I had no real preconceived notions going into this film and watched it today with my youngest. Really fantastic stuff! By the end of the film I felt as mournful as the Tanuki are about the loss of their home. The balance between silly and fun antics with serious depictions of the harsh life of the Tanuki was well struck. I enjoyed the way the movie shifted the style of the tanuki as the tone shifted. Just a great film. Bitter because you feel for the loss of the tanuki's forest, sweet because they manage to preserve some parts of their way of life despite the enclosure.
