[toyg]

> it deals with Japanese stories and folklore that are foreign to the general western audience.

That is also true of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro... a lot of other Ghibli productions that did get lots of exposure.

I think the issue with that particular movie is that (IIRC) is a bit heavy on the ecological agenda, overall is not great (funny here and there though) and I don't think it was ever dubbed. The subtitles I've seen floating around are pretty terrible.

Someone should put together a Takahata retrospective with good subtitles.

[thebooktocome]

I always thought the issue was the constant use of shape-sifting testicles as a plot device. It'd be difficult to censor.

[magic_beans]

Doesn't Pom Poko involve raccoons with magical testicles? That kind of storyline is basically unmarketable to children in the prude US!

[ensignavenger]

The English dubs refer to them as 'magic raccoon pouches', and I never knew any better until I saw this thread :)