Andy Panda

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Andy Panda, as seen in Apple Andy.

Andy Panda was a series of animated cartoon short subjects produced by Walter Lantz and released by Universal Pictures from 1939 to 1949. The titular character was an anthropomorphic cartoon character, a cute panda. In the early version of the cartoon series, Andy is a cub, whose father, Papa Panda, is frequently trying to prove himself as a good role model. Later, Andy became a stand-a-lone star in the vein of Mickey Mouse, and even acquired a Pluto-like dog as a pet.

Andy's first cartoon was the aptly-titled Life Begins for Andy Panda in 1939. The 1940 Andy Panda short Knock Knock featured the first appearance of Lantz's biggest star, Woody Woodpecker. Lantz continued to produce Andy Panda shorts until he closed his studio in 1948. When it reopened in 1950, Andy Panda did not return to production.