Robonimal Panda-Z The Robonimation

Publisher
Bandai
Director
Mamoru Kanbe
Production
Mega House, Kids Station, Bandai
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
5 mins, 30 episodes
Year
2004

Panda Z - Volume 1

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
21st Nov 06

After Winnie the Pooh, Yogi and possibly even Paddington, pandas are one of the most iconic and loved of the bear family. Go Nagai’s Mazinger Z is certainly one of the most iconic super robots of anime and manga. So is it really possible to combine the two together successfully?

The peaceful world of Robonimal is under invasion by the evil Warunimal Empire, so Pan-Taron using a giant mechanical super robot panda, Panda Z, created by his grandfather, combats this threat. Course Pan-Taron is not alone in his fight, he has plenty of robonimal (part robot part animal) friends; from Denwan, who has a phone on his head to Fire Bear who’s solution to most things is to squirt water on it, with all the characters being part robot means they short circuit when wet, often making rain their biggest enemy.

Unlike most other anime series, each episode of Panda Z is only five minutes long, including an opening and ending credits sequence (which last a total of two minutes combined), and there is no speech! When a character does say something it appears on the screen as text, similar to how old silent films used too, making for quite a unique viewing experience.

The episodes themselves are all of a fairly light-hearted comedic affair; often the entire episode is just leading up to one big visual punch-line, which the majority of times is very predictable. There are more than a few nods to other anime and manga, the most obvious of course being Mazinger Z. The humour presented is simple, visual and simple, bound to be understood by all ages, although the more mature just may not find it’s simplistic style funny as they are bound to have seen it before. The antics of Pan-Taron and friends are bound to bring a few smiles to older audiences, but there are few if any truly hilarious moments.

Visually the show is bright and colourful, but there are few episodes that dazzle, and far too many that seem to use the same animation several times within the episode (such as the episodes where Pan-Taron and friends are playing Old Maid), and this may annoy an older audience. Music wise most of the episodes are accompanied by rock style background music, often heavy on guitar which suits the series and works well, but doesn’t add anything extra.

The first Panda Z DVD contains fifteen episodes of this thirty episode series, and a total of about 50 minutes of running time (after you take off the time for all the opening and ending credits, but not including the extras). It is not a series that is going to appeal to everyone, but it will appeal to younger children without a doubt, if your looking for something a bit different to your average anime series then Panda Z may be worth checking out.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English/French/Italian/German subtitles, Interview with director, Animatics, Clean Opening and ending animation, Trailers, Hidden extras!

Release information: Publisher: Beez Entertainment Release date : 23-10-2006 Length: 75 min Classification: PG

Notes: The animatics are allmost like full episodes in themselves although done in 3d and only involving Panda Z and Pan-Taron. The interview with the director is intresting but dosen't really say that much.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 21st Nov 06

Robonimal Panda-Z The Robonimation Images