make it a typical film for kids, yet for the young demography the moral lessons will go a long way." - Le Apprenti, Movie Vault.
"An excellent contribution to Ghibli's legacy of pro-environment fables about the magic of the natural world and the emptiness of crowded cities." - Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy.
"By no means a particularly good film...But as a cultural curiosity and a showcase for stunningly bizarre animation, there's nothing else quite like it." - Christopher Runyon, Movie Mezzanine.
"Deeply affecting and visually mesmerizing." - MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher.
"This bittersweet animation is both blissful and depressing as it shows that ultimately nothing can be done to undo the actions of human beings to return the nature back to what it was; even with the Tanukis dying, trying to make a change." - Rosalyn Lim.
Genre/Tags
Anime Comedy Drama Fantasy Isao Takahata 2D Animation Animated FeaturePom Poko (1994) Trailer
Pom Poko (1994) at a glance
Pom Poko (1994) is an animated fantasy film written and directed by Isao Takahata. It is loosely based on the Japanese raccoon dogs folklore and economic growth of the Japanese in the 1960s.
Pom Poko (1994) Synopsis
Pom Poko (1994) Synopsis
The Raccoon Dogs of the Tama Hills are being forced from their homes by the rapid development of houses and shopping malls. As it becomes harder to find food and shelter, they decide to band together and fight back. The Raccoon Dogs practice and perfect the ancient art of transformation until they are even able to appear as humans in hilarious circumstances.
21-in-1 Update:
Movie Review: Pom Poko (1994)
Japanese Raccoon Dogs, Tanuki.
Although Pom Poko (1994) is hilarious and adorable, one sad fact learned from this film is that nothing can stop human. This bittersweet animation is both blissful and depressing as it shows that ultimately nothing can be done to undo the actions of human beings to return the nature back to what it was; even with the Tanukis dying, trying to make a change.
The ghostly monster parade.
The most fascinating and stunning points of this film are the antics of the characters and the spectacular achievements of the raccoon dogs using the ancient art of transformation such as scaring the humans and the grand monster parade. They are quite entertaining to watch and they will only get more amusing as you watch the film after you found out the source of their supernatural shape-shifting powers.
You wouldn't expected what it's made of.
However, be warned that this film may be weird or obscene as you will be seeing testicles frequently shown or used for various illusions or transformations in this film but it is quite, funny. The depiction of raccoon dogs here are in accordance to the Japanese folklore so it is normal in Japanese culture.
Pom Poko Raccon Dog Elders
PS. This is a slightly obscene but amusing movie about Tanukis and supernatural folklores!
Movie Ratings
Will write a page regarding this and add this to all animated feature entries in the future.
Who will like this?
People who adores Tanuki (raccoon dogs) will be amused with this film and certainly people who like folklore themed stories! If you're looking for a movie just to have a good laugh, this might be it!
PS. This film may be too mature or violent for minor audiences, parental advisory may be needed.
PS. This film may be too mature or violent for minor audiences, parental advisory may be needed.
Director: Isao Takahata
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Story: Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki
Screenplay: Isao Takahata
Cinematography: Not sure.
Music: Shang Shang Typhoon
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Starring: Kokontei Shinchou, Makoto Nonomura, Yuriko Ishida
Full Credit: [IMDb]
Distributor: Toho
Country: Japanese
Language: Japanese, English
Genre: Comedy Drama Fantasy
Running time: 119 mins
Budget: Not sure.
Box office: USD 26,000,000 est.
Official website(s)
http://www.ghibli.jp/
http://movies.disney.com/pom-poko
Related
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Studio Ghibli
Rosalyn's Animated Movie Marathon
Pom Poko (1994) Behind the Scenes
N/A
Favorite Movie Character
Pom Poko (1994) Movie Quotes
Some of the quotes I've compiled from the English dub, typed with iphone. ><
- Mr. Raccoon, can't you play with me somehow?
- It's true we raccoons like to live near humans but not to steal their food, let me clear that up right now. The reasons we live by humans is because human live on farms where there are farms, there are frogs and grasshoppers, mice and moles, all sorts of things for raccoon to eat.
- And then there's all sorts of fruits that fall off the trees, which humans won't touch.
- Last spring, this farmhouse was abandoned, no one seems to be coming back so we decided to move in.
- Although not a widely known fact, raccoons do walk on two legs when humans aren't around, as you see here.
- Red will lose tomorrow and blue will lose today.
- The destruction stretch for miles. The situation was far worst than they have realised.
- Don't you see? This is madness. This is not the time for fighting each other!
- In the 1960, Japan is entering a golden age of economic growth and the demand for housing in and around Tokyo exploded. Developers snapped up giant tracks of farmlands and forests, creating a maze of poorly planned suburbs.
- It was the largest urban development project in history.
- Clearly, we raccoons underestimated these humans. In the past, we've always thought that humans were animals just like us. But now we realised that these guys were powerful. Maybe as powerful as the Gods.
- Despite the facts that the raccoons have trouble taking anything seriously, they manage to agree to stop the developments.
- The elders adopted a five year program with two objective. One, research and monitor humans. And two, revive the ancient raccoon art of transformation.
- Although the plan was superb, the journey was long and raccoons are notoriously lazy. All the elders pretended to be asleep.
- The best way to research and monitor humans they concluded was to watch TV.
- Good Evening.
- The arrival of the TV has an unexpected result. Dozens of raccoons crowded the into the temple watch TV all day and lost the desire to accomplish anything else.
- To learn to transform, you must achieve the highest level of concentration so you can rearrange the order of yourselves in an instant.
- Aren't you supposed to put a leaf on your head?
- According to raccoon laws, I wasn't suppose to go near them but that just made me the more curious.
- My dad always encourage me, he said that careful observation of humans and their ways is the key to transforming and getting near the human is essential.
- To become adept at transforming requires techniques and extreme physical and mental discipline. Unlike foxes who are known to be clever, raccoons are known being lazy.
- Why do you think the raccoon fell from the tree?
- What lessons should we learn from this story?
- That was overtly accommodating towards the human, we are too eager to please.
- The raccoons decided to refrain themselves from romance, until the battle for Tama Hills has won.
- It was left up for the female to fend off the males advances. The females were remarkably successful.
- Now, notice this fine red blanket we are all sitting on. Wanna know what it is? My raccoon pouch! It's 150sq ft and it retracts quite nicely. Watch!
- To graduate from basic training, the students have to pass one final test. Each was required to go out into the world and earn at least ten dollars through honest labor.
- When I told you to go out to the world and make some money, I did not mean it literally.
- They need practice. Even the smallest mistakes can make our secret discovered.
- Shouldn't we be paying our respect to those poor people who were victims of this operation?
- The world is crawling with humans, like roaches!
- It's just that if we get rid of all of the humans, we will never eat tempura again. Or beef jerky. Or popcorn.
- The fox's eerie cries so overwhelm the ceremonies participants that the relocation procedures was brought to an immediate halt.
- The witnesses of the event bow down to the fox and vows that its shrine will be left where it was.
- The raccoons play tricks on all the trespassers all over the forest.
- Go away! Take it away!
- Leave it here.
- Did she look something like this?
- The raccoons take great pleasure in fighting the humans.
- You think that will stop the developers?
- Rivers were paved with concrete, forest trails became cement roads.
- Is something wrong with your neck?
- Did you hear that son? Even in children nursery rhymes, human sing about how they love to shoot us. And then fry us up. Humans are sick, cruel and heartless species and don't you forget it Shoukichi.
- Where is our home? We just got back from the trip to the stars and my home's gone.
- Mister, do you know what happened to our homes?
- We are cold and we wanna go home.
- Look, I don't care how much you pay me, I am getting out of here. I have never seen anything that creepy in my life.
- Someone or something doesn't want this project to happen.
- Hey mom, it's the monster parade.
- It's all because of all the scary stories people tell you, it plants a seed in your brain.
- Something you just can't explain.
- When that fails to solve the mystery, the human will finally be humble.
- He is stealing credits for all our hard work.
- It's like operation specter. They would think it's staged and we will be exploited again.
- What about those who cannot transform?
- Even if we should fall in the heat of battle, our deaths will not be in vain, our sacrifices certainly will rally on purpose, to fight on until the day of victory. That's the kamikaze spirit.
- The ones you love yesterday are gone today. The one you love today may be gone tomorrow. We do not know what the future awaits.