Studio Ghibli’s Pom Poko centers on tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dogs, using shape-shifting powers.
Directed by Isao Takahata, the 1994 film follows a community of tanuki whose forest home is threatened by suburban development near Tokyo. They use a traditional supernatural ability called transformation to disguise themselves, scare humans, and resist the destruction of their habitat.
In Japanese folklore, tanuki are associated with transformation, mischief, and abundance. They are real canids, not raccoons, although the English phrase “raccoon dog” describes their species. The film combines comedy, folklore, and environmental themes.
Pom Poko is sometimes confused with Princess Mononoke because both examine conflict between development and nature. Their central creatures differ: Pom Poko focuses on tanuki, while Princess Mononoke features forest gods, wolves, and boar spirits.