Pom Poko
The Raccoons 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 Raccoons practice and perfect the ancient art of transformation until they are even able to appear as humans in hilarious circumstances.
Critics Sentiment
Tanuki stage massive supernatural parade to frighten humans away
Unity fails as tanuki split into different strategy groups
The film peaks with the spectacular ghost parade sequence but crashes when the effort is dismissed as a publicity stunt, leading to the tanuki's fragmentation.
Pom Poko builds steadily through creative transformation sequences to a spectacular parade climax that reviewers universally praised. The film then struggles with focus and pacing in its final act, though it recovers somewhat with beautiful final illusions. Critics consistently noted the film's visual creativity and environmental message while pointing to structural issues in the lengthy runtime.
Full cast
Makoto Nonomura
Shoukichi (voice)
Nijiko Kiyokawa
Old Fireball / Oroku (voice)
Shigeru Izumiya
Gonta (voice)
Norihei Miki
Seizaemon (voice)
Yuriko Ishida
Kiyo (voice)
Megumi Hayashibara
Sasuke (voice)
Yumi Ichihara
Koharu (voice)
Akira Kamiya
Tamasaburo (voice)
Takehiro Murata
Bunta (voice)
Gannosuke Ashiya
Inugami Gyobu (voice)
Kosan Yanagiya
Tsurukame (voice)
Shinchou Kokontei
Narrator (voice)
Bunshi Katsura VI
Yashimano Hage (voice)
Beichou Katsura
Kincho Daimyojin VI (voice)
Akira Fukuzawa
Ryutarou (voice)
Hayashiya Shōzō IX
Ponkichi (voice)
Shiho Nagai
Hanako (voice)
Osamu Kato
Mr. Hayashi (voice)
Crew
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