TAAF2019] Isao Takahata Memorial Special 3: Screening Report on "Panda Copanda," a timeless animation for children

Tokyo Anime Awards Festival 2019 (TAAF2019) is being held in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, for four days from March 8 to 11, 2019. TAAF2019 will feature a "Isao Takahata Memorial Project" in honor of Isao Takahata, one of Japan's leading animation directors, who sadly passed away last year. Here we report on the screening of " Isao Takahata Memorial Project 3: What Isao Takahata Left for Children - 'Panda Copanda' and 'Panda Copanda: Rainfall Circus'" held on March 10 (Sunday).

Panda Copanda" is a medium-length animated feature film produced in 1972. It was produced by Tokyo Movie (now TMS Entertainment). It is known as a masterpiece of the early days of the famous duo of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, who worked on the original plan, script, and screen settings, and directed by Isao Takahata. The voice of the main character, Mimiko, was voiced by Yoshiko Sugiyama, who would later play "Haiji" in Takahata's films. The sequel, "Panda Copanda: Rain Furi Circus," was produced the following year in 1973 by almost the same staff.

The screening of this film at TAAF2019 was made free of charge so that many children could enjoy Mr. Takahata's masterpiece, and priority was given to those accompanied by children under 12 years old. This was one of the reasons why many parents and their children visited the venue for the 10:00 a.m. screening at Shinbungeiza in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

The film is already highly acclaimed as a masterpiece in the animation world, but it was produced nearly half a century ago. Before the screening, I wondered how much children today, who have been born into a world with a variety of entertainment options other than animation, would enjoy this simple work. However, when the screening of "Panda Copanda" began and the pandas Panda and Pang Pang and their children appeared on stage, I could hear children laughing from everywhere in the hall. Later, children burst into laughter during the classic slapstick scenes. The audience found themselves laughing and talking with the parents and children in attendance here and there.

The 70-minute screening time passed in the blink of an eye, and the audience erupted in applause. Mr. Takahata's later works, such as "Grave of the Fireflies" and "The Tale of Princess Kaguyahime," may leave a strong impression of his more lyrical and artistic works, but in his early years, he and his close friend Hayao Miyazaki worked on many animated films for children that were hits thanks to their outstanding directing skills. I was again impressed by the fact that "Panda Copanda," a work created by Mr. Takahata about half a century ago, is still universal and has captured the hearts and minds of children today. It was such a screening.