My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analyses: "Kung Fu Panda" - The Martial Arts Picture From DreamWorks That Became a Huge Franchise

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.

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With the release of Kung Fu Panda 4, it would`ve been a perfect synergy to write about it`s predecessor who started this huge and ongoing franchise...

Don`t worry, my pants won`t rip
from my moves :)

We`re standing in line for a
crazy festival :)

Cinderella should`ve been here
with us :) No need to explain
why :)

In 2008, DreamWorks had already settled themselves to the Animation World with their CGI franchises like Shrek and Madagascar. However, in 2008, it was clear that animation had changed completely, as CGI had taken over the animation almost completely. And Hand Drawn Animation had, with a few exceptions, mostly disappeared. However, it was also clear that most animated movies were essentially becoming quite homogenous in tone: Most of the mainstream, American animation were comedies that were shapen by Shrek. And were zany, zippy and zangy, celebrity voice-driven and Pop Culture comedies (with the exception of Pixar, who despite being a part of the formula, weren`t too driven on it). However, since the formula was a success and milked for that reason, a formula can be worn out when it`s used too much. As afterwards there was a little more variety in the Animation Formula.

We`re trying to fly :) In an
animal sense :)

In that sense, it`s hard to place Kung Fu Panda in that aforementioned group. Since it technically does belong to that list, but at the same time it doesn`t. While it`s both zany, zippy and zangy, it`s still does comes across with surprisingly amount of depth and gravity. The overall staple of Kung Fu Panda is mostly a good one, as it was both a critical and commercial success. And pretty much embraced by a wide audience. While it doesn`t have Shrek`s inpact and popularity, it`s still one of the most beloved and respected DreamWorks` franchises. But due to it`s success and franchise-ready premise, it`s no wonder that Kung Fu Panda eventually became a huge and ongoing franchise. A franchise that would last to this day with the release of the fourth movie in the canon.

General Information About Kung Fu Panda

This is how you sneak on your
prey, Kiara :)

Released June 6th, 2008 in the United States, Kung Fu Panda was a high profile movie with an A-List Celebrity Voice Cast like Jack Black (approached by Jeffrey Katzenberg, as the director was a fan of Black), Angelina Jolie (their second DreamWorks gig together after Shark Tale), Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Michael Clarke Duncan and Jackie Chan. Even Black`s Tenacious T comrades Kyle Gass and J.R. Reed had their parts. The score was composed by DreamWorks veteran Hans Zimmer (The Lion King), this time collaborating with John Powell.

Even Panda`s can have a
picnic :)

Kung Fu Panda premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2008. It grossed $631.7 million on a budget of $130 million, making it the third highest-grossing film of 2008 and the highest-grossing animated film of the year worldwide. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Panda was also the first CGI Feature from DreamWorks to be filmed in Cinemascope (despite how it wasn`t the very first to be so, as Spirit Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron preceeded it).

Behind the Scenes Information

At least it`s not Tai Chi ;)

Originally Kung Fu Panda was a parody of Martial Arts Films. However, director John Stevenson wanted to make an action-comedy wuxia film with the hero's journey narrative. DreamWorks Animation had made a PlayStation video game with a similar premise, T'ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger, in 1999. The biggest influences for Panda were artful martial arts films, as Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Kung Fu Hustle and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Stevenson's aim for Panda, which took four years to make, was to make "the best looking film DreamWorks has ever made". The Hand-Drawn Animation sequence at the beginning was made to resemble Chinese shadow puppetry. The opening was directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (who would direct the first sequel) and produced by James Baxter (animator on Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Rafiki in The Lion King, Spirit in Spirit). And was deliberately trying to look like anime, with a new look.

Since I`m steeped in
cement, I`m stuck this
way :)

The computer animation was more complex than anything DreamWorks had done before. The animators took a six-hour kung fu class. Originally Po was more of a jerk, but the character changed after they heard Black. He and Hoffman did record together a day. Originally Po was going to live with a mother. To make Po the only panda was a deliberate choice, for making him an outcast. The creators wanted to have a timeless feel to the story, so that`s why there wasn`t any pop songs in the movie. The chopstick fight was the favorite of the audience. And the fake death of Shifu was the biggest laugh in the movie. Angelina Jolie wanted to be Tigress, due to her love for tigers.

The Stigma of the Title & Animal Cast

My cape was given from
Midas :)

In fact, it would`ve been fairly easy to groan at something like Kung Fu Panda. Because let`s be real, a premise like a Panda doing Kung Fu sounds pretty insipid and silly (no offense to the creators). Even hearing the title Kung Fu Panda could make one cringe. But Panda pretty much puts that predujice and stigma to shame. Sure, Panda is (as aforementioned) fluffy, breezy and fun, but it also does create a little more gravity and substance than excepted. Sure, Shrek had some heart and substance, but it`s still was mostly labeled (and remembered) for it`s comedy. And while Kung Fu Panda never had the same amount of pathos of other Animated Movies, it still had some grave moments. And sure, since it`s title is named after a certain song, it was somewhat semi-mandatory to have the song in the end credits.

I`m learning to fly, but I ain`t
got wings :)

And sure, since it features an all-Anthrophomorphic Animal Cast, it would be tempting to say that Panda is perfectly ideal for animation for that lone reason. Due to how animals and animation are essentially synonymous and therefore marketable (and a little tidbit: Sure, it`s remarkably quirky for even giving a goose as a surrogate father to a panda. But it was taken from an concept of Po`s boss being a goose. But hey, to quote the great Beyoncé; Sometimes art doesn`t makes sense. But none of the audience at the previews laughed at the joke.

The Plot

In the Summertime you can
stretch a panda :)

As for the story in Kung Fu Panda, there`s no need to say there`s simply not much to the story (no offense to the screenwriters). The plot is essentially about premise that is seen in many Martial Arts-Movies: A rookie (who`s essentially a geeked out fanboy) who becomes a champion, guided by his Yoda-Master. And also about a fanboy who enters a world that he`s dreamed about. And also how Po, despite how he has no experience in Kung Fu, is basically the chosen one to save the World from a mission. While it`s a premise that has been shown a lot in many movies, it`s still a premise that works in that story.

Yeah, I`m tempting ya
with food :)

But Panda
is also a story about an outsider who becomes accepted in a group that he`s not welcomed to and must overcome that challenge. And also a story how a protagonists who (somewhat) goes against his fathers wishes for him (despite how it`s not the main conflict in the film). But Panda is also a story about how the passion of the lead (food) becomes a key in achieving his goal. However, Panda is all in all a story about self-worth and self-esteem. Since Po`s goal and mission is not only to literally accept himself, but also gain his self-worth (and Po is both goofy and adorkable in a lead character`s way). Still, the message of the film, while being a little hackneyed (no offense), it`s still very well executed.

The Villain

I wanted to show that I can be
adorable as cross-eyed :)

However, regarding the villain of Kung Fu Panda (and also the sequel), it`s remarkable how Tai Lung, despite being completely evil, still has a redeemable side to him. And his reasons for being evil is still justifiable and relatable. But it`s remarkable how both villains in both of the first two Kung Fu Panda movies happens to be beloved by a parental figure and still ends up being evil. True that DreamWorks (even when they were doing Hand Drawn Animation) never used to defeat their villains in the same mold that Disney did.

Yes, I want to outshine the sun
itself :) Don`t ask me why ;)

And even managed to give them at times some complexity (like Rameses in The Prince of Egypt). But it`s remarkable how the villains are still given some potential to redeem themselves with their potentially tragic backstory and still becomes only evil. Regardless of whether it should`ve been perceived as compelling character development, it`s noteworthy how the same arc happens to both villains of both first films. And yes, making the audience to feel sympathy for Tai Lung was a hurdle for the creators.

The Setting

I know that we`re from the
other company, but we were
forced to be here :)

Truth to be told,

Kung Fu Panda wasn`t really different from it`s DreamWorks CGI counterparts. But just like Madagascar, it was a franchise that took place in a exotic, non-White location. But sure, Kung Fu Panda does essentially stereotype it`s setting, by taking the most iconic animal from it`s country (a panda) and making it the protagonist. And sure, since Panda has a Chinese setting, it awfully tempting to compare it to Mulan for that lone reason. But of course that comparison is a shallow one, only due to the setting. But while it`s superfluous to compare them (since they both come from different studios and being in different animated mediums), both movies has a thing in common: For having a rookie training to be a Warrior to save their beloved country from danger.

Be happy that I`m eating.
There are many childs who
don`t eat at all :)

Despite how it`s more deliberately in Mulan`s case (and yes, it has even one voice actor from Mulan, James Hong, who voiced Chi Fu, voicing Po`s goose father, Ping). But sure, since Panda has a Chinese setting without humans in that World, it would`ve been tempting to scream racism (and the same for having mostly a White cast, with a few exceptions, which was a departure from Mulan). But hey, let`s not go there, shall we? And sure, it has something that has been featured a lot in animation, like bears.

Franchise

We`re a panda rainbow :) Sort
of :)

Due to it`s success, it was no surprise that Kung Fu Panda became a mandatory franchise. But it`s become a huge franchise with many forms. The DVD and Blu Ray releases of the first three films were followed by shorts for each movie. Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008), Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011), Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016) and Panda Paws (2016). While the three first shorts lived up to their titles, Panda Paws was about Mei Mei (voiced by Kate Hudson) competing with Bao at the "Spring Festival". However, Kung Fu Panda Holiday also had a TV Special (known as Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special) in 2010. Which was about Po, assigned to host the annual Winter Feast, despite wanting to spend the holiday with Ping. However, Panda has managed to have three TV series so far: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011-2016), set between the first two films. Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018-2019), set after the events of Kung Fu Panda 3. And Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022-23) on Netflix.

I`m glad this fan was big
enough for me :)

But of course the most prominent and well-known parts of the franchise are it`s sequels. Just released three years later, Kung Fu Panda 2 arrived in May 2011. Despite being zippy, zangy and zany, it managed to boast more darkness and depth than it`s predecessor. By diving into Po`s origins and backstory (and yes, scrutinizing the fact that he was adopted by a goose) and facing the murderer of his mother, Lord Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman). As for the third film, there was a five year gap between them.

Yes, this is my way of giving
ya a kiss :)

Released in January 2016, Kung Fu Panda 3 showed how Po rejoined his long-lost father, voiced by Bryan Cranston (and having the long-lost Panda village idea from the first film). And frankly, Panda 3 was more in tune with the first movie in tone. But as for the purpose of this entry, Kung Fu Panda has become relevant again with the fourth film in the franchise, Kung Fu Panda 4. Which happened to be released eight years after it`s predecessor. By having a new mission to Po (to give his role as Dragon Warrior away to a follower), it introduces a new character in the Fox bandit Zhen (Awkwafina). And also being the first movie without the Furious Five. Having seen the fourth movie, I must say that I highly enjoyed it. It was frivolous fun in the same way as it`s first predecessor. And it has grossed $503,540,090 so far.

Epilogue

At the end,

I wanted to show that a tiger
can flap it`s wings :)

Kung Fu Panda is among one of the most honorable and well-liked franchises in DreamWorks` animation and in the animation field in general. Whether it`s become one of the most well-known animated franchises ever, it`s of course something to wonder. But it`s still a respected and beloved franchise, anyway. And sure, it would`ve been easy to wonder if this juggernaut has been milked too much. Since it been given four films. But hey, let`s remember that the same happened with both Shrek and Ice Age-franchise, as well. As for my personal opinion about the franchise, the thing that while I`ve never been gaga for those movies, I`ve still liked them well enough.

This is my way of doing
ballet :) And not the Russian
one :)

Sure, they`ve been mostly made in the same mold as their DreamWorks counterparts and are filled with their trademarks. But at least the two
first movies in the franchise were, surprisingly enough, filled with pathos and depth, regardless of it`s silliness. But truth to be told, the first movie was the best one and the third and fourth installment were good enough followers. Still, regardless of Kung Fu Panda 4 will be the final chapter in the saga, it`s still nice to see what the franchise has accomplished. And how it`s become one of the most respected entries in Animation in general.