#KUNG FU PANDA MOVIE#

This is where Shifu reaches his important revelation about relinquishing his attempts to control life. Why? Because its focus is entirely on Shifu instead of Po. This is such a beautiful and powerful scene in its own right that it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s a major weakness within the overall story. Midpoint: Just after Shifu learns of Tai Lung’s escape, Master Oogway realizes his time on earth is finished and he “ascends” in a cloud of peach blossoms, leaving Shifu to deal with the situation on his own. This makes him appear to viewers as a tremendously formidable opponent, despite his relatively tiny role in the actual story. Up until this point, it is only the characters’ fear of him that is driving the conflict. His presence as an antagonist in this story is an interesting one, since he never actually is a threat until this scene, a quarter of the way into the Second Act. This launches an intense segment of reactions from both himself and from Master Shifu, who is determined to scare Po into leaving so his star pupil Tigress can be named as Tai Lung’s more appropriate opponent.įirst Pinch Point: Tai Lung escapes the supposedly inescapable Chorh-Gom Prison. He also enters a metaphorical new world where he is suddenly expected to become a kung-fu master himself. Now he enters the physical new world of the Jade Palace, home of Master Shifu and the Furious Five. This is a clear departure from Po’s Normal World, where he was a waiter at his father’s restaurant.

He falls right in front of Master Oogway’s pointing finger, and Master Oogway insists it was “no accident” and that the “universe has decided” Po is the Dragon Warrior. This event here is what prompts him to go the Jade Palace to see which of the Furious Five will be chosen.įirst Plot Point: In a desperate bid to see the naming of the Dragon Warrior, Po launches himself over the wall of the Jade Palace on a firecracker-propelled chair. Even though viewers have already learned about the main conflict (the prophesied escape of the dangerous kung-fu master Tai Lung), this is the first time the implications of that conflict enter Po’s life.

#KUNG FU PANDA MOVIE#

Here is our ranking of every movie and TV show in the Kung Fu Panda universe.Inciting Event: Po the panda sees the announcement that the fabled Dragon Warrior will be chosen before the day is out. So, if you find yourself in the mood to hang out with Po and his friends, and you have no idea where to start in this franchise, we have you covered. Notably, a new show, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, will air its first episode in July, as outlined by The AV Club. In fact, Kung Fu Panda was followed by two sequels, multiple TV shows and specials, and even shorts. Especially in the movie that kicked off Po’s story, it is evident that everyone’s favorite giant panda/kung fu master is here to stay.Īfter the first Kung Fu Panda movie was a success, follow-up sequels and TV show spinoffs were smart and easy decisions for DreamWorks. Po’s hero arc throughout every Kung Fu Panda movie establishes a triumphant story of an unlikely hero and tells the lesson that anyone can be anything they want to be as long as they set their mind to it. Since the first movie released in 2008, audiences of all ages and backgrounds resonated with the wholesome and heartfelt ensemble of talking animals. Kung Fu Panda is one of the best animated franchises in recent years.

Kung fu panda