Miyazaki's Racoon Wars Dilemma

[Beware of Blast]

I was happily watching Miyazaki's Racoon Wars (I've never seen it before until this evening) with my son and nephew, when suddenly, my 7 year old nephew asked, "Uncle, what are the two sacks hanging below the racoons? Are they the raccoons' testicles?".

Alright. So, because my son was there as well, I pulled him aside, and whispered to the other kid, that those sacks are actually travel bags that the racoons use to carry stuff. Obviously he didn't quite fall for it - I saw that wierd look on his face. And because my son wasn't looking at me, I just ignore him.

And man... You just can never imagine the position I was put thru after that... I mean, it was suppose to be a kiddy anime right? And yet it contained stuff that can make kids curious enough to ask uncomfortable questions. Luckily for me, my son was so into the show, he had not heard (I hope) his cousin's question.

I sent the little rascal home and two hours later, my brother in-law called. Needless to say he was quite unhappy about what had happened. I also got an earful of scolding.

Kids ask the darndest things and they are so spontaneous about it. What the heck was I suppose to do?

[the white drew carey]

Eh, just tell him the truth.

If he's 1) Heard the word "testicles" and 2) Has kind of figured out that those two dangly spheres are testicles, you might as well just get it over with.

Or tell his parents to get it over with.

[Anubis]

Tell them to get over it. If he pieced it together himself, it's time for his parents to give a quick explanation anyway.

[Beware of Blast]

Well, I hope you guys understand that, it is one thing to tell the truth, and quite the other to make the situation worse. The thing is, I didn't quite gave my answer straight away. At that moment, I thought, had I said, "yeah, they're testicles"... he might comeback and ask, "but where is the penis?".

Had I told the truth, my brother in-law might have murderized me.

I really did the best I could.

[GRAND CANNON]

Yeah, I would just tell him the truth, too. Especially if he asked the question with using the word 'testicles'. You could maybe then go into how animation tends to 'exaggerate' things.

Your in-law was probably ticked because you and the kids were watching "cartoons with Racoon's balls all over the place."

I also know that I like to either see something first or ask others before showing it to the little ones. Just an idea......

[the white drew carey]

Well, your bro-in-law needs to get up to speed on things.

Kids these days are privy to A LOT more information then we were growing up. You really should tell your bro-in-lawe and sister about it because it's obviously time for them to explain human anatomy.

They should just tell him what the parts are and only tell him what they actually do if his questions veer that way.

At least, that's what I'd do.

Edited March 10, 2004 by the white drew carey

[Beware of Blast]

Maybe you guys are right but see, the thing is most fathers (in Asia especially) tend to avoid questions like these and let the mothers do the teaching. I'm not sure how western parents do it though.

I gave my "answer" as a way to cut it short. I said they are travel bags because one of the elder racoons, magically transformed his balls into a huge red carpet and I thought I could use that to realistically back up my little lie.

You guys probably just don't know how freaking hard it is to answer questions such as these - I'm also not implying that I know better.

Edited March 10, 2004 by Beware of Blast

[JValk]

just tell em that squirrels gather nuts - and tanuki already have em.

[Anubis]

I gave my "answer" as a way to cut it short. I said they are travel bags because one of the elder racoons, magically transformed his balls into a huge red carpet and I thought I could use that to realistically back up my little lie.

I know miyazaki has done some odd stuff, but damn.

[ewilen]

I guess these kids have never been to a farm or a state fair? Have they never seen a male dog? Looked at themselves?

Kids know what balls are, so I don't see the point of hiding it. You don't need to explain what they're for, or go into detail about which animals have balls and which don't.

[ewilen]

I gave my "answer" as a way to cut it short. I said they are travel bags because one of the elder racoons, magically transformed his balls into a huge red carpet and I thought I could use that to realistically back up my little lie.

I know miyazaki has done some odd stuff, but damn.

Yes, this was a very odd cartoon. IIRC they also use their balls as weapons at one point.

Lots of info on the movie here: http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/pompoko/

And according to the FAQ which comes off that page, all the earthy humor about testicles was really pretty normal given the subject, and well-appreciated by Japanese kids.

[Beware of Blast]

I guess these kids have never been to a farm or a state fair? Have they never seen a male dog? Looked at themselves?

Kids know what balls are, so I don't see the point of hiding it. You don't need to explain what they're for, or go into detail about which animals have balls and which don't.

I suppose you're right. But the danger of telling the truth (in this case) thus, fanning more curiosity into that little mind, might cause him to discover the wrong ideas as well as getting the proper ones. I dunno... maybe I'm just over-thinking it.

I'll see how tommorow goes - I'm sure my bro in-law will call me out for drinks.

[Prowlus]

they are not raccoons They are Tanuki . Reason they have big balls id because most statuettes in japan depict the tanuki as powerful woodland spirits with giant scrotum

[dna]

Sometimes, the best answer is I don't know and let it go at that.

[Solscud007]

You need to tell your bro-inlaw that the japanese are more open to such things. its not pornographic. People lose sight of what pornographic entails. Merely it is to elicit an emotion. Erotic to be example. Obviously people are not supposed to be aroused by large rodent testicles (could be but prolly not). One's reaction is to merely laugh at the obsurdity of the cartoon and enjoy the humor.

[jwinges]

If they have problems with this you might want to avoid watching some of the other Miyazaki's films with kids.

"Only Yesterday" talk quite a bit about periods and that boys could become infested with the period.

"Ocean Waves", aka "I can hear the Ocean" also mentions periods a bit.

I've been watching a lot of Miyazaki's stuff in the studio ghibli collection and there seems to be a lot of odd things in them for childrens movies.

In my opinion I'd go with the following.

For kids

Nausicaa

Princess Mononoke (maybe)

Leputa: Castle in the sky

Spirited away

Kiki's delevery service

Whisper of the heart

Porco Rosso

Totoro

For teenagers to adults

Grave of fireflies (lots of death)

On your mark video

Ocean Waves

Only Yesterday

[Radd]

Am I the only one who sees this as just another example of how screwed up American culture really is.

[eriku]

Wow, I would have thought that more people knew about Tanuki, or tanukis. Tanukis are real animals that are racoon-like, but it's the mythological Tanuki that so many Japanese storefronts have blessing their doorways. Tanuki typically has a large Buddha-like belly, enormous testicles and is almost always seen holding a bottle of sake.

I was amazed when Takara did a Tanuki figure for the Beast Wars Neo line, complete with testicles (articulated, one embedded with a spark crystal), a bottle of sake and a box of take-out. The sake and box combine to form a gun that launches a missile. It's so silly that it was instantly one of my favorite Transformers. I have no idea where the weapon is, but here's a pic of my Tanuki-former. And no, I don't know why there is a clock in his tummy.

Edited March 11, 2004 by eriku

[Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0]

dude i think you did the right thing

I jsut find it hilarious you said TRavel bags! LOL

ah well what can you do man. Its beter than telling him what those things really were

[eriku]

And in bot mode...

[gnollman]

Ever seen a real tanuki? They do have pretty large balls for their size...

Anyway, I love this show... got it on VHS when I was in Japan a few years back. Anyone know if it will be released in the States?

Edited March 11, 2004 by gnollman

[ewilen]

Check out the site I linked above. The latest news is that all the Ghibli stuff is going to be released in the US by the end of next year. Info is also at http://www.animeondvd.com/ (See March 6, 07:11 AM EST update.)

[JELEINEN]

Anyway, I love this show... got it on VHS when I was in Japan a few years back. Anyone know if it will be released in the States?

Depends on if Disney decides to or not. They have the distrubtion rights to all of Ghibli's titles excepting Grave and I Can Hear the Sea. Honestly, I don't see it happening. There is a big difference in culture and and this film just isn't going to go over with a mainstream audience. I don't think Disney is going to bother with something that's only going to be viewed by the anime fans.

Am I the only one who sees this as just another example of how screwed up American culture really is.

I hope you're the only one. It has nothing to do with culture being screwed up. There are things that are acceptable in Japan that are not in the US and vice versa. It just means we're different. Saying we're screwed up because we're different from another culture is rather narrow minded. And while calling your own culture screwed up may be acceptable, do realize that saying the same thing about another would get you branded as a biggot by most people.

[JELEINEN]

Check out the site I linked above. The latest news is that all the Ghibli stuff is going to be released in the US by the end of next year. Info is also at http://www.animeondvd.com/ (See March 6, 07:11 AM EST update.)

Wow. A Japanese language theatrical release of Mononoke Hime. Too bad it'll probably never get to the Omaha area.

[Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0]

heinrad KICKS! looks like i gotta snag one to acompany big convoy and crew back home.

I like the fact that heinrad is such a unique design and someone at takara had the balls to sell the bastard.

[Graham]

Just found someone using this gif as an avatar at another forum. Quite funny and on topic

Graham

[eriku]

Just found someone using this gif as an avatar at another forum. Quite funny and on topic

Graham

That is beautiful...in a sick and strange way.

[LePoseur]

You know, I find it odd that people can be so uptight about anatomy. Look no further than America's big Superbowl scandal for examples (which I found to be completely without taste, but because of its execution and not the actual exposing.)

Echoing ewilen's comment above, I think the world might be a much better place if we all grew up on farms.

[gnollman]

Or with a pair of biologists.... the Mysteries of Life never existed for me....

The 'Why' phase was also amazingly short... when your parents explain why, and in excruciating detail, to every question you ask... you just stop asking.

[macplus]

Am I the only one who sees this as just another example of how screwed up American culture really is.

Can't agree more with you about the American culture, sad but true

[yellowlightman]

Am I the only one who sees this as just another example of how screwed up American culture really is.

Can't agree more with you about the American culture, sad but true

Er... BoB doesn't live in America.

[Beware of Blast]

Am I the only one who sees this as just another example of how screwed up American culture really is.

Can't agree more with you about the American culture, sad but true

And LePoseur,

You know, I find it odd that people can be so uptight about anatomy. Look no further than America's big Superbowl scandal for examples (which I found to be completely without taste, but because of its execution and not the actual exposing.)

Guys, I don’t know what was about my little incident that triggered comments such as these. I haven’t actually condemned anything - especially the show, what goes on in Miyazaki or other creators’ minds when they made the shows, or peoples’ uncomfortable reaction to something different.

So let’s treat this on a case-to-case study basis.

Anyway, to make things clearer, I’m not from the US. Thanks yellowlightman I’m from Malaysia – that’s why I’ve said, “…fathers in Asia especially...”. Since it was brought up, my opinion on the incident of America's big Superbowl scandal was quite simply this – Giving out the wrong ideas publicly. It’s not so much about the exposure of Janet’s nipple, but rather, the ACT of ripping off that portion of her cloth. How does one explain the PURPOSE of that action to their kids?

Failing to explain that action properly might result in their little boys arbitrarily ripping off girls’ clothes.

I’m merely thinking in the shoes of most parents. And the consequences certain situations create.

As far as explaining the human anatomy to children is concerned, I can do that with little problem. But that topic was broached with a different subject matter – Had I gone along to tell the truth, and the kid reciprocates with a barrage of questions… How the heck do I explain how the balls on the Tanuki got so big? See, it’s not that easy and I didn’t really want to ignore the smart boy, and yet, I have no prior knowledge of this particular animal’s anatomy. To put it simply, I was caught off guard and I tried to cut it short, to the best of my ability.

Anyway, my wife got to know about the incident and she simply laughed her ass off. My sister (the bro-in-law’s wife) called just now and she did the same. And to add an ironic twist to the whole situation, it was originally my sister who wanted me to buy that anime title so she can watch with my nephew.

This case is now 50% closed.

Thanks for all your input fellas. I really did learn something valuable. Hope it’s the same for all of you.

There rest will probably resolve when on the dinner table tonight. Sigh!

[LePoseur]

LOL, BoB sorry if it looked like I was jumping on you, far from it. I was more aimed at the American POV that seemed to come in and dominate the thread. Not surprisingly, you view and mine on the Jackson thing are almost identical, and I feel for you for being stuck in the possition of having to worry about what to do with someone else's kid. That's never a fun place. And just for the record, enlarged testicals can be freaky.

[Anubis]

Just found someone using this gif as an avatar at another forum. Quite funny and on topic 

Graham

Dear lord.

Thought about it, but couldn't bring myself to use the gif.

Edited March 11, 2004 by Anubis

[Blaine23]

When I can stop giggling and staring at that animated gif Graham posted... I may have something to say..