I have been awed and amazed by Studio Ghibli from the first moment I saw SPIRITED AWAY (Awarded Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards - 2003). Consequently, I have watched everything from the Studio, that I can get my hands on (often several times as I've introduced them to new audiences). And, I've learned that the two founders, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata have very different approaches to character, world building, theme and storytelling (and I am entirely in the Miyazaki camp). Although the artwork and animation is stellar in both, Takahata tends to shape his stories as he goes, which makes the stories too fragmented and meandering for my tastes. He tends to chose environmental subjects and natural characters as we see in this story of how the Tunuki (Raccoon Dogs) are affected as we ravish nature to accommodate human sprawl. He does so with hyperbole and humour but tends to anchor his world in real world concerns and identifiable creatures, even when he taps into Japanese myth. For me, this story was too long and lacked focus. The creatures were cute and relatable but the the message was muddled. I give this film a 6 (fair) out of 10. [Animated Feature]

While Tokyo swells and expands, clearing forest to accommodate its housing needs, a nearby tribe of free-spirited tanuki (Japanese raccoon-dog) hatches plans to defend its turf. That's the intention anyway, if everyone would just sit still and pay attention long enough to chart a course of action. Fortunately, they do have one ace up their sleeve: the long-fabled (and nearly forgotten) ability to shape-shift. Once unlocked and understood, this plays heavily into the tanuki's efforts to subvert construction crews - destructive pranks, mostly - but also their day-to-day appearance.

Effective animation is essential here, and Studio Ghibli is up to the task. Depending upon the critters' moods, they'll slide from super-realistic to ultra-expressive, often several times over the course of a single scene. Ghibli makes it all feel smooth and natural, enhancing the important bits with their usual assortment of small details and charming body language.

There isn't much to the story - all the fun is in the light spirit, zany transformations and oafish nature of the animals - and that's a problem as the duration grows and the climax remains elusive. It holds on for way too long, repeating the same beats three or four times too often. The first hour is a wonderful blast of unbridled creativity and innocent attitude, peaking in a wild parade scene that rivals the one in _Paprika_, but I was ready for it to end at least half an hour before it did.