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Panda! Go Panda!
パンダコパンダ
1972 73 min Japan 0+
★7.4
Comedy, Fantasy, Animation
Trailers
Description
Cheerful Mimiko has a wonderfully strange family—a Panda for her Papa; and his son Panny, calls her Mom! When Panny follows Mimiko to school, he must pretend to be a teddy bear so Mimiko won't get into trouble. Despite his efforts to behave, Panny causes trouble in school and now the school is after Panny! Then, Panny makes a new friend, Tiny, a baby tiger who's wandered off from the circus.
Key opinion
Panda! Go, Panda! is widely celebrated as a charming, wholesome, and joy-filled animation that excels as a mood-lifter for both children and adults. While some viewers feel it lacks the thematic depth of Miyazaki’s later masterworks, its cheerful tone, memorable music, and nostalgic appeal make it a beloved classic.
| Score | The infectious, repetitive theme song serves as an iconic and unforgettable hallmark of the film. | |
| Originality | The characters—particularly the panda father—possess an endearing, iconic quality that resonates as a precursor to later Studio Ghibli icons like Totoro. | |
| Emotion | The simple, kind-hearted narrative provides an effective and uplifting experience for children and a relaxing escape for adults. | |
| Theme | The film's visual style and straightforward storytelling are praised by many as charmingly nostalgic, yet criticized by others as being too simplistic compared to later Miyazaki-affiliated works. |