In Studio Ghibli’s Pom Poko, tanuki use shape-shifting powers to resist urban development.
Tanuki are Japanese raccoon dogs, real members of the canid family rather than raccoons. Japanese folklore often portrays them as magical tricksters capable of transforming their appearance. Pom Poko builds its entire story around this traditional image while placing the animals in modern suburban Japan.
The tanuki organize efforts to stop construction from destroying their woodland habitat. Their transformations allow them to imitate people, create illusions, and stage spectacular protests. The film is therefore both a comic fantasy and an environmental story about rapid development.
Tanuki are often mistranslated as raccoons because of their appearance and the film’s English-language descriptions. “Raccoon dog” is the zoological term, while tanuki is the culturally precise Japanese term used for the characters.