Pan Tau

Pan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a stroller, with an umbrella and a white carnation in the lapel. Foremost, he was famous for his magic bowler hat. By tapping on his hat, Pan Tau was able to change his appearance into a puppet, to conjure up miscellaneous objects or to do other magic. His most characteristically behavior is that he would help children who were experiencing some sort of difficulties in-between their dreams and reality, like finding a place for skiing, settling family problems on Christmas, and even give a boy a good time at a fair when he is supposed to have piano lessons. To adults, he usually remained invisible.

Pan Tau (1970-1979) is a German-produced family fantasy series created by Ota Hofman and Jindřich Polák, broadcast on Das Erste and produced with Czechoslovak Television. Otto Šimánek plays the title character, a gentle, elegantly dressed magician with an umbrella and a white carnation in his lapel. His magic bowler hat lets him transform his appearance into a puppet, conjure objects or work other wonders. Each episode centers on a child caught between dreams and reality: a youngster who wants to ski, a family strained at Christmas, or a boy who would rather go to a fair than practice piano. Pan Tau steps in to set things right, while adults usually pass him by without noticing. The series runs across three seasons and thirty-three half-hour episodes, a self-contained case-of-the-week format. Its tone is warm, whimsical and comforting, with a childlike wonder that suits young viewers and their families. Fans of Mary Poppins and Bewitched will find a similar gentle magical kinship here, with ordinary daily life touched by quiet enchantment.

• Mary Poppins (1964)gentle magical helper figure, family-friendly fantasy tone, episodic childhood problem solving
• Bewitchedgentle whimsical children's fantasy, magic helping ordinary kids, family viewing
• Chiquititasgentle magical intervention in children's lives, episodic family fantasy

Created by

Ota Hofman, Jindřich Polák

Release Date

1970-12-13

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (17)

What is Pan Tau about?

A gentle magician in a bowler hat helps children solve everyday problems that sit between dreams and reality.

What is Pan Tau like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pan Tau as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Pan Tau violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Pan Tau.

Which shows are like Pan Tau?

Shows with a similar feel include Mary Poppins (1964), Bewitched, and Chiquititas.

How long is Pan Tau?

Pan Tau: 3 seasons, 33 episodes.

Is Pan Tau still running?

No, Pan Tau has ended.