Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated wuxia comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne in their directorial debuts, and stars the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Jackie Chan. It is DreamWorks Animation's 16th feature film. The film is set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic talking animals and revolves around a bumbling panda named Po, a kung fu enthusiast. When an evil kung fu warrior named Tai Lung is foretold to escape from prison, Po is unwittingly named the "Dragon Warrior", that was destined to defeat him.
The film was originally conceived by Michael Lachance, a DreamWorks Animation executive. It was originally intended to be a parody of martial arts films, but director Stevenson decided instead to make an action comedy wuxia film that incorporates the hero's journey narrative archetype for the lead character. The computer animation in the film was more complex than anything DreamWorks had done before. As with most DreamWorks Animation films, Hans Zimmer (this time collaborating with John Powell) scored Kung Fu Panda. He visited China to absorb the culture and get to know the China National Symphony Orchestra as part of his preparation.
Kung Fu Panda premiered in the United States on June 6, 2008. The film received positive reviews upon release. Kung Fu Panda opened in 4,114 theaters, grossing $20.3 million on its opening day and $60.2 million on its opening weekend, resulting in the number one position at the box office. The film became DreamWorks' biggest opening for a non-sequel film, the highest grossing animated film of the year worldwide, and also had the fourth-largest opening weekend for a DreamWorks film at the American and Canadian box office, behind all three Shrek sequels. A sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, was released on May 26, 2011, along with a television series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness premiering on Nickelodeon later that same year as a part of a franchise. A triquel called Kung Fu Panda 3 was released on January 29, 2016. A tetraquel called Kung Fu Panda 4 will be released on March 8, 2024.
Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness • Kung Fu Panda: Journey of the Dragon Warrior • Carousel of Kung Fu Heroes • Lanterns of Legendary Legends • Po's Kung Fu Training Camp • Kung Fu Games • Kung Fu Panda: The Emporer’s Quest • Po Live!
China • Jade Palace • Jade Mountain • Valley of Peace • Chorh-Gom Prison • Thread of Hope • Gongmen City • Gongmen Jail • Panda Village • Spirit Realm • Training Hall
Objects
Adversary • Oogway's Staff • Shift Stones
See Also
Kung Fu Panda • Furious Five • Ladies of the Shade
