Miyazaki and Takahata collaborated on a 1972 short film titled Panda Kopanda (Panda! Go Panda!), where a young girl named Mimiko finds herself alone when her grandmother is absent. This heartwarming tale follows Mimiko's adventures. A subsequent 1973 sequel, Panda Kopanda: Amefuri Saakasu no Maki (Panda! Go Panda! & the Rainy-day Circus), delves further into Mimiko's story, maintaining the charm of the original. The North American release of Panda Kopanda, known as Panda Go Panda, captures the essence of these endearing films.