What is Pani Poni Dash?

Pani Poni Dash! is a 2005 anime produced by Shaft (with Gansis), and was directed by renowned Akiyuki Shinbo (Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Monogatari series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica) and Shin Oonuma (ef, Fate/kaleid liner Prism Illya, Princession Orchestra). It’s an adaptation of the Hekiru Hikawa manga Pani Poni, released on G Fantasy from 2000 to 2011. At first glance, it may look like your typical CGDCT moeblob anime, but as you keep watching it, it’s not an anime you might it expect to be.

The story of surrounds around 11-year-old Rebecca “Becky” Miyamoto, who starts as the class teacher of Momotsuki Academy’s 1-C class. There, she meets the energetic Himeko, harsh Rei, plain Kurumi, bookworm Miyako, eccentric Ichijou and good girl Suzuki, also known as No. 6. The other classes and teachers of 1st year in the school often make appearances throughout the anime, but the episodes focus mainly on the main six heroines and Becky. Not to forget other recurring characters, such as Lord Cat, Giant Salamander and Aliens. Each character has a gimmick or a recurring joke that creates comedic moments. Original Author Hikawa was influenced by many character-based works, from American sitcoms to Japanese visual novels [1].

As you might’ve noticed, the Pani Poni anime has “Dash!” in its title. Meaning, the anime isn’t a direct adaptation of the manga. Director Shinbo and scriptwriter Kanemaki stated that the strongest point of this work were its characters and wanted to highlight them more in the adaptation. Both of them viewed that making a simple adaptation won’t capture the essence of “Pani Poni”. [2] Each Pani Poni Dash! episode has a similar structure of an opening, main part, eyecatchers, ending and post-credit scene. When this basic format was established, episode directors, writers and staff members were free to modify the story and add jokes. The aim for episodes wasn’t always meant to be full-on parodies, but also gathering the strength of every staff member together and make it enjoyable to watch. [3]

The World of Pani Poni is deliberately left open, which the staff members wanted to present through the anime [2]. The 60s-styled first opening was created by Shinbo to differentiate from the other girls-only school life anime. Opening Director Oishi wanted to show the surreal side of the work by showcasing main characters’ traits with common tools. [4][5] The main basis for the anime adaptation was to make something new and fresh that no one had done before [2][6]. The anime has skits and plotlines from the manga, which serve as the framework for other things happening.

As a characters-relying work, making characters distinct from one another was an important part of the production. In Episode 1, main Class 1-C characters were separated from each other through movement, which wasn’t anymore necessary in further episodes, as they gained distinct personality traits [7]. Even just by using common Japanese, voice actors were able to capture the character personalities and make them alive [8] As Shinbo stated, once characters are established and get accustomed to viewers, staff members can freely play with them [5][9]. With character-focused episodes, the said characters can be explored even further [2][10].

Since according to Shinbo, “there’s no plot”, staff members were given free hands to throw out ideas and add content to the show. What mattered was whether the joke was funny or not. [2] Scenario Meetings for creating script and storyboards would revolve around idle chatting, and ideas for episodes would come forth through brainstorming [9]. One major so-called creative space throughout the anime were all the chalkboard/blackboards and telops. Staff members as well as voice actors were given liberties to write or draw whatever they wanted. The amount of these scribbles and reference placements increased as the series progressed. [5][11]

Pani Poni Dash! is notorious for its large amounts of intertextuality. Shinbo wanted jokes and references from several persons representing different generations in order to make a wide range of people enjoy the show. Both Shinbo and Oonuma viewed that communication by asking and talking about the references (be it parents or people online) was part of the Pani Poni experience. For that reason, episodes are mix bags of popular culture. For example, references to retro games were by Series Director Oonuma, majority of mecha anime lines by Character Designer Oota, and most of the episodes would include Shinbo’s personal joke, Mu** bird. [5][11] To ensure that viewers wouldn’t feel left out from the rapid fire of references, at least few well-known and common references were inserted in each episode [7].

Kanemaki commented how he previously worked on Galaxy Angel and wanted to create Pani Poni in similar way [2]. Each episode director would add their own styled jokes and techniques to their respective episodes, and playfully compete with each other to see who makes funnier episodes [3]. So much so that even Music Producer Shindou didn’t want the music to lose to the visuals [12]. In that sense, Pani Poni Dash! is a surreal parody comedy anime in the same vein as Excel Saga, Cromartie High School and Super Milk Chan, all from the same late 90s-early 2000s era of anime comedy.

Many staff members, especially Director Shinbo, wished Season 2 to come to fruition. The whole workplace felt that 26 episodes weren’t enough to let their creativeness loose and adapt Pani Poni manga [11], which is why some story arcs were cut in hopes for it to get adapted in Season 2 [5][10]. The famous story of Shinbo abstaining smoking until Pani Poni Dash! Season 2 came from his condition drop on PPD’s Final Episode broadcast day, so it’s a mix of wanting to stay healthy and hoping for another season [10]. Sequel plans relied on DVD sales, but despite Pani Poni Dash! being the best-selling anime in Summer 2005 season and third best-sold anime in Shaft’s history, as well as overcoming the “border for Season 2” [13], Shaft decided to adapt Negima! Probably related to the licenses expiring and moving from a previous studio [14].

Staff members were visibly surprised that they were told to adapt a big title. The adaptation of the main Negima story came to be titled as Negima!? Oonuma, who served as the Chief Director on the anime adaptation, stated that the question and exclamation mark on title come from their initial reaction. [15] But the main stance in producing the anime didn’t change, and continued the Pani Poni Dash! way, under Shinbo’s direction [16]. In that sense, Negima!? can be considered as the Season 2 to PPD, or at least as the spiritual successor. New PPD episode would be announced in 2008, which Character Designer Oota thought as a “flag” for a second season [9]. But even though PPD didn’t continue further, its legacy is still part of Shaft’s style.

Director Shinbo came to Shaft through his directional work on Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase. Pani Poni Dash! on the other hand was a clash of this artistic style and a cartoonish/playful style. Instead of dark visuals, Tsukuyomi’s Drifters-like stage play setting was carried to PPD. After Negima!?, similar ideas and aesthetic choices up until now were used in adapting next Shaft’s flagship anime, Hidamari Sketch, Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei and ef. For the former two, the comedic side of PPD was prevalent, especially with chalkboard scribbles and references to other media. PPD's visual aspects were also implemented in newer works, such as screens with only text on them or in the background. Shinbo mentioned in another interview that he wanted to put literal text on screen for Bakemonogatari [17]. Another example being Giant Salamander’s “text of speech” was used in several works. Tsukuyomi, Pani Poni Dash! and Negima!? laid a basis for future Shaft works to come, and even in newer Shaft anime, like Monogatari adaptations and Ninkoro, this style is present.

In conclusion, Pani Poni Dash! isn't everyone's cup of tea. But understanding the importance and uniqueness of the anime at its time, you known why it was and still is relevant.

My Brief Personal History with Pani Poni Dash!

My first encounter with the show was in early 2010s, when I discovered this flash loop (EPILEPSY WARNING!; archived link) of dancing Becky on this particular site. I didn't know much about anime outside Studio Ghibli and Moomins. Fast forward to 2020, when I was archiving flash files, I stumbled across with this flash of Becky stuttering "Massachusetts" on a flash thread from Nyymichan (the thread has been deleted). Finally in early 2022, I figured out what anime had this scene. And when I watched Pani Poni Dash! properly for the very first time, seeing the Roulette ☆ Roulette opening unlocked a memory in me. Ever since then, I've been hooked up with this anime.

I had watched anime comedy classics such as Squid Girl, Lucky Star, Nichijou and Azumanga Daioh prior to PPD, but none of them stuck with me as the Shaft title did. Maybe it’s because I’m a huge sucker for the Naked Gun series and Austin Powers trilogy. Somehow, PPD also reminded me of all the YTPs and other remix videos I used to watch as a teen. PPD is so rewatchable as well! I've watched PPD around five times already (Both TV and DVD releases), and I still find new things from the anime. I wish you’ll enjoy PPD as much as me!

You'll watch it... right?

Last update on 5.5.2026