Today’s quick review: Pom Poko. When their forest home is endangered by the spread of suburban housing developments, the raccoons of Tama Hills decide to protect their way of life with their magical powers of transformation. The raccoons use pranks, scare tactics, and sabotage to try to drive off the humans. But with the forest dwindling and times getting tough, even the raccoons’ magic may not be enough to stop the humans’ advance.
Pom Poko is a Japanese animated fantasy comedy from director Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli. Pom Poko tells the story of a tribe of raccoons determined to protect their forest in their own peculiar way. The movie mixes light, cartoonish antics with a strong environmental message and tragic overtones. The storytelling style most closely resembles a history, with lots of exposition and only passing focus on individual characters.
Pom Poko’s greatest draw is its colorful cast of raccoons. The raccoons of Tama Hills are a lazy, easygoing lot who nonetheless rally when their home is threatened. Their powers of transformation let them change shape, turn into inanimate objects, or even impersonate people, a skill they put to good use against the humans. Their friendships and quarrels show the friendly, earnest, and chaotic side of human nature writ small.
However, Pom Poko does have some peculiarities that set it apart from typical family comedies. The story takes place over the course of several years, relying heavily on the narration to convey the key events. The raccoons struggle has a certain amount of tragedy to it, and they run into setback after setback. The film is also steeped in Japanese culture, although it does a good job of explaining the bits of folklore that are impmortant to the plot.
Overall, Pom Poko makes for an odd but enjoyable watch. It has the liveliness and beauty that all Studio Ghibli films share, and even its stranger qualities have a certain charm to them. Skip it if you’re looking for a focused adventure with a singular hero. For a stylized comedy with similar story and presentational elements, try Isle of Dogs. For a Studio Ghibli film with a similar vibe and a lighter tone, try My Neighbor Totoro.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for fun characters and a high degree of craftsmanship, held back somewhat by its unusual choices.