熊猫堂ProducePandas
ProducePandas at MiGu Music on October 2021From left to right: Cass, Otter, DING, Husky and Mr. 17
ProducePandas at MiGu Music on October 2021
From left to right: Cass, Otter, DING, Husky and Mr. 17
Background information
Also known asProducePandas
OriginBeijing, China
Genres
Years active2020-present
LabelsDMDF Entertainment | Simply Joy Music
Members
  • DING
  • Otter
  • Husky
  • Mr.17
  • Cass

Produce Pandas (Chinese: 熊猫堂; pinyin: Xíong Māo Táng; fully stylized as 熊猫堂 ProducePandas) is a Chinese boy group dubbed as "China's first plus-size boy band" formed and managed by DMDF Entertainment, which was set up under Simply Joy Music to specifically manage plus-sized groups.[1] The group, consisting of five members: Chen Dingding(DING), Cui Yunfeng(Otter), Qi Ha(Husky), Shi Qijun(Mr. 17) and Ka Si(Cass), made their debut on July 28, 2020, with their single "La La La".[2]

Background

The idea for Produce Pandas came in 2018 when their parent label Simply Joy Music decided to form a boy group that breaks the "aesthetic stereotypes" perpetuated by the idol industry in an effort to create role models who are ordinary and relatable to their fans.[3][4] The management noticed that idol groups in the market tend to have a lot of similarities in terms of physical build, style and temperament.[5] This gives form to the stereotype that all idols have to be thin, young and fair-skinned.[6] Produce Pandas aim to become idols centered around being more "rotund and approachable" instead of the cool and handsome demeanor sported by boy groups.[7]

History

Formation and pre-debut activities

Scouts and notices were sent out to recruit plus-sized men, and out of the approximate 300 candidates who auditioned, 5 were picked for the final lineup after months of testing and eliminations in the form of weekly, monthly and quarterly assessments.[1][8][9]

The chosen members came from various backgrounds and gave up their jobs, ranging from Amazon customer service to petroleum refinery worker to start their full-time training for Produce Pandas, with their oldest member being 30 years old at the time of joining.[10][11]

While three of the members have experience in singing, only one came from a dancing background. The group underwent intense "K-pop style" training in order to match the industry standards in terms of performance skills.[2][12]

2020: Debut album A.S.I.A, first concert

After their initial debut, they followed up with three more songs and then released their first album A.S.I.A on 15 October.[13] It is their only album to have a music video for each song. It was originally intended to have the videos filmed at various places all over Asia, but due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many of the videos were filmed back in Beijing. The music video of Sui Sui Nian (碎碎念) was filmed in Bali, Indonesia.[14]

On November 22, Produce Pandas held a concert in Chengdu.[15]

On December 18, the group announced their fandom name (Panda Keeper), official group colour #FF0000  and individual members' official colours on a Weibo post.[16]

2021: Youth with You, Stand Up EP, second album Emo了, national tour

Produce Pandas competed on the third season of Chinese reality show Youth with You, where Ding and Otter managed to pass the first elimination before finishing at 52 and 42 respectively.[17]

Shortly after the show on May 13, Produce Pandas released their single and music video "Dream".[18]

Produce Pandas announced their first EP Stand Up, which was released on May 28 along with a music video for the title track two days later.[19]

ProducePandas national tour in Shanghai, October 2021

On July 28, Produce Pandas released a single "The ONE" for their one year anniversary, which came in a Chinese version and a Japanese version with a music video for both tracks, as well as their second concert on July 30 which featured their debut performance of "The ONE", in Beijing.[20]

In September, their company teased the title track of their second studio album, to be revealed on September 28 as "Free Fall", with a music video following two days later. The album, Emo了, was announced to be released on October 15, featuring six new tracks and four selected tracks. Another track of the album, "Victims", received two music videos centered around self-harm (Non suicidal self injury) to raise awareness on issues of mental health and self-harm. A national tour was also announced with the album release, scheduled for Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou, on 24 October, 30 October and 18 December, respectively.[21] The Chengdu concert was initially postponed to 20 November, then cancelled altogether as a precaution due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the area.[22]

Produce Pandas performed on 23 October in The Night of Unlimited Power live concert along "Real Me · 动感地带 2021来电之夜" with other artists like Chris Lee and Mao BuYi.[23]

2022: Singles Best of You, Cosmic Anthem and second Extended Play Love Best Before

Produce Pandas released their second single Best of You (冲刺) on April 6.

On May 20, Produce Pandas took part in the 2022 Bilibili Dancing Festival by performing a vocal and dance cover of the official theme song Heartbeat Spectrum The credits of that song hinted at a new member by the title of "Panda Trainee" as part of the backing vocals in the cover.

During their livestream on May 29, Produce Pandas announced that they are releasing a new song on the 31st of May, revealed to be part of their second extended play Love Best Before, which would contain a mix of solo and group tracks. The five solo tracks were dropped over the span of three weeks until the official release of the full EP on June 21. The EP includes a solo track by the Panda Trainee, who was initially rumored to join the line up which lead to backlash from fans. Ray Xi, the group's agent, made an announcement regarding speculations of the alleged sixth member. The trainee, whose identity remains undisclosed, is said to be part of Produce Panda's "Panda Trainee system" where he will serve as a substitute member in the event of long term absence of a panda (such as from health issues or solo activities) for commercial events while still receiving support for long term development from the company. [24]

TEAM Entertainment, Produce Panda's japanese label, announced a single to be released on August 31. The single's lead track includes Cosmic Anthem, sung in both chinese and japanese versions, as well as 手紙 Tegami (transl. "Letter"), a japanese version of their A.S.I.A song You Raise Me Up.

Member

Members Native Name Role Date of birth Place of birth Color Emoji Previous Job
DING / Chen Dingding 陈鼎鼎 Group Leader August 16, 1994 Wuhan, Hubei #ECC7CD  🐷 Plus-size model
Otter / Cui Yunfeng 崔云峰 Main Vocals March 9, 1998 Panjin, Liaoning #FFFFFF  🍚 Amazon customer service
Husky / Qi Ha 七哈 Lead Vocals February 5, 1995 Haicheng, Liaoning #69B3E7  🐳 Project manager IT
Mr. 17 / Shi Qi Jun 十七君 Main Dancer November 1, 1989 Yangzhou, Jiangsu #FFA94D  🍊 Oil worker
Cass / Ka Si 卡斯 Lead Vocals May 27, 1991 Lianyungang, Jiangsu #43D62C  🌵 Pub singer

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
A.S.I.A
Track listing
  1. La La La 辣辣辣
  2. Renascence 千转
  3. Sui Sui Nian 碎碎念
  4. Fortune Cat (ft. G-Tracy) 招财猫
  5. Pan Ta 盘他
  6. The Paramount Show 荒诞秀
  7. You Raise Me Up 长大
  8. How Do You Do 好肚有肚
  9. Na Na Na
  10. Indigo
Emo了
Track listing
  1. Free Fall 就算与全世界为敌也要跟你在一起
  2. Happy? 满意
  3. Bubble Gum 口香糖
  4. New Horse
  5. Suuuuuper Mario
  6. Victims 不例外
  7. The ONE (Chinese Version)
  8. The ONE (Japanese Version)
  9. The World of Foodie Masters 饕餮人间
  10. Dream (ft. Ji Cui Xi) 以梦为马 (壮志骄阳版)
  11. Happy? (DJheap） 满意 （九天版 Remix)
W.O.R.L.D.
Track Listing
  1. Rua Ta Ta 320万年前
  2. Entelecheia 隐德来希
  3. Kongming 孔明
  4. Koi Fish Bu Lu Lu 锦鲤卟噜噜
  5. A Deer or a Horse 指鹿为马
  6. Falling For You 热带季风 (Facevoid Remix)
  7. California Rverie 加州梦境
  8. Asymptotic Freedom 渐近自由
  9. Wherever We Go 世界所有的烂漫

Extended plays

Title Album details
Stand UP 《大惊小怪》
  • Released: May 27, 2021
  • Label: DMDF
  • Formats: CD, Digital download, streaming
Track Listing
  1. Stand Up 大惊小怪
  2. Tool-Man 工具人
  3. Dream 以梦为马
  4. Dream (Piano version) 以梦为马
Love Best Before《爱的赏味期限》
  • Released: June 21, 2022
  • Label: DMDF
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Track Listing
  1. Di Da Di 滴答滴 ft. 糯米Nomi and ￥oungLord-张旻轩
  2. Falling for You 热带季风
  3. Trash 渣
  4. Irreplaceable 独特
  5. After the Rain 雨后
  6. Then 然后然后
  7. Quit 丢
  8. Falling for You 热带季风 (FACEVOID桃心臉哥 Remix）

Singles

Title Album Details
COSMIC ANTHEM/手紙
  • Released: August 31, 2022
  • Labels: DMDF Entertainment, TEAM Entertainment Inc.
  • Formats: CD, Digital download, streaming
Track Listing
  1. COSMIC ANTHEM - Japanese Version
  2. 手紙 - 長大 You Raise Me Up Japanese Version
  3. COSMIC ANTHEM - Chinese Version

Promotional Singles

Title Year Note Album
The Great Dream / 伟大的梦想 2020 Charity Song for Beijing Give Socially Responsible Development centre[25] -
The World of Foodie Masters / 饕餮人间 2020 Promotion song for Poetic China Season 3 /《诗意中国》第三季推广曲 / Emo了
Qi Bu Long Dong Qiang / 七步隆咚呛 2021 - -
Dream / 以梦为马 2021 - Stand Up
The Meaning of Being Together / 在一起的意义 2021 Simply Joy Music Anniversary Single -
The ONE 2021 One year anniversary single Emo了
A Vision of Eternity / 一眼万年 2021 Original song by S.H.E, Part of a cover album with various artists 《青春重置计划5 - 请回答1999》
Best of You / 冲刺 2022 - -
COSMIC ANTHEM/手紙 2022 First Japanese Single COSMIC ANTHEM/手紙
Good Night World / 世界晚安 2022 -Chinese version/ Thai version/Piano version -
Next Year Go Go Go / 明年也要好好长大 2022 - -
320 萬年傳 Rua Ta Ta 2023 with Instrumental version, DJ version -
Wherever We Go / 世界所有的爛漫 2023 with Instrumental version -

Media appearances

TV Appearance

Broadcast time Channel Name of the program Member Participated
2020
14 September CCTV-15 Music On the Cloud / 云端音乐季 Group
25 December HuNan TV Sing or Spin Season 2 / 嗨唱转起来 Group
Shenzhen TV Poetic China / 诗意中国 Group
CCTV-1 Star Boulevard / 星光大道 Group
2021
3 January CCTV-3 I Want To Be In Spring Festival Gala / 我要上春晚 Group
27 June GuangDong TV Great Experience / 见多识广 Group
26 July CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
23 August CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
25/26 September Shenzhen TV Boom Happy Valley / 夏日冲击波 DING/Cass
2022
30 January CCTV-4 Universal Show / 环球综艺秀 Group
15 February CCTV-15 Television Gramophone / 影视留声机 Otter
4 May CCTV-15 China Beat / 中国节拍 Group
27 May CCTV-15 China Beat / 中国节拍 Group
31 May / 7 June CCTV-3 Happiness / 向幸福出发 Group
8 June CCTV-15 Television Gramophone / 影视留声机 Otter
19 August CCTV-15 China Beat / 中国节拍 Group
26 September CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
24 October CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
31 October CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
12 November CCTV-4 Universal Show / 环球综艺秀 Group
12 November CCTV-1 Star Boulevard / 星光大道 Group
20 November CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group
28 November CCTV-3 SuperStar Ding Dong/ 开门大吉 Group

Filmography

Web dramas

Year Name Member Role Notes Streaming Platform
2022 Campus Ace 王牌校草 Husky Wang Tongqing 王同庆 Supporting role WeTV 腾讯视频
2022 My little chef 厨妻当道 Cass Zhan Yunxi 詹云熙 Supporting role WeTV 腾讯视频

Group Variety Show

Year Name Streaming Platform
2022 Pop up！Pandas！熊猫出没请注意 WeTV 腾讯视频

Awards

DouYin Discover Music Project/抖音看见音乐计划
Year Category Result
2021 Discover Happiness Musician Award/看见美好音乐人奖 Won
Chinese Top Ten Music Awards/东方风云榜
Year Category Result
2022 Eastern New Artist/ 东方新人奖 Won

Concert and tours

  • Produce Pandas A.S.I.A first time singing concert "熊猫堂ProducePandas A.S.I.A 感恩首唱会" - 2020[15]
  • We are The One Produce Pandas debut 1st anniversary concert "We are The One 熊猫堂一周年演唱会" - 2021[16]
  • Produce Pandas EMO了 National concert tour "熊猫堂 EMO了 全国巡回演唱会" - 2021[21]
    • Shanghai
    • Guangzhou

References

  1. 1 2 杨, 睿琦. "寻找中国的"大码偶像"｜新偶像系列报道_腾讯新闻". new.qq.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  2. 1 2 Yau, Elaine (2020-10-18). "This plus-size Chinese boy band is looking to make it big". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  3. ↑ Williams, Sophie (2021-10-14). "Produce Pandas: The plus-size musicians making waves in China". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  4. ↑ Associated Press (2021-04-30). "China's 'Plus-size' boy band Produce Pandas seeks to inspire fans". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  5. ↑ 苗正卿. "选秀变轨，偶像迷路". Weixin Official Accounts Platform (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  6. ↑ Law, Julienna (2021-05-12). "Are China's "Little Fresh Meat" Idols Losing Their Luster?". Jing Daily. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  7. ↑ General, Ryan. "Chinese 'chubby' idols Produce Pandas gain fans looking for relatable celebrities". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  8. ↑ Cragg, Michael (2020-09-11). "Produce Pandas: China's all-singing, all-dancing, plus-sized boyband". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  9. ↑ "Why Can't the "Plus-Sized Boy Band" Taking China by Storm Just Be a Boy Band?". Yahoo!. 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  10. ↑ Park, Juwon. "'Plus-size' boy band in China seeks to inspire fans". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  11. ↑ CHAW, KENNETH. "Meet ProducePandas: China's first plus-sized boyband". The Star. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  12. ↑ "Meet Produce Pandas, China's first chubby boy band 'for the ordinary'". l!fe • The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  13. ↑ Hong, Alex (2021-03-10). "Why China's Produce Pandas Are More Than Just a 'Big' Deal". Sixth Tone.
  14. ↑ 熊貓堂 ProducePandas【碎碎念 Sui Sui Nian】Official Music Video, retrieved 2021-11-08
  15. 1 2 "熊猫堂《A.S.I.A.》感恩首唱会来了！_专辑". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  16. 1 2 "Produce Pandas official Weibo Account". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  17. ↑ "你好！我们是熊猫堂ProducePandas！". gd.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  18. ↑ "Produce Pandas official Weibo Account". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  19. ↑ "Produce Pandas official Weibo Account". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  20. ↑ "Produce Pandas official Weibo Account". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  21. 1 2 "熊猫堂新专辑海外获佳绩 展现华语音乐影响力_文化". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  22. ↑ "DMDF official Weibo Account". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  23. ↑ 任, 宏伟. "李宇春亮相"来电之夜"：期待下月在家乡成都的个唱_白举纲". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  24. ↑ "动态-哔哩哔哩". t.bilibili.com. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  25. ↑ "Produce Pandas - 'Charity Ambassadors' of 51Give - 51give.org". en.51give.org. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
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