Araiguma Rascal Apr 2026

The anime was produced by as part of their World Masterpiece Theater series.

Despite the ecological controversy, Rascal remains a beloved "kawaii" (cute) icon in Japan.

: Follows a boy named Sterling in Edgerton, Wisconsin, who rescues and tries to domesticate a baby raccoon. Araiguma Rascal

: Owners soon realized raccoons are aggressive and destructive. Many were abandoned or escaped, becoming an invasive species with no natural predators in Japan.

Edgerton, Wisconsin setting for Sterling North's "Rascal" - Facebook The anime was produced by as part of

: Famed Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki worked as a key animator on several episodes.

: Based on the 1963 autobiographical novel Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North. : Owners soon realized raccoons are aggressive and

: At the height of its popularity, Japan imported roughly 1,500 North American raccoons per month to satisfy the demand for "Rascal" pets.