Anime: Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko

Studio Ghibli's Best Non-Miyazaki Film
This is, in my opinion, Studio Ghibli's best film not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and a testament to writer/director Isao Takahata abilities, and ranks as an equal to Isao's Grave of the Fireflies, although this film has a much more positive, although still serious, tone, which may be more appealing to some people.

The film does take a lot from Japanese mythology, but it is mainly used as background information or minor in-jokes, which do enhance the film, and thus repeat viewings can be worthwhile to take these in, but it is not required to understand and enjoy the film.

The Tanuki are written accurately according to Japanese Mythology, and would be appealing to children for their looks and actions, and would be appropriate for the entire family to view, so long as aren't squeamish about the male Tanukis' exposed testicles (or the rare shot of a bare breast female in the background), which are referenced repeatedly through out the film, and while called "pounces" in the dub (but not sub), everyone should quickly recognize them for what they are (seriously, if somebody was fooled, they're either self-delusional or very innocent/naive), and viewers should be prepared for possible questions on either this subject, or that of the impact of human development on nature.

The story is well written, and the main characters are vibrant, albeit difficult to distinguish at first (primarily due to the shape shifting), with all of them sharing roughly equal importance and none of them stealing the spotlight, although these does lead to the lack of a primary character through which the story unfolds, which may be a pro of con depending on your view, as people can choose which character is the most important, which could lead to some parts felling extraneous, especially as the film runs just short of two hours. The characters are portrayed as genuine, although some can get a bit two-dimensional at times, and don't always make the best decisions but do play true to character and keep the story moving at a mostly consistent pace.

Showing this film to other people ultimately depends on the collective maturity of the group, and whether they can get past the sexual and focus on the environmental issues. This is considered a family film in Japan, due to the difference in treating sexuality in Japan, so treat accordingly and know your audience. Otherwise, this film can be enjoyed by anyone.

ANIME MINOR JEWELS SERIES
Full list of the review series can be found on this page, 3rd post from bottom:
http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?uid=251338&show=userpage&do=blog&blogid=29009&page=0

Japanese people have a weird psychology. On one side, they cherish progress. It’s their heavy industry and workaholic tendencies that turned their country into one of the most advanced places in the world. On the other hand, they still have a desire to be close to nature and folklore tradition as they were before all the westernization of their way of life took place. Anime themselves are a western product. The animation methods were not invented in Japan; they were just developed into new forms there. And yet, many titles seem to reflect the above dilemma. Most anime deify technology and progress (all mecha series and non-samurai action series are basically foreign concepts seen under a Japanese perspective). But in the same time they include a type of elegy; a deep sadness caused by sadden changes in the life of the characters and the fast and cruel passing of time that leaves many to think of their lively youth or their tender childhood. This movie portraits this form of elegy, a nostalgia of times long gone.

STORY

The story has to do with progress and adapting to the change of time. Humans expand their city into a forest inhabited by shape-shifting tanuki (something like raccoons). The tanuki don’t want their way of life to change and try to find a way to stop them from destroying the forest.

It sounds like a silly children’s adventure with “evil” polluting humans versus the “good” ecological tanuki. Well, it’s not that simple as the humans don’t really have a role in the story; they just expand their city like they normally do when they have overpopulation. And the tanuki are too stupid and ignorant to be seen as heroes. And the story is more about social issues rather than generic ecology lessons. Although there are many ups and downs in the way the tanuki try to stop the humans, in the end it is just an attempt, followed by a time of peace, followed by a documentary, and repeating the process. It is quite linear and predictable after a while but it never feels like there are clear good and bad sides to the conflict.

There is also nothing outrageous in the movie. Nothing really impossible or improbable happens and there are several explanations justifying everybody’s actions. The tanuki transform and trick or scare people but not in ways a disguised person wouldn’t accomplish. And just because they are magical talking animals they still have no superiority over the technology of humans. In a way they are just a representation of people living before the westernization of Japan.

There is a conclusion and it’s not your typical happy ending one. It is quite simple and predicable but wraps things up nicely. And no, it is not exactly a cop-out.

ANIMATION

There is nothing eye-catchy regarding the character figures and the backgrounds. They are just forests, cities, humans and animals drawn in an almost typical anime style. What stands out are the visual effects that are full of fluent animation and artsy touches of theatrical nature, used to evoke feelings to the viewers. There are many scenes that are made to resemble documentaries and very old black & white movies that easily inflict you with something by playing along their stereotypes in a very ironic and sad way. Facial grimaces are also so innocent and silly that you can’t hold a smile.

SOUND

The voice acting is quite good as the tanuki talk in a very immature way that you almost think they are ignorant brats. And the documentary and old movie scenes are really in touch of how people really sound during those shows. Music is atmospheric but also too low-toned and completely forgettable. Sound effects are as masterful as the visual effects in their theatrical appeal.

CHARACTERS

There are no prevailing characters or personalities, everybody is closer to a plot device. The tanuki are metaphorically speaking the ignorant, traditional Japanese people while the humans and their city is technology and science invading and altering their way of life. It is a nice concept but you will remember the events of the movie and not the characters.

ENJOYMENT

A rather big problem it has is that it does not know to whom it is aiming at.
-It has talking animals but it is not for kids as it is very preachy and without much action.
-It is not for teenagers since young people can’t feel nostalgia about times they didn’t live in.
-It is not for adults since very few people are willing to give up their comforting technological and without much free time lives in the big city.
-It is not for old folks. They did live back then and they do miss those good old times. But who would bother watching an animated movie with animals, depicting that?
All these reasons are enough to alienate most viewers and discomfort the rest. The rest will most likely get a nice weird film but it is still not a movie for mass appeal.

And now for some excused scorings.

This is the only Studio Ghibli movie I do not like. The story is plain silly, the execution average and the result terribly boring.

Maybe the infatuation of the Japanese with rascals made them tolerate this piece but watching a jumpy story about rascals bouncing on their balls to save their world... sorry.

The animation is average, the soundtrack forgettable and the characters are animals and use human stereotypes. The whole thing is shifty and jumpy, not making much sense.

But even a great studio like Ghibli needs a fuck up. So here it is.