Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda, All You Want To Know & Watch Movies

 

Kung Fu Panda is an American media franchise that originally started in 2008 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, produced by DreamWorks Animation.

Following the adventures of the titular Po Ping (primarily voiced by Jack Black and Mick Wingert), a giant panda who is improbably chosen as the prophesied Dragon Warrior and becomes a master of kung fu, the franchise is set in a fantasy wuxia genre version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals.

Although his status is initially doubted, Po proves himself worthy as he strives to fulfill his destiny and learn about his past with his new friends.

The franchise consists mainly of three CGI-animated films: Kung Fu Panda (2008), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), and three television series: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016), The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019), and The Dragon Knight (2022).

The first two films were distributed by Paramount Pictures, the third film was distributed by 20th Century Fox, while the television series respectively aired on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. Four short films, Secrets of the Furious Five (2008), Secrets of the Masters (2011), Secrets of the Scroll, and Secrets of the Panda Paws (both 2016), and a television special, Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010), have also been produced.

The franchise’s first two features were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as well as numerous Annie Awards, and its first television series having won 11 Emmy Awards.

The first three films were critical and commercial successes while the second film was the biggest worldwide box office success for a film directed solely by a woman (Jennifer Yuh Nelson) until Wonder Woman (2017). The series is additionally popular in China as an outstanding Western interpretation of the wuxia film genre.

Kung Fu Panda, All You Want To Know & Watch About A 4 Great Movies
Kung Fu Panda, All You Want To Know & Watch About A 4 Great Movies

Films

Film U.S. release date  Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
Kung Fu Panda June 6, 2008 John Stevenson and Mark Osborne Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris Melissa Cobb
Kung Fu Panda 2 May 26, 2011 Jennifer Yuh Nelson Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger
Kung Fu Panda 3 January 29, 2016 Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Po, a clumsy panda, is a kung fu fanatic who lives in the Valley of Peace and works in his goose father Mr. Ping’s noodle shop, unable to realize his dream of learning the art of kung fu.

One day, a kung fu tournament is held for the elderly spiritual leader of the valley, Grand Master Oogway, to determine the identity of the Dragon Warrior, the one kung fu master capable of understanding the secret of the Dragon Scroll, which is said to contain the key to limitless power. Everyone in the valley expects the Dragon Warrior to be one of the Furious Five—Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Crane—a quintet of kung fu warriors trained by Master Shifu to protect the valley.

To everyone’s surprise, Oogway chooses Po, who has accidentally stumbled into the tournament arena after arriving late via fireworks explosion.

Refusing to believe that Po can be the Dragon Warrior, Shifu subjects Po to torturous training exercises in order to discourage him into quitting.

Determined to change himself into someone he can respect, Po perseveres in his training and befriends the Furious Five, who had previously mocked Po for his lack of skill in kung fu. Po soon learns that Tai Lung is approaching the Valley, an evil kung fu warrior who has escaped from prison to take revenge for being denied the Dragon Scroll, and despairs he will be unable to defeat him.

However, Shifu discovers that Po is capable of martial arts when motivated by food, and successfully trains him to learn kung fu. After his training is complete, Po is given the Dragon Scroll, which he discovers to be blank. However, Po realizes that the key to limitless power lies within himself, allowing him to defeat Tai Lung and restore peace to the valley.

1 43 Liberty Magazine

 

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Po now lives his dream as a kung fu master and protects the Valley of Peace alongside the Furious Five. However, he is thrown into internal conflict when he begins having flashbacks of his mother and learns from Mr. Ping that he was adopted as an infant. Shortly after, Po and the Five are sent on a mission to stop the evil peacock Lord Shen from using a newly developed weapon, the cannon, to conquer all of China and destroy kung fu tradition.

Po remains tormented by thoughts of being abandoned by his real parents until he is guided by a wise old soothsayer to embrace his past, and remembers that his parents risked their lives to save him from Shen, who had set out to exterminate all pandas after learning of a prophecy that he would be defeated by “a warrior of black-and-white”.

Po achieves inner peace, which allows him to destroy Shen’s new weapon, defeat Shen, and accept Mr. Ping as his father. However, during the last scene of the movie, it shows Po’s biological father realizing his son is alive.

1 44 Liberty Magazine

 

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Shortly after the events of the second film, Shifu relinquishes his duties as master of the Jade Palace to Po, claiming that the next step of his own apprenticeship is to oversee the Furious Five’s training. While struggling with this new responsibility, Po rejoices upon reuniting with his biological father, Li, though Mr. Ping is less enthusiastic.

However, news arrives that the spirit warrior General Kai has returned to the mortal realm and is ‘collecting’ Kung Fu masters from all over China, both living and dead, to serve in his army of Jade Zombies. Po and the others discover from a scroll left by Oogway that Kai can only be defeated by the power of Chi, a technique known only by the panda colonies; thus, Po and Li set to the secret Panda Valley in order to have Po learn it.

Po eventually discovers, to his horror, that Li had deceived him, because the pandas have long forgotten about how to manipulate the Chi, and he just wanted to protect his son from Kai. Once making amends with both his adoptive and biological fathers, Po joins forces with Ping, Tigress, and the pandas to make a stand against Kai, all mastering the power of Chi in the process and using its power to destroy him for good. After returning to the Valley of Peace, Po spends his days spreading the teachings of Kung fu and Chi.

1 45 Liberty Magazine

 

Kung Fu Panda 4

On December 3, 2010, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the Kung Fu Panda film series was planned to have six films, or “chapters,” altogether, of a “Student” and “Master” trilogy, with three sequels to follow Kung Fu Panda 3.[3] On January 13, 2016, Collider asked the filmmakers of Kung Fu Panda 3 about the possibility of a fourth film.

Co-director Jennifer Yuh Nelson said, “It’s one at a time. We want to make this a perfect jewel, and then we’ll see what happens after that.”[4] Co-director Alessandro Carloni said, “With the sequels, we don’t want to try to have them feel open-ended. We want it to feel like a completed journey, and we feel this movie does. And then, if a fantastic story presents itself, great.”[4]

On August 2, 2018, when asked about any updates on Kung Fu Panda 4, Nelson replied that she did not know as she had always seen the series as a trilogy, but that she was open to the idea of a fourth installment as long as it focused on Po.

1 46 Liberty Magazine

 

Television specials and series

Series Season Episodes Originally released
First released Last released Network
Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special November 24, 2010 NBC
Legends of Awesomeness 1 26 September 19, 2011 April 5, 2012 Nickelodeon
2 26 April 6, 2012 June 21, 2013
3 28 18 June 24, 2013 June 22, 2014
10 February 15, 2016 June 29, 2016 Nicktoons
The Paws of Destiny 1 26 13 November 16, 2018 Amazon Prime Video
13 July 4, 2019
The Dragon Knight 1 11 July 14, 2022 Netflix

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (also known as Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special) is a 2010 television special that premiered on NBC on November 24, 2010. It tells a story of Po, who is assigned to host the annual Winter Feast by Master Shifu, despite his wishes to spend the holiday with Mr. Ping.

 

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2014; 2016)

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness is an animated television series based on the Kung Fu Panda film series, set between the first two films. The show was originally intended to premiere in 2010, but it was delayed and officially launched on Nickelodeon on November 7, 2011. Of the series’s voice cast, only Lucy Liu, Randall Duk Kim, and James Hong reprise their roles from the films as Viper, Oogway, and Mr. Ping, respectively.

The first season, consisting of 26 episodes, ended on April 5, 2012. The second season aired from April 6, 2012 to June 21, 2013 and also consisted of 26 episodes. A third season consisting of 28 episodes began airing June 24, 2013, going on an extended hiatus after June 22, 2014, before airing its last 10 episodes two years later, from February 15 to June 29, 2016, as a tie-in to the theatrical run of Kung Fu Panda 3.

 

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019)

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is the second Kung Fu Panda animated series, set after the events of Kung Fu Panda 3. Across 26 episodes produced by DreamWorks Animation Television with Amazon Studios, and ordered and aired by Amazon Prime Video, the series released its 13-episode first season in its entirety on November 16, 2018, and its 13-episode second and final season on July 4, 2019.

The series follows Po on a fresh adventure, mentoring four young pandas (Nu Hai, Jing, Bao, and Fan Tong) who happen upon a mystical cave beneath the Panda Village — and accidentally absorb the chi of the ancient and powerful Kung Fu warriors known as the Four Constellations.

The four friends realize that they now have a new destiny — to save the world from an impending evil with their newfound Kung Fu powers. They are aided along their journey by Po, who finds himself faced with his biggest challenge yet — teaching this ragtag band of kids how to wield their strange abilities.

 

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight

In March 2022, during National Panda Day, it was announced that a new series, titled Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, would premiere on Netflix in July 14, 2022 with Jack Black reprising his role as Po.

The series follows Po as he must leave his home behind and embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight known as the Wandering Blade. In May 2022, it was announced that Rita Ora joined the cast as Wandering Blade and that James Hong will reprise his role as Mr. Ping.

 

Short films

 

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five, or simply Secrets of the Furious Five, is an animated short film that serves as a semi-sequel (or spin-off) to Kung Fu Panda and appears on a companion disc of the original film’s deluxe DVD release.

It was later broadcast on NBC on February 26, 2009, and is available as a separate DVD as of March 24, 2009. The film has a framing story of Po (in computer animation), telling the stories of his comrades in arms, the Furious Five, which are depicted in 2D cel animation.

 

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters is an animated short film released on December 13, 2011, as a special feature attached to the Kung Fu Panda 2 DVD and Blu-ray. It tells the backgrounds of the masters of Gongmen City: Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox, and Croc.

 

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll is an animated short film officially released as a bonus feature in the Kung Fu Panda: Ultimate Edition of Awesomeness Blu-ray pack in January 2016.[11] Secrets of the Scroll details the forming of the Furious Five, and their first fight together against a common enemy. Unlike previous Kung Fu Panda[citation needed] short films, Secrets of the Scroll has yet to be released on its own DVD or Blu-ray.

 

Panda Paws (2016)

Panda Paws, is a short film that was released with the home media of Kung Fu Panda 3. Panda Paws involves the character Mei Mei (voiced by Kate Hudson) competing with Bao at the “Spring Festival.” A version of the short was previously released in cinemas preceding the DreamWorks Animation film Home in 2015, with Rebel Wilson voicing Mei Mei, prior to her firing from Kung Fu Panda 3.

 

Cast and characters

This section shows characters who will appear or have appeared in the franchise.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character’s official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  C indicates a cameo role.
  •  Y indicates a younger version of the character.
Characters Films Short films Television special Television series
Kung Fu Panda Kung Fu Panda 2 Kung Fu Panda 3 Secrets of the Furious Five Kung Fu Panda:
Secrets of the Masters
Kung Fu Panda:
Secrets Of the Scroll
Panda Paws Kung Fu Panda Holiday Kung Fu Panda:
Legends of Awesomeness
Kung Fu Panda:
The Paws of Destiny
Kung Fu Panda:
The Dragon Knight
Po Ping
The Dragon Warrior
Jack Black Jack Black


Liam KnightY

Jack Black Jack Black Mick Wingert Jack Black
Master Shifu Dustin Hoffman Dustin Hoffman Fred Tatasciore
Tigress Angelina Jolie Tara Strong Angelina Jolie Kari Wahlgren


Tara MarciY

Angelina Jolie Kari Wahlgren
Mantis Seth Rogen Max Koch Seth Rogen Seth Rogen Max Koch
Monkey Jackie Chan Jaycee Chan James Sie Jackie Chan James Sie
Viper Lucy Liu Jessica DiCicco Lucy Liu Lucy Liu
Crane David Cross David Cross David Cross Amir Talai
Mr. Ping James Hong James Hong James Hong
Oogway Randall Duk Kim Flashback Randall Duk Kim Randall Duk Kim Piotr Michael
Tai Lung Ian McShane


Riley OsborneY

Silent cameo Ian McShaneC André SogliuzzoC
Zeng Dan Fogler Dan Fogler Mick Wingert
Commander Vachir Michael Clarke Duncan
Lord Shen Gary Oldman Flashback
Soothsayer Michelle Yeoh
Wolf Boss Danny McBride
Storming Ox Dennis Haysbert Dennis Haysbert
Croc Jean-Claude Van Damme Tony Leondis
Thundering Rhino Victor Garber Paul Scheer Jonathan Groff
Li Shan Fred TatascioreC Bryan Cranston Christopher Swindle
Kai J. K. Simmons
Mei Mei Kate Hudson Kate Hudson


Rebel Wilson

Chrissy Metz
Bao
Black Tortoise
Steele Gangon Steele Gangon Gunnar Sizemore
Lei Lei Liam Knight
Grandma Panda Barbara Dirickson Barbara Dirickson Amy Hill
Sum Al Roker
Dim Willie Geist
Wo Hop Jack McBrayer
Fung John DiMaggio
Hundun Diedrich Bader
Taotie Wallace Shawn
Bian Zao Simon Helberg
Fenghuang Wendie Malick
Junjie Stephen Root
Temutai Kevin Michael Richardson
Bao Fred Tatasciore
Peng Danny Cooksey
Chao James Sie
Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow Wayne Knight
Scorpion Lynn Milgrim
Lidong Jim Cummings
Hu Neil Ross
Ke-Pa Alfred Molina
Nu Hai
Blue Dragon
Haley Tju
Jing
White Tiger
Laya Deleon Hayes
Fan Tong
Red Phoenix
Makana Say
Jade Tusk Cherise Boothe
Rooster Michael Rivkin
Jindiao Steve Blum
Yaoguai Demon Mitch Watson
Princess Xiao Lacey Chabert
Shi Long Sumalee Montano
White Bone Demon Elisa Gabrielli
Sun Wukong James Sie
Wandering Blade Rita Ora
Klaus Chris Geere
Veruca Della Saba
Rukhmini Rahnuma Panthaky
Colin Ed Weeks

Additional crew

Role Film
Kung Fu Panda Kung Fu Panda 2 Kung Fu Panda 3
Executive Producer(s) Bill Damaschke — Mike Mitchell, Guillermo del Toro, La Peikang, and Li Ruigang
Composer(s) Hans Zimmer and John Powell Hans Zimmer
Editor Clare Knight
Studio(s) DreamWorks Animation DreamWorks Animation
China Film Group Corporation
Oriental DreamWorks
Zhong Ming You Ying Film
Distributor Paramount Pictures 20th Century Fox
Running time 1h 32mins 1h 30mins 1h 35mins

Reception

Box office performance

The films series grossed over $1.8 billion making the Kung Fu Panda franchise the tenth highest-grossing animated franchise and the third highest-grossing DreamWorks Animation’s franchise behind Madagascar & Shrek.

Film Release date Box office Rank Budget (millions) Ref.
Opening weekend
North America
North America Other territories Worldwide All time
North America
All time
worldwide
Kung Fu Panda June 6, 2008 $60,239,130 $215,434,591 $416,309,969 $631,744,560 #182 #149 $130 [13]
Kung Fu Panda 2 May 26, 2011 $47,656,302 $165,249,063 $500,443,218 $665,692,281 #320 #135 $150 [14]
Kung Fu Panda 3 January 29, 2016 $41,282,042 $143,528,619 $377,642,206 $521,170,825 #410 #207 $145 [15]
Total $149,177,474 $524,090,146 $1,291,869,283 $1,817,258,332 $425 [16][17]

Critical and public reception

Each Kung Fu Panda film has received highly positive reviews, with critics often praising the animation, voice acting, and character development.

Critical and public response of Kung Fu Panda
Title Critical Public
Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore
Kung Fu Panda 87% (190 reviews)[18] 74 (36 reviews)[19] A-[20]
Kung Fu Panda 2 80% (184 reviews)[21] 67 (34 reviews)[22] A[20]
Kung Fu Panda 3 87% (179 reviews)[23] 66 (34 reviews)[24] A[20]

Awards

Award Category Kung Fu Panda[25][26][27] Kung Fu Panda 2[28][29][30] Kung Fu Panda 3[31]
Academy Awards Best Animated Feature Nominated Nominated
Annie Awards Best Animated Feature Won Nominated Nominated

2 1 Liberty Magazine

3 9 scaled Liberty Magazine

Prepare and write by:

Author: Mohammed A Bazzoun

If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask in comments.

 

For More Article

Liberty Magazine

Cars   / Games   /   Phone

Movies  /  Cinema & Series  /  Technology

Economy   / General Culture   / Sports News

Travel & tourism

Liberty Magazine / Economic Website

Liberty Magazine

———————————————————————————

Follow us

Facebook

Economic             The Magazine           Lebanon Magazine    

Leave a Reply

Scroll to Top