Ponpoko

When urban civilization begins to expand near pristine countryside, its inhabitants declare war on it. They are cunning and gifted with the ability to transform into any person or thing – and they will use this in guerrilla warfare against developers and construction workers. But will it work on people who have stopped believing in magic?

According to Japanese folklore, tanuki – Japanese relatives of raccoons, also called raccoon dogs – can transform into other creatures and objects and trick people. A group of raccoons must relearn this ability when modern construction begins to grow near their idyllic forest home.

The environmentally-focused film Ponpoko was directed by Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli. The title refers to the sound raccoons make by drumming on their bellies. Takahata criticizes the values of a materialistic society while offering a bittersweet ode to the vanishing countryside and nature – incorporating elements of Japanese myths and the narrative techniques of folklore and literary classics, which he weaves into a playful satire in which forest creatures use magic, deception, and sabotage to fight against humans.