In Studio Ghibli’s Pom Poko, Shōkichi is a tanuki.
Tanuki are Japanese raccoon dogs, a real canine species native to East Asia. In Japanese folklore, they are famous for magical transformation and playful trickery. Pom Poko uses those traditions while also portraying the animals as a community threatened by suburban development.
Shōkichi is one of the tanuki who struggles to respond to the destruction of the Tama Hills. The film’s animals use transformation, illusions, and disguises in attempts to protect their home from expanding human construction.
A common mistake is to call tanuki raccoons, but raccoons and raccoon dogs are different animals from different biological groups. Isao Takahata directed Pom Poko, which was released in Japan in 1994.