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An entire article on Japan, racoons, anime, and even a note on the native tanuki, yet not one mention of the excellent Ghibli anime, Pom Poko. For some reason,

by crdb 9y ago

An entire article on Japan, racoons, anime, and even a note on the native tanuki, yet not one mention of the excellent Ghibli anime, Pom Poko. For some reason, this charming Miyazaki (edit - Takahata, not Miyazaki! thanks for the catch) work has not been widely marketed in the West, which is a shame as it is as enjoyable and fun as the more famous ones like Spirited Away or Porco Rosso.

miguelrochefort 9y ago
What a shame. Everyone should know about these real-life transformers: - Chameleons - Foxes - Racoons
- nihonde 9y ago
  I used to see a fox around my old house in Nagoya, but never when anyone else was around. Then I started seeing a young girl walking a fox-like dog in the area, and she always seemed to be caught in the act when I came upon her, and again no one else was ever around. I said hello to her once and she just walked right past as if she didn't see me, which is pretty odd behavior in Japan. I will go to my grave believing that she was a shapeshifter, even though I'm not usually in for such superstitious nonsense.
sborra 9y ago
Pom Poko is a Ghibli movie, yes, but it was directed by Isao Takahata, not Miyazaki. I can aunderstand why it's not been marketed as much; it's pretty long-winded and it deals with Japanese stories and folklore that are foreign to the general western audience.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- toyg 9y ago
  > it deals with Japanese stories and folklore that are foreign to the general western audience. That is also true of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro... a lot of other Ghibli productions that did get lots of exposure. I think the issue with that particular movie is that (IIRC) is a bit heavy on the ecological agenda, overall is not great (funny here and there though) and I don't think it was ever dubbed. The subtitles I've seen floating around are pretty terrible. Someone should put together a Takahata retrospective with good subtitles.
  - magic_beans 9y ago
    Doesn't Pom Poko involve raccoons with magical testicles? That kind of storyline is basically unmarketable to children in the prude US!
    - ensignavenger 9y ago
      The English dubs refer to them as 'magic raccoon pouches', and I never knew any better until I saw this thread :)
  - thebooktocome 9y ago
    I always thought the issue was the constant use of shape-sifting testicles as a plot device. It'd be difficult to censor.
- lloydde 9y ago
  Not directed but "also featured early work by animation pioneer and Studio Ghibli cofounder Hayao Miyazaki" http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rascal-the-raccoon-that-ate-japan http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rascal-the-raccoon-that...
ensignavenger 9y ago
I enjoy Ghiblis movies, and enjoyed Pom Poko, but I wouldn't put it in the same class as Spirited Away, maybe Porco Rosso (but I prefer Porco Rosso myself).

by crdb 9y ago

miguelrochefort 9y ago

What a shame. Everyone should know about these real-life transformers: - Chameleons - Foxes - Racoons

nihonde 9y ago
I used to see a fox around my old house in Nagoya, but never when anyone else was around. Then I started seeing a young girl walking a fox-like dog in the area, and she always seemed to be caught in the act when I came upon her, and again no one else was ever around. I said hello to her once and she just walked right past as if she didn't see me, which is pretty odd behavior in Japan. I will go to my grave believing that she was a shapeshifter, even though I'm not usually in for such superstitious nonsense.

sborra 9y ago

Pom Poko is a Ghibli movie, yes, but it was directed by Isao Takahata, not Miyazaki. I can aunderstand why it's not been marketed as much; it's pretty long-winded and it deals with Japanese stories and folklore that are foreign to the general western audience.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
toyg 9y ago
> it deals with Japanese stories and folklore that are foreign to the general western audience. That is also true of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro... a lot of other Ghibli productions that did get lots of exposure. I think the issue with that particular movie is that (IIRC) is a bit heavy on the ecological agenda, overall is not great (funny here and there though) and I don't think it was ever dubbed. The subtitles I've seen floating around are pretty terrible. Someone should put together a Takahata retrospective with good subtitles.
- magic_beans 9y ago
  Doesn't Pom Poko involve raccoons with magical testicles? That kind of storyline is basically unmarketable to children in the prude US!
  - ensignavenger 9y ago
    The English dubs refer to them as 'magic raccoon pouches', and I never knew any better until I saw this thread :)
- thebooktocome 9y ago
  I always thought the issue was the constant use of shape-sifting testicles as a plot device. It'd be difficult to censor.
lloydde 9y ago
Not directed but "also featured early work by animation pioneer and Studio Ghibli cofounder Hayao Miyazaki" http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rascal-the-raccoon-that-ate-japan http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rascal-the-raccoon-that...

ensignavenger 9y ago

I enjoy Ghiblis movies, and enjoyed Pom Poko, but I wouldn't put it in the same class as Spirited Away, maybe Porco Rosso (but I prefer Porco Rosso myself).