Faced with the destruction of their habitat due to the growth of Tokyo, a group of tanuki racoons try to defend their homes, using their transforming talents to hold back the new development. Two of them, especially skilled at transforming, are sent to Shikoku to enlist the help of three sages. Meanwhile, the rest of them do their best to disrupt the construction site, at first causing accidents, and then actually haunting the site. However, the humans are very persistent, and soon the tanuki are forced to use more and more extreme measures to save their home.

"Pom Poko might fly under the radar for most when it comes to the works of Studio Ghibli, but really should be considered one of their best works."
Carson Timar
Filmotomy

"Miyazaki represents the last animator still wholly dedicated to an art form that is slowly dying. Relish animated films like this while you can."
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review