Pom Poko: TAKAHATA Isao’s ecological tale follows a group of tanukis (or raccoon dogs) who, upon seeing the forest near Tokyo where they live being cut down, organize to determine the best way to respond. The film is highly entertaining, as it presents three distinct factions within the tanuki society, each with its own ideas on how to deal with the problem, and features numerous political infights. It also has an extremely imaginative portrayal of the animals and the world they inhabit. Character design is amusing, the animation is quite fluid and colourful, giving the film a zany energy that is rather welcome for a film with such a heartfelt and dark message. Voice work is excellent, and the large cast is consistently fun; if there is one standout, it’s KOKONTEI Shinchoo, who voices the narrator with a documentary-like objectivity to the delivery.