Panda Kopanda (Panda! Go Panda!) is a 30 minute movie made in 1972. Miyazaki created the original idea, the script, the layouts, and did key animation, and Takahata directed the film. The story is about a little girl, Mimiko, who was left alone while her Grandma was away. A 1973 sequel, Panda Kopanda: Amefuri Saakasu no Maki (Panda! Go Panda! & the Rainy-day Circus), continues the story and was made by the same people who made the first movie. The literal translation of the title Panda Kopanda is "Panda, Baby Panda", but it's been released in North America as Panda Go Panda.

The movies were made at a time when "panda fever" was sweeping Japan: a pair of pandas had just been given to Japan by China and everyone was very excited about them. These two movies are considered by many to be prototypes of Totoro due to the similar character designs and child-friendly nature throughout the films.