Pom Poko

Dir: Isao Takahata

1994

****

With its roots firmly in folk-law, Pom Poko is one of the more bizarre additions to the Studio Ghibli collection for anyone outside Japan. Pom Poko is the sound that Tanuki (a sort of Raccon type dog) makes when they beat their own bellies like a drum. This ancient and mythical drumming is called Tanuki-bayashi and has been written about in Japanese legend and while it remains a mysterious phenomenon, Ghibli declare that it was the Tanuki all along. The Tanuki are fun, playful and somewhat mischievous and have the power to transform into whatever they like, thanks to their understanding and skills in 'illusion science'. How this 'illusion science’ works is never explained but it generally involves the creatures pulling out their testicles and wrapping themselves in their own ball sacks. This is genuinely from real Japanese folk-law. Unlike other shape-shifting animals, particularly foxes, the Tanuki are not threatening and are a peaceful species. The Tanuki generally keep their natural appearance when in the company of humans and are anthropomorphic most of the time unless they're being playful, they are then given a more cartoonish appearance by Ghibli's animators. It's a strange one this. The film starts in the 1960s where we find the Tanuki's home under treat from humans building a residential development right next to them. Thirty years later, the problem has increased. This is typical of Ghibli, they often make films about environmental issues but this one isn't just about the physical diminishing of Japan's wildlife, it is also about how modern lifestyles and ways of thinking are destroying the country’s history which is steeped in mythology and magic. What makes the film even more unique compared to the other Ghibli animations is that while it is generally a cutesy comedy, the Tanuki do actually kill people, albeit by mistake. While the Tanuki sabotage the developments, they also try to drive people away by turning into monsters and scaring the living daylights out of them. What starts off as a sweet cartoon, soon turns into a surreal tale that would have most kids turn to their parents with that 'Are we still allowed to watch this'? look on their faces. Some of the Tanuki soon turn into eco-terrorists and fight the human developers, while others give up or change into humans for good. It's quite a sad tales really but it does have quite a uniquely happy ending as the audience is challenged directly by one of the characters. As a kid in the 80s environmental issues, recycling etc was a hot topic but most of the lessons were samey and uninspiring. I like to think I'm green minded now as an adult but I wonder whether Pom Poko would have been a far more memorable and therefore more effective reminder. Studio Ghibli is lots of things, often surreal but mainly fantastical, beautiful, full of sci-fi and mythical wonder. Pom Poko is all those things but with plenty of added nuts.