Product Review

The Tale of the White Serpent (白蛇伝 Hakujaden) is the first color Japanese animated feature film, released by Toei Animation Studio in 1958. It was also the first to be released in America, under the title Panda and the Magic Serpent, preceding Magic Boy by three months. It is also known variously as Legend of the White Snake, The Great White Snake and The White Snake Enchantress. ---------------- Xu-Xian, a young boy, once owned a pet snake in West Lake until his parents forced him to give her up. Years pass and during a violent storm, the snake magically transforms into the beautiful princess Bai-Niang. Bai-Niang finds Xu-Xian, but the lovers are separated by a local monk, Fa-Hai, who believes that Bai-Niang is an evil spirit. Xu-Xian's two Panda pets, Panda and Mimi, try to find Xu-Xian. In the end, Bai-Niang gives up her magical powers and remains in human form to prove that her love for Xu-Xian is genuine.