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Youngsters will relish the antics of Mimiko, a Japanese girl with as much spunk as another animated favorite, the little French mademoiselle, Madeline. Lighthearted and cross-cultural, this Japanese cartoon, made popular for American audiences through English dubbing, is based on Panda koPanda ("Panda, Little Panda"), the 1972-73 two-parter written by anime master Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro). Isao Takahata, another anime king (Grave of the Fireflies), directs the production, showcasing some characteristic elements of anime that surpass usual Saturday morning fare: crisp animation, depth of characters, and sophisticated musical tracks. Cinematography aside, viewers will be captivated by the optimistic orphan who lives with her grandmother and has no fear of "burglars, ghosts, or any old thing." In the first story, "Panda Family," Grandmother must travel to Nagasaki and, reluctantly, leaves Mimiko at home alone. To Mimiko's delight, she is not alone after all when a father and son set of panda bears moves in. Unaware they are zoo escapees, Mimiko adopts Papa Panda and little Panny and writes to grandmother, "I've got myself a daddy and a baby." Rapid-fire adventures begin for the trio, yet Mimiko keeps her cool whether dealing with Panny's mischief, zookeepers' threats, or a close call with a raging waterfall. High-flying fun continues in the second tale, "The Circus in the Rain," as a baby tiger escapes the Big Top to join Mimiko's menagerie, a monsoon floods her home, and a runaway train spells disaster. All in a day's work for this daring do-gooder; Grandmother would be proud. --Lynn Gibson
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