Pom Poko facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pom Poko
Japanese release poster
Directed by	Isao Takahata
Produced by	Toshio Suzuki
Written by	Isao Takahata
Starring	Kokontei Shinchou Makoto Nonomura [ja] Yuriko Ishida
Music by	Shang Shang Typhoon
Cinematography	Atsushi Okui
Editing by	Takeshi Seyama
Studio	Studio Ghibli
Distributed by	Toho
Release date(s)	July 16, 1994 (1994-07-16)
Running time	119 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Money made	¥4.47 billion (Japan)

Pom Poko (Japanese: 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ, Hepburn: Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko, lit. "Heisei-era Raccoon Dog War Ponpoko") is a Japanese animated fantasy film from 1994. It was directed by Isao Takahata and made by Studio Ghibli.

The movie is about a group of magical Japanese raccoon dogs, called tanuki, who try to save their forest home. The title "Pom Poko" comes from the sound the tanuki make when they drum on their bellies. This sound is part of old Japanese stories and songs.

In Japanese folklore, tanuki are known for being clever and a bit mischievous. They can use "illusion science" to change their shape into almost anything. But they also love to have fun and eat tasty treats! In the film, the tanuki look different at times: sometimes like real animals, sometimes like animals wearing clothes, and sometimes like cartoon characters.

Story of Pom Poko

The story starts in the late 1960s in Japan. A large building project called New Tama is growing near Tokyo. This project is cutting down the forests where the tanuki live. It is destroying their homes and splitting up their land.

The story then jumps to the early 1990s. The tanuki have less and less space and food. They start fighting among themselves. But an old, wise tanuki named Oroku tells them they must work together. They decide to stop the building project.

Tanuki Fight Back

Several tanuki lead the fight. These include the strong Gonta, the old leader Seizaemon, the wise Oroku, and the smart young Shoukichi. They use their special illusion powers, which they have to practice again. They create many tricks to scare the humans. They cause problems for the construction workers, hoping they will quit. But new workers always come to replace them.

Feeling desperate, the tanuki send out messages to ask for help. They hope to find legendary elders from other places.

The Ghost Parade

After some years, one messenger returns with three old tanuki from a far-off island called Shikoku. On this island, the tanuki are still respected. The group decides to put on a huge "ghost parade" to make humans believe the town is haunted. They hope this will make humans respect the supernatural world again.

This big illusion takes a lot of energy. One of the elders dies from the effort. The parade seems to be for nothing when a nearby theme park owner says it was just a publicity stunt for his park.

Challenges and Changes

After this setback, the tanuki unity breaks apart. They form smaller groups, each trying a different plan. One group, led by Gonta, tries to stop the workers by force. They fight the police but are defeated.

Another group tries to get attention from the media. They appear on television to ask for help. One of the elders becomes confused and starts a dancing group with tanuki who cannot change shape. They sail away and are never seen again. Another elder tries to join the human world, just like some magical foxes have done.

A Final Illusion

When all their plans fail, the remaining tanuki perform one last grand illusion. They temporarily change the city back into the beautiful forest it once was. This is to remind everyone what has been lost.

Finally, with their powers used up, the tanuki who are good at illusions decide to live among humans. They leave behind those who cannot change their shape. The media attention comes too late to stop the building. However, people feel sorry for the tanuki. This makes the builders set aside some areas as parks. But these parks are too small for all the tanuki who cannot transform. Some try to live there, looking for food in human trash. Others move to the countryside, where they have to compete with other tanuki.

Life in the Human World

One day, Shoukichi, who now lives as a human, sees a tanuki jump into a small opening in a wall. Shoukichi follows and finds a grassy area where some of his old friends are gathered. He happily changes back into a tanuki to join them.

Shoukichi's friend, Ponkichi, then speaks to the audience. He asks humans to be more thoughtful of tanuki and other animals. He asks them not to destroy their homes. As the view pulls back, we see that the grassy area is actually a golf course within a big city area.

Voice Actors

Other voice actors in the English version include Newell Alexander, Jeff Bennett, Mitch Carter, Holly Dorff, Zac Gardner, Sherry Hursey, Jordan Orr, Philece Sampler, Alyson Stoner, Erica Beck, Reeve Carney, David Cowgill, Ike Eisenmann, Richard Steven Horvitz, Hope Levy, Mary Mouser, Peter Renaday, Audrey Wasilewski, and Adam Wylie.

See also

In Spanish: Pompoko para niños