The anime was produced by as part of their World Masterpiece Theater series.
While the show's message was about the impossibility of keeping wild raccoons as pets, the adorable animation had the opposite effect on Japanese audiences. Araiguma Rascal
Despite the ecological controversy, Rascal remains a beloved "kawaii" (cute) icon in Japan. The anime was produced by as part of
: Follows a boy named Sterling in Edgerton, Wisconsin, who rescues and tries to domesticate a baby raccoon. Araiguma Rascal
: The story eventually explores the difficulty of coexisting with wild animals, ending with Sterling releasing Rascal back into the wild. 🏛️ Legacy and "The Raccoon Invasion"
Edgerton, Wisconsin setting for Sterling North's "Rascal" - Facebook