Pom Poko is an anime movie from Studio Ghibli about raccoon like creatures called Tanuki who are losing their forest home due to urban development. They decide to fight back to keep their home.
First, quick primer about Tanuki:
1. They shape shift. They take numerous forms during the movie (human, hot air balloon, giant arms that play rock paper scissors, etc)
2. They are pranksters
3. They are a little lazy and stupid
4. They use their testicles in a variety of ways. They can stretch their scrotums and inflate their testicles to large sizes. They can also shape shift them.
I knew this was going to be a unique movie during one of the first scenes when an older tanuki was teaching the young males about shape shifting:
(Paraphrasing) Can you guess where the red mat you are sitting on came from? I’ll tell you. It’s my balls.
The red mat then transforms back into his testicles.
Before this movie, I didn’t realize that testicles had so many uses. They can be used as parachutes, bongo drums, and even be transformed into a large wooden ship.
This is not to say that the use of testicles is not tastefully done. It’s not, but is not sexual in the least and is rather inoffensive. In the dub, the testicles are translated at pouches so there you go.
This movie was really funny and I did enjoy watching it. I didn’t even mind the environmental message that was pushed over and over again. For every mention of deforestation, there was at least one scene where something insane happened.
I give Pom Poko a 4 out of 5.
For you anime fans out there, you may also want to check out My Neighbours, the Yamadas. It is another family movie done by Studio Ghibli and has zero raccoon testicles if that is a concern. It’s about everyday family life done in a series of vingettes.
Later Bloggies
Edit:
I just had to post this as well. Click here for an awesome commercial.
Tags: Movies