Film · 1994
Pom Poko
平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ
Magical tanuki live in wooded hills until the construction of a Tokyo suburb threatens their home. They turn their ability to transform into a defence against development. Their campaign brings Japanese folklore into direct conflict with the expansion of a human city.
The tanuki can imitate objects as well as people, making disguise a practical tool rather than a single secret identity. They try to frighten construction workers by making the site seem haunted. Protecting their habitat requires learning how humans might interpret what they see.
Before the campaign against construction, the tanuki also quarrel over food. A threatened habitat does not automatically produce a united community. The gathered figures, improvised weapons and competing expressions give their defence a collective problem to solve: they must organise themselves as well as learn to deceive the humans.
Standalone animated film · Approx. 119 min · one film
The original 1994 standalone animated film. Excludes source books, live-action versions and unrelated adaptations.