Pom Poko (1994)
Pom Poko
”Magical tanukis fight to save their forest from urban development.”
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Why watch this film?
This might be the most unassuming animation from Studio Ghibli. And that, it should be said, doesn't mean it's bad. Far from it. After the moving 'Grave of the Fireflies' and 'Only Yesterday', director and animator Isao Takahata opted for a much lighter comedic drama in his third feature film with Studio Ghibli. 'Heisei tanuki gassen ponpoko' is one of the least known films of the studio, but still ingenious in mixing visual humor with a theme that fits perfectly with other productions of Studio Ghibli, which usually address the coexistence of humanity with the natural world. And it is worth noting that, even though the title speaks of raccoons, in reality they are tanukis, animals that in Japanese folklore have the magical ability to transform and cause havoc.
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Plot summary
A community of magical shape-shifting raccoon dogs struggle to prevent their forest home from being destroyed by urban development.
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From the same director
Only Yesterday
At the time of its release, 'Omohide poro poro' was a groundbreaking movie. After all, it was an animation, rarely used to talk about realistic dramas. Much less about women. However, and that's where the beauty of the film lies, it presents a beautiful exploration of a woman's bittersweet memories and her hopes for the future. Furthermore, after conquering the world with the devastating 'Grave of the Fireflies', it is the second feature film that the great director Isao Takahata made under the Studio Ghibli label.
My Neighbors the Yamadas
After moving the world with 'Memories of Yesterday', 'Grave of the Fireflies' and 'PomPoko', legendary director and producer Isao Takahata delivered something very different in his fourth feature-length film with Studio Ghibli. Based on its namesake manga, 'Hôhokekyo tonari no Yamada-kun' translates the art style of the page to the screen, as well as its structure as a collection of vignettes in the daily life of the Yamada family, exploring the relationships between parents and children, mundane misadventures, the wisdom of old age and first loves. It is an unusual movie in its narrative line, but no less funny or touching for that. It's worth watching to get to know these creative adventures of Ghibli.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Based on 'The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter', the oldest narrative text in Japan, 'Kaguyahime no monogatari' is the last movie of the legendary Isao Takahata (of 'Grave of the Fireflies') before his death in 2018. Similarly to 'My Neighbors the Yamadas', also directed by him, this movie marks a shift in the artistic direction of Studio Ghibli, which makes use of a watercolor aesthetic to evoke ancient Japanese art. A true hand-animated gem, but also a solid introduction to one of Japan's most famous stories, as well as a fitting farewell to its renowned director.
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