Pom Poko (1994): Anime Movie FULL LENGTH Reaction! PATREON COMMISSION!
Added 2025-09-05 17:00:28 +0000 UTC*TUB-THUMPING HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
I honestly was not prepared for this movie WHATSOEVER, which was the best surprise! I loved it! There is so much happening in this film -- and if you don't know Tanuki Lore (as I was blissfully unaware of), then this movie may be a culture shock!
Thank you, Shimoyama, for generously commissioning this movie - I am so glad I can say I've watched it now - this was an experience for sure!
LINK TO PIP REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/vegmYNJv7UZZg5Xyo9vLy9
NOTE: Reaction starts a few seconds into the link - trust, it's there! ;)
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Thank you so much for the comment and kind words! What a great movie for the month, right? Ahh, I love you saw this as a kid and yes, Unico, Trigun, Fern Gully…all the environmental messaging! My 90’s kid heart was well-fed! Hahahaha, I have puffy eyes, but not dark undereyes, so I’m no Tanuki, sadly! XD The Testicle…usage was…something! The 2D animation is INSANELY good and detailed, but should we expect any less from Studio Ghibli?! That’s good to know about the dub! I will have to check it out; again, SG’s works usually have amazing dubs, so that doesn’t surprise me. HAHAH, I was having Bambi flashbacks throughout this, so I knew there was going to be a dead tanuki at SOME point…it was only a matter of time. T_T But yes, the imagery and the way they showed humanity’s “impact” was so well done. Themes of resistance EVERYWHERE. I love that connection to Vash and Unico! It’s so true; maybe that’s why I latched onto Vash so easily, because I saw that similarity with Unico and the whimsy despite humanity’s indifference or cruelty towards him…patterns! Nightow drawing from Tetzuka in that instance, eh? Wow, that IS a point that it is bleak in some ways - I like that about this film and as an adult appreciate it more. And yeah, maybe that bleakness was too much for then…but now? It’s almost NEEDED to be seen. I never thought I’d say I’m “here for eco-terrorist raccoons…” but yeah, I kinda am. Viva la resistance! ;) Shimoyama chose a GEM! Thank you for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2025-09-14 17:59:01 +0000 UTCLoved the reaction and discussion! This was very fresh as I had not watched this since I was a child. And yes, all the environmental messaging goodness! Really brought back Trigun and Unico discussions. 🥰 Various things I loved: Nice to know that according to this film I’m a raccoon in disguise due to my dark undereye circles 😆 Testicle rugs, bridges, frogs (?), etc… 10-year-old me did NOT notice any of this I don’t think 🤣 Beautiful artwork, of course – but also the really clever ways they would switch between the different transformed ‘states’ and how well they introduced the audience to this The ENG dub is also excellent, especially with Clancy Brown as Gonta! My favourite imagery is probably the representation of humans having such an ‘outsized’ impact on the natural environment What was the name of the pet raccoon, btw? “I know how Bambi goes, Shimoyama!” 🤣 Everything else I wanted to say really links to the utter abundance… of themes of resistance! 😆 So many very well addressed in discussion already, so I wanted to link directly to Trigun and Unico. With Vash’s pacifism, the cost of non-violence and the way, similarly, their efforts to resist urbanisation became so fragmented as they took so many different approaches. Every type of resistance has a cost, their lack of unity cost them the most. And with Unico, I think with whimsy as resistance against human indifference and encroachment. I agree that there is a fair bit of cultural specificity but I wonder also how its popularity was impacted by what (to me) is just plain bleakness. In a sense, their attempts to save their habitat are futile and the film ends with just Adapt or Die. It refuses to coddle and directly says – resistance can fail and then what is lost cannot be regained. 30 years ago maybe audiences also considered this bleakness overblown or melodramatic, but we see the truth now. In summary... I am all here for eco-terrorist raccoons. Thank you for another amazing commission, Shimoyama! 🥰 Looking forward to next week! 💙
Sunspots
2025-09-07 11:23:54 +0000 UTC
