Tanuki are the animal-like creatures central to Studio Ghibli’s Pom Poko.
In Japanese folklore, tanuki are often portrayed as magical shapeshifters. They are based on the Japanese raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, which is a real canid and not a raccoon. Pom Poko uses this folklore tradition to tell a story about tanuki defending their forest home from suburban development.
Isao Takahata directed the 1994 film. Its Japanese title, Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko, refers to a tanuki war during Japan’s Heisei era. The story combines comedy, folklore, environmental concerns, and the social consequences of rapid urban expansion around Tokyo.
A frequent translation mistake is calling the protagonists raccoons. Raccoons are a different species native to North America, while tanuki are native to East Asia. English releases often retain the word tanuki to preserve the cultural meaning. The film’s shapeshifting scenes draw on traditional Japanese imagery but are presented with modern satire.