Robot Panda

Source details and larger version.

https://youtu.be/BZe5i_p5ea4?si=EgSJLU6cV7P-X2Po

Finally this series has some competition for my favorite Digimon anime since I've been really enjoying BeatBreak.

(just so long as you ignore the recent-ish audio drama content. Building up a villain only to replace them with the new one of "Political Correctness" is pretty cringe. 😒)

It's either middle grade or YA, but I'm not entirely sure which because I was kind of reading above my age at the time. It was about this half-Black half-Chinese girl whose family throws this big dinner after she graduates as salutorian, but the two sides of her family don't get along. And then her crush, the Japanese valedictorian boy, shows up with HIS family and even more drama ensues. I don't remember most of the specifics but I remember that towards the end one of main character's older relatives (I think her grandpa) tells the story of how he and a Chinese soldier ran into each other during the war (not sure which one) and, even though they couldn't understand each other's languages, they bonded over killing and cooking a chicken together.

Anyway I just remember that being the first time I encountered a Blasian character and I'm really annoyed that I can't remember what it was so if anyone can help that would be great!