Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko

With the increasing need for Tokyo to expand as one of Japan's major cities, inevitable sacrifices must be made so that changes can take place. One of these sacrifices is that the room for nature and wildlife to flourish will decrease significantly over time. As this decline continues, many animal communities experience the brunt of urbanization. One such community known as the "Tanuki," a type of magical shape-shifting mammal, is caught up in a struggle to defend their beloved forest from being absorbed by the looming threat of an expanding Tokyo.

As more and more Tanuki find themselves with nowhere to hide and territorial fights become increasingly regular amongst the different factions of the community, the elder Tanuki Oroku decides that something must be done. For the sake of their home as well as the safety of their future generations, the Tanuki unite as one with the hope that together they may be able to repel mankind's construction projects and scare them away from the forests using their shapeshifting abilities.

But as they begin their first attempts at sabotage, the Tanuki soon realize the operation will be no easy task. Will they reclaim their forest as a united community, or will they be torn apart by a war against humanity, blinded by anger and pain after witnessing nature's destruction?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shoukichi Main

Nonomura, Makoto Japanese

Okiyo Main

Ishida, Yuriko Japanese

Tamasaburou Supporting

Kamiya, Akira Japanese

Tsurugame Supporting

Gyobu, Inugami Supporting

Ashiya, Gannosuke Japanese

Ponkichi Supporting

Hayashiya, Shouzou Japanese

Hage, Yashimano Supporting

Daimyoujin, Kincho Supporting

Bunta Supporting

Takakemori, Gonta Supporting

Suzuki, Toshio Producer

Takahata, Isao Director, Screenplay, Original Creator

Urakami, Yasuo Sound Director

Momose, Yoshiyuki Storyboard, Setting

Reviews

Jan 10, 2026

Anime_Enjoyer_69

Recommended

It's very fun. The art is incredible and the music is great. It's very whimsical and funny. This is easily the strangest studio ghibli movie i've seen. The movie heavily focuses on a group of tanuki (tanukis?) that live in a forest that is being taken over and developed by humans. The tanuki have special shape-shifting/illusion powers that allow them to change into many different things and create elaborate illusions to fool humans. The transformations were the best part of this movie to me. They're so creative and charming. There are some dark parts that I didn't expect. There is a lot of mortality. The ... movie isn't overly violent or grotesque but there is death and loss. Despite the darker parts though, this movie is very light-hearted and happy.

It's a bit hard to recommend to your average person because there are tanuki balls shoved in your face for the entire movie, but if you can see past that, there is a very cool story to experience. This is one of the most unique animes I've ever seen and because of that, I will definitely not forget this movie.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 30, 2025

VanVeleca

Mixed Feelings

Why don't they just buy the patch of lands? No seriously, is that not the most obvious answer?

Now I was not born in the 90s and I have no idea how buying land works, but I know it's possible to buy untouched patches of nature as long as you're willing to spend a couple thousands. The young Tanuki that can transform into people have jobs, right? And they don't have to spend it on things like taxes, cars, etc. They seem to only spend money on food and alcohol.

From the very start, why didn't they just start piggy bank-ing some money to buy land so ... that no human, including the governement, could interfere with that part of nature? I get that the movie is about trying to convince the viewer into being more ecological and more importantly trying to convince japanese youths to care more about nature, but...it kinda does a shitty job of that? "If you don't respect nature it'll fight back someday" yes and it will lose. Nature is literally losing right now. Perhaps it's bias due to me and you living in the modern day and knowing that it does not get better overall, at all, but it just annoys me that the movie is overlooking such an obvious solution to the clan's plight.

I thought maybe at the end when they steal a fuckton of money they would finally do the one thing I was thinking they should do from the beginning, but no, the tanuki are just stupid idiot brutes who would rather start a unwinnable war and die an "honorable death" as the movie calls it. What a joke.

I dunno man, when I watched it as a kid I didn't have these thoughts about what they could do and had no idea that land could be owned in the first place. This movie is specifically targeted at 6 year olds so maybe it really is just targetted at kids who don't know any better specifically so that they can be influenced to go green someday.

The story is not really supposed to make sense, it's a movie that flexes smooth animation and has an overall good yet kind of empty message.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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May 17, 2021

xraaki

Not Recommended

This review contains *SPOILERS*.
Watched in Sub/Dub: Dub

Story: 6/10
Pom Poko highlights one of Japan’s odder but extremely popular legends. Pom Poko follows a large commune of raccoons that are determined to reclaim their land from the humans that stole it. The raccoons engage in plenty of shenanigans to halt construction and screw with humans. The plot is all over the place and lacks character development and opportunities for emotional moments. Even though Pom Poko is advertised as a comedy, I found the “funny” moments to be forced and cringey.

Art: 6/10
The animation flow when the raccoons are transforming is excellent but the entire film seems stylistically desynched ... to the other Studio Ghibli films. The scenery specifically is more angular compared to the generally soft look of most nature scenes in Ghibli movies. A lot of the scenes feel and look like a parody of Studio Ghibli movies.

Sound/Soundtrack: 6/10
The soundtrack is generally boring and doesn’t evoke any particular emotion or feelings of nostalgia that other Ghibli soundtracks accomplish.

Character: 1/10
The raccoons are lazy, unlikable, and underdeveloped characters. While in real life I often think about the impact humans have on the habits of other animals, I felt no sympathy for these annoying ass raccoons.

Enjoyment: 4/10
Honestly I was just bored watching this movie from start to finish. It’s difficult to watch a movie where none of the characters are interesting, likable, or even evil. The visuals in Pom Poko are definitely interesting but since I have no personal connection to Japanese folklore (i.e. I wasn’t raised on it), the film doesn’t really offer anything for the viewers to emotionally connect with or care about.

Overall: 4/10
I’m sure if I was more familiar with Japanese folklore and/or had a nostalgic connection to the legends in Pom Poko I would like the film a lot more. However, as an outsider, watching Pom Poko is a dull experience.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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