For decades, Studio Ghibli has captivated global audiences with its lush animation and profound storytelling. While films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro received immediate international acclaim, some Ghibli gems took longer to find their Western audience. One such film is Isao Takahata’s 1994 environmental epic, Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko).
David’s voice possesses a Shakespearean quality; it is deep, resonant, and authoritative, yet capable of great warmth. He does not merely read the text; he performs it like an oral history. When the film shifts from comedic slapstick to the melancholy reality of the tanuki’s dwindling habitat, David’s narration provides the emotional through-line. For many fans, his performance is the defining element of the English dub, elevating the film from a "kids' movie about raccoons" to a serious ecological parable. pom poko english dub cast
Do not let the raccoon testicles fool you. Pom Poko is a devastating film. And thanks to the powerhouse cast of Simmons, Posehn, Brown, LaMarche, and Richardson, the English dub captures every ounce of that devastation—while still making you laugh at a giant magical raccoon sack. It is, without hyperbole, one of the most unique voice acting ensembles in Ghibli’s library. For decades, Studio Ghibli has captivated global audiences
The following actors provided the primary voices for the Tama Hills tanuki and other key figures: English Voice Actor Narrator / Shokichi (Older) Maurice LaMarche Jonathan Taylor Thomas Clancy Brown Fireball Oroku Tress MacNeille J.K. Simmons Kevin Michael Richardson Ryutaro (the Fox) John DiMaggio Tsurukame Oshō Andre Stojka Jillian Bowen David Oliver Cohen Tamasaburo Wally Kurth David’s voice possesses a Shakespearean quality; it is