Panda and the Magic Serpent Review

So what were the first anime released in the United States? Astro Boy? Speed Racer? Actually anime hit America way back in 1961 with Magic Boy yet it was Toei’s second theatrical release. Although from a historical perspective it should have been Panda and the Magic Serpent. Here is why. In 1958, Toei released Panda and the Magical Serpent which was the studio’s first full color and feature length film in Japan.  However, due to MGM, Globe Pictures, and AIP all competing to get dubbed movies out for the kiddie market, Magic Boy was released first, soon to be followed by the real first anime movie in color, Panda.

Panda and the Magic Serpent is based on Chinese mythology written during the Song Dynasty and based on the folktale, Legend of the White Snake. It tells the tale of a young boy, Xu-Xian, who falls in love with Bai Niang, a beautiful princess who is really a white snake and has magical powers. Fa-Hai, is a monk, who is determined to break up the lovers. However, it will not be so easy because, Xu-Xian is aided by the strong and fearless Panda and his pal, Mimi, who is called a cat in the US dub but is actually a red panda. Panda and Mimi get in various zany adventures as Xu-Xian searches for Bai Niang.

Sadly, Panda did not perform well at the box office regulating anime to a niche market. Anime fandom didn’t really get started in the US until 1977, so the first three anime movies were all box office bombs. Anime movies could be picked up cheaply and were shown during kiddie matinees throughout the 60’s. 

Part of the problem was that Panda was based on Chinese mythology that didn’t engage Western children, in the same way that Disney movies did. Also, Panda lacked the mad capped humor of Looney Tunes shorts. America was just not ready for this type of anime movie.  Children watching a cartoon so foreign and alien to Western culture were bored to tears.

Despite Panda not being successful it does have merit and every serious anime fan needs to see it. The colors in Panda are very vibrant and the animal characters lack the Disney look, causing them to stand out and offer a fresh take on animal character designs. The music fits in nicely with the Chinese setting. What is unfortunate is the bland narration by Marvin Miller who delivers his lines like Droopy hosting an insurance seminar. 

Also, a bad decision was made in that only certain characters were dubbed in English, with so many other characters left in Japanese. The biggest flaw, is the jarring editing that doesn’t even allow characters time to finish speaking before jumping several frames to a different scene, leaving the viewer to wonder what happened during the missing gaps.  

Panda did make a great impression on a young Miyazaki who might have never gotten into anime if Panda was never made. Watching Panda, you can see scenes with characters interacting that would inspire Miyazaki films.

I feel that most new anime fans lack a sense of history and despite all its shortcomings should view Panda and the Magic Serpent, and also Magic Boy and Alakazam the Great to see how anime has evolved over time and how it has had a global impact and for a better appreciate of anime’s popularity and success.  So the next time you are watching your favorite anime, you will realize how far the medium has come. I just wish that Panda and the Magic Serpent would be released with the original, longer running, Japanese cut.