Panda Kopanda: What is the appeal of this soothing anime that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike?

"Panda Go Panda": A heartwarming family animation based on an original idea by Hayao Miyazaki

■Overview of the work

"Panda Go Panda" is a Japanese animated film released on December 17, 1972. It was released in theaters and was produced as an original anime story. It was distributed by Toho, its Eirin rating is 23538, its total running time is 35 minutes, and it has one episode. The original story was created by Hayao Miyazaki, and the animation was produced by Tokyo Movie. The copyright belongs to TMS.

■ Story

Mimiko, an elementary school student, lives with her grandmother in a house near a bamboo grove. One day, her grandmother has to go to a rural area for a memorial service, and Mimiko is forced to live alone for a while. When Mimiko returns home excitedly, she finds two pandas, Pan-chan and Papanda, waiting for her. Papanda, who loves bamboo groves, decides to stay with Mimiko as a substitute father, and Mimiko takes on the role of Pan-chan's mother, starting a new and fun life. However, the zoo director comes to pick up Papanda and his family...

■Cast

The film features a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Sugiyama Kazuko as Mimiko, Kumakura Kazuo as Papanda, Ota Yoshiko as Pan-chan, Senou Reiko as Grandma, Yamada Yasuo as the policeman, and Wada Fumio as the zoo director.

■ Main staff

The screenplay was written by Hayao Miyazaki, the animation directors were Yasuo Otsuka and Yoichi Kotabe, the art director was Hisao Fukuda, the cinematographer was Tatsumasa Shimizu, the music was by Masahiko Sato, and the director was Isao Takahata. Production cooperation is provided by A Production.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song "Mimi-chan to Panda Kopanda" is sung by Ado Mizumori, with lyrics by Iwao Sanada, and music and arrangement by Masahiko Sato. The insert song "Nennen Panda" is also sung by Ado Mizumori, with lyrics by Iwao Sanada, music by Gen Sanada, and arrangement by Masahiko Sato.

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Panda Gopanda" was created by Miyazaki Hayao and contains many elements that foreshadow his subsequent career. In particular, the depiction of a life of coexistence with nature and family ties are themes that are common to later works such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away." Takahata Isao's direction is also superb, and although it is an animation for children, it depicts a deep human drama.

The bamboo groves and rural scenery in which the film is set evoke the beauty of nature depicted by Hayao Miyazaki. Mimiko's interactions with the pandas provide warmth and healing to the viewer, and the film is enjoyable for both children and adults. In particular, the process in which Mimiko meets the pandas while living alone and builds a family-like bond with them has been praised as a heartwarming story.

The music also adds to the appeal of the series. The theme songs and insert songs composed by Masahiko Sato add to the atmosphere of the story and play a role in evoking emotions in the viewer. In particular, Ado Mizumori's singing voice is deeply moving, even though the series is aimed at children.

■ Background and influences

"Panda Go Panda" was the first work that Hayao Miyazaki was in charge of the original story, and it can be said to be the starting point of his career. The depiction of life in harmony with nature and family ties depicted in this work had a great influence on Hayao Miyazaki's later works. Takahata Isao's direction was also superb, making it an important work in his career.

This work also holds an important position in the Japanese animation industry in the 1970s. At the time, television animation was still mainstream and there were few animated works released in theaters, so "Panda Gopanda" could be said to be a pioneering work. Although it was an animation for children, it gained support from a wide range of people by depicting a deep human drama.

■ Recommendation points

"Panda Gopanda" is recommended as a family animation that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In particular, the depiction of a life of coexistence with nature and family ties are themes that can resonate with modern viewers. In addition, as an early work by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, it is also an important work for understanding the history of animation.

Furthermore, the music also adds to the appeal of the work, with the theme song and insert songs composed by Masahiko Sato enhancing the atmosphere of the story and evoking emotions in the viewer. In particular, Ado Mizumori's singing voice is deeply moving, even though the work is aimed at children.

This is a great animated film to watch with the family, and a great opportunity to teach children about the importance of coexisting with nature and family ties. It is also an important work in the history of animation and the careers of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, so it is definitely worth seeing at least once.

■ Related works and how to watch them

A sequel to "Panda Go Panda", "Panda Go Panda: The Rainy Day Circus", was produced. This sequel also tells the heartwarming story of Mimiko and the pandas, so we recommend watching both.

There are DVDs and Blu-rays available for purchase, so you can enjoy them at home. There are also some streaming services that make it possible to watch them, so using those is another way to watch them.

■ Summary

"Panda Gopanda" is a heartwarming family anime based on an original idea by Hayao Miyazaki, and is an appealing work that depicts a life of coexistence with nature and the bonds of family. Takahata Isao's direction and Sato Masahiko's music also enhance the charm of the work, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. I highly recommend it as a work that everyone should see at least once.