| The Percy the Panda Movie | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alan Zaslove |
| Produced by |
Alan Zaslove Meredith Roberts Gary Krisel |
| Written by | Alan Zaslove |
| Based on |
Percy the Panda by Alan Zaslove |
| Starring |
Steve Schatzberg Anna Chlumsky Mary Kay Bergman Will Ryan Norm Macdonald Gilbert Gottfried |
| Music by | J. A. C. Redford |
| Edited by | H. Lee Peterson |
| Production companies |
Walt Disney Pictures Children's Workshop, LLC Walt Disney Television Animation |
| Distributed by |
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution |
| Release date | April 23, 1999 |
| Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30 million |
| Box office | $490 million |
The Percy the Panda Movie is a 1997 American animated musical film based on the children's television series Percy the Panda created by Alan Zaslove, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and Children's Workshop, LLC, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed, co-produced, and written by Zazlove stars Anna Chlumsky, Norm Macdonald, and Gilbert Gottfried, with Steve Schatzberg, Mary Kay Bergman, and Will Ryan reprising their multiple voice roles from the show. In the film, Percy the Panda and his friends welcome two sisters who have moved into Khan Park. However, the older teenager sister despises "kids stuff" and suspects the Friendly Animals Gang's habits might do the family more harm than good. A greedy tycoon billionaire soon plans to demolish Khan Park to build his "HuhRumph tower", and it's up to the Friendly Animal Gang to save their prized home from destruction.
The Percy the Panda Movie was released theatrically across the United States on April 23, 1999 by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. This was the only theatrical Percy the Panda movie to feature Bergman voicing Cupcake the Koala before her death that same year. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $490 million worldwide and becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of 1999. The film's success led to additional theatrically-released Percy the Panda films: The Cupcake the Koala Movie, Percy the Panda's Christmas Countdown, The Parker the Penguin Movie, Percy the Panda's Beginnings, and Percy the Panda: New to Kahn Park, which were released on June 13, 2003, December 1, 2006, February 5, 2010, January 19, 2018, and September 5, 2025.
Plot[]
The Friendly Animal Gang, consisting of Percy the Panda and his friends, Parker the Penguin, Cupcake the Koala, Richard the Rabbit, Cheese the Mouse, and Bill the Rhino perform a concert at Khan Park. The world's worst magician, Mr. Magic, arrives and announces his plans to tear down Khan Park and replace it with his "Magic World" playground to become a more better and popular magician. The Friendly Animal Gang are distraught at the thought of losing their homes, but Percy comes up with the plan to save Khan Park. The Friendly Gang flies onboard Percy's hot air balloon into a rural area where they approach a farm and meet two sisters named Zaida and Zuri Markowicz.
While Zuri immediately takes a liking to the Friendly Animal Gang, Zaida, a teenager, visibly dislikes what is considered "kids stuff", and refuses to believe in them, especially Percy, therefore claiming that real pandas, koalas, penguins, rabbits, mice, and rhinos don't talk, laugh, or sing. Through song, the Friendly Animal Gang attempts to cheer Zaida up by showing her the delights of believing, to no avail. At dinner, Zaida discusses with her parents and her uncle, Macdonald, the owner of the farm, how the Friendly Animal Gang came to the farm. That night, Zaida reluctantly takes advice from Percy to wish upon a star. Meanwhile, back on Khan Park, an American history news reporter Martha Schwartz reports what is becoming of the place while Magic practices magic tricks but still screws them up.
The Markowicz kids and the Friendly Animal Gang journey down into the city, where it is revealed that Zaida is a ballet dancer. They take her to her ballet recital, where Zaida is often bullied by her arch-rival, Cal Woodhouse. Back at the farm, when Percy discovers Zaida's old VHS tape, she reveals she once loved kids stuff as a child, but has hated "kids stuff" ever since losing interest. A recital is held at Zaida's family's farm, and Zaida tries her best ballet dance moves. Cal insults Zaida by calling her a clumsy "baby", making her start to get angry. Percy tries to calm Zaida down, but a fight between them breaks out over her VHS tape, throwing the recital into chaos. Zaida angrily calls the Friendly Animal Gang a sunshine-and-flowers fairy tale and banishes them from the farm. Zuir expresses her disappointment with Zaida's stubbornness, saying she can't be a good sister if she only cares about herself.
Later, Zaida realizes that Percy's true purpose is to increase children's development. Zaida apologizes to the Percy and the despondent Friendly Animal Gang for her poor behavior and tells them she thinks they're cool. The Friendly Animal Gang accept her apology and tell her they think she's also cool. Zuir overhears Zaida's apology and reconciles with her, and they all fly onboard Percy's hot air balloon back to Khan Park. Back on Khan just as Magic is about to perform his first trick, Percy, Zelda, Zuir, and the Friendly Animals Gang confront Magic and demand that he leave, but Magic refuses and attacks Percy with his magic wand. Zac, Zelda, and the Friendly Animal Gang intervene and steal his wand, giving Percy the advantage to incapacitate Magic with a tire swing. Magic initially gets angry at the Friendly Animal Gang for ruining his chance at being loved, but Percy explains to him that everyone is special in their own way, and that he too can be special in his own way. This motivates the group to sing "Everyone is Special", even Zaida. Magic realizes that it is a bad idea tear down Khan Park and sings along.
With Khan Park saved, Zaida becomes friends with Percy and gives him, Zuir, and the Friendly Animal Gang a big hug, to which they all sing "Family", while Magic changes his name to "Bob" and opens and runs a popular new toy store. The film ends with the Markowicz family visiting the elementary school with the Friendly Animal Gang to resume both the ballet dance and the concert, combining them into a "double-celebration".
Cast[]
- Steve Schatzberg as:
- Percy the Panda, a smart, overly-friendly, optimistic giant panda who is the leader of the Friendly Animal Gang, the mascot of Khan Park, and the host of the Panda Playdates.
- Cheese the Mouse, a red mouse who is Richard's best friend and a member of the Friendly Animal Gang.
- Bill the Rhino, a pink rhinoceros surfer who wears a Hawaiian shirt and is a member of the Friendly Animal Gang.
- Anna Chlumsky as Zelda Markowicz, a young ballet dancer and Zuir's cantankerous teenage sister who initially despises what is considered "kids stuff", but eventually becomes friendlier near the end of the film.
- Gilbert Gottfried as Mr. Magic, the world's worst magician who conspires to turn Panda Playground into his "Magic World" and become better and popular.
- Will Ryan as:
- Parker the Penguin, a wise-cracking, clever penguin who is a member of the Friendly Animal Gang.
- Richard the Rabbit, a quick-witted, talkative yellow rabbit who is Cheese's best friend and a member of the Friendly Animal Gang.
- Mary Kay Bergman as Cupcake the Koala, an optimistic, fun-loving, enthusiastic green koala who loves cupcakes and is Percy's best friend and the only female member of the Friendly Animal Gang.
- Garry Shandling as Macdonald Markowicz, Zelda's uncle who is the owner of the farm she and her family live in.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Martha Schwartz, a news reporter who documents American history.
- Cherami Leigh as Zuir Markowicz, Zaida's younger sister.
- Norm Macdonald as Mr. Markowicz, Zaida and Zuir's father.
- Kelly Preston as Mrs. Markowicz, Zaida and Zuir's mother.
- Edan Gross as Cal Woodhouse, a ballet dancer and Zaida's rival.
- Laraine Newman as Ms. Collins, a school teacher who brings her class to a field trip to Khan Park for their concert at the beginning of the film.
- Linda Larkin as ballet dance teacher
Production[]
Development[]
After Percy the Panda launched on November 5, 1990 to rising popularity from parents and children, Disney recognized the potential of a Percy the Panda film titled The Percy the Panda Movie, reportedly due to the success of multiple seasons prior. Thus, the film entered production in December 1996.
Casting[]
Steve Schatzberg, Will Ryan, Mary Kay Bergman, Dee Bradley Baker, Christine Cavanaugh, and Maurice LaMarche reprised their roles as Percy the Panda, Parker the Penguin, Delilah the Koala, Richard the Rabbit, Cheese the Mouse, and Bill the Rhino from the show. On November 20, 1997, Disney cast My Girl star Anna Chlumsky in the role of Zelda Markowicz, a teenage girl who initially despises what is considered "kids stuff" but comes around to accept it near the end. Chlumsky said in an interview that being in the movie was like a "dream-come-true" for her, as she was a Percy the Panda fan. Later, Chermai Leigh, Gilbert Gottfried, and Norm Macdonald joined the cast.
Music[]
In January 1996, Steve Nelson and Thom Sharp announced their return for songs, while J. A. C. Redford composed the film's score. The songs and score were released on cassette and CD on April 21, 1999, by Walt Disney Records.
Release date[]
Theatrical[]
The Percy the Panda Movie was released in theaters on April 23, 1999.
Home media[]
The Percy the Panda Movie was released on VHS by Buena Vista Home Video on November 23, 1999. On December 11, 2001, Disney released the movie on DVD and again on VHS, then again on DVD and VHS on May 6, 2003 to promote the second film. Subsequently, Disney released the film on DVD and Blu-ray on July 5, 2011, then on Ultra HD 4K on October 8, 2019. On November 12, 2019, it became available to stream on Disney+.
Marketing[]
The first trailer was released on August 4, 1998. Panda Workshop released a series of toys, books, and stuffed animals the promote The Percy the Panda Movie. A second trailer was released on November 25, 1998, and a third and final trailer on February 19, 1999. Continuing Disney's advertising alliance with McDonald's, the promotional campaign began on the film's release with several Happy Meal toys that make music from the film. Tying in with the film's theatrical release, Disney and Panda Workshop unveiled a movie promo called "The Friendly Animal Family at the Movie Theater", which features the Panda Gang going to AMC Theatres and singing "The Movie Theater Song" while buying tickets and popcorn, to immense popularity from moviegoers. The promo can also be seen on all home media releases.
Reception[]
Box office[]
The Percy the Panda Movie opened alongside Jawbreaker, October Sky, and Office Space, and was projected to gross $17--19 million from theaters in its opening weekend. It passed the estimates, making $145 million in its first day, including $12 million from Thursday night previews. In its second day, the film earned $490 million. The film ended its theatrical run on November 22, 1999, grossing over $180 million domestically and $310 million overseas, bringing up to a worldwide total of $490 million, against a $30 million production budget.
Critical reception[]
The Percy the Panda Movie received positive reviews from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 212 critics gave the film a positive review. The consensus reads, "The Percy the Panda Movie makes for a delightful big screen adaptation of the beloved children's television series preschoolers will be moved by". According to Metacritic, which has a score of 61 out of 100 based on 21 critics, The Percy the Panda Movie received "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.
Expanded film series[]
After the success of The Percy the Panda Movie, Disney ordered a Cupcake the Koala-centered film, titled Delilah's Bicycle Movie, which was released on June 13, 2003. It received positive reviews and earned $710 million worldwide.
The third Percy the Panda film, The History of Percy the Panda, was announced by Disney and Panda Workshop At D23 Expo 2015, and released on January 13, 2017. It received positive reviews, and was a box office success, grossing $571 million worldwide.
In January 10, 2025, it was announced that Percy the Panda: We're Back at the Movies! was in development. At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026, Disney gave it a scheduled date for March 3, 2028. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed $340 million worldwide.