Panda-Z: The Robonimation: Vol. 1
Synopsis
Go!! Panda-Z! Defender of Peace and Justice! Robnimal World is under attack from the Warunimal Empire. Now, wearing the scarf left to him by his father, Pan-Taron takes flight in Panda-Z, the undefeatable robot built by his grandfather. So no matter how strong the enemy, the forces of good will always prevail!
Review
Panda-Z is an anime in that after finishing the volume it leaves your mouth wide open asking yourself, “What the ___ was that all about?” This compilation of kiddy type episodes speed by quickly. It is probably the fastest thirty minutes I have ever experienced. There are no voices in Panda-Z; only captions. While some might argue that having no voices is a negative. But I find it more enjoyable. Now I can imagine the robonimals’ voices through the captions. It leaves room for the viewer to take the show into their control… sort of.
The animation quality is very crisp. There are not many details, but it was not necessary. The robonimals were all pretty cute. I am not sure if I want to classify this show as a kids’ show, because of some of the materials that were displayed. But I believe that these five or so minutes episodes will only appeal to viewers who have a soft side; those who like characters like, Hello Kitty or Doraemon.
There really are not much to say about an anime that is short and silent, other than in the episodes that are in volume one, we get to see quite a few whacky things. I personally liked the “Table Manners” episode and the “A Quiet Duel” episode. They were both very amusing.
The Breakdown
Panda-Z is cute, but its appeal is limited to those who are either: collectors who want to collect the figure, or viewers who love Sanrio kind of things.