I don't know if maybe you have to be Japanese to get this film properly, but, despite the perfectly clear English dubbing, I feel like I watched this in its native tongue. I'm pretty much a Studio Ghibli veteran thanks to my girlfriend, and enjoy many of the films I've seen from Hayao Miyazaki. This is not one of his, it was produced by a stable mate, and its differences are as many as its similarities. As you would expect from Ghibli, the traditional animation is excellent and the characters are often awesomely cute. As you wouldn't expect, the pacing is flat, the odd narration unhelpful and the ending, well, isn't happy. Please understand I like unhappy films, it's not that I can't cope with downbeat. However, the presentation and tone are so incongruous that I just felt detached and confused by the whole affair. Overall, I'd rather watch My Neighbour Tortoro.
Review of Pom Poko
