Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated martial arts comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the first installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Directed by John Stevenson (in his feature directorial debut) and Mark Osborne, the film 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. The film is set in a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals and revolves around a bumbling panda named Po, a kung-fu enthusiast. When a notorious snow-leopard named Tai Lung is foretold to escape from prison, Po is unwittingly named the "Dragon Warrior" – a prophesised hero worthy of reading a scroll said to grant its reader limitless power.
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 for its mature themes, faithfulness to the Chinese environment and tradition, action sequences, and writing. 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, making it the third highest grossing film of 2008, 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. The success of Kung Fu Panda launched a multimedia franchise and two sequels, with Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) and Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016).
Cast[]
- Jack Black as Po, an energetic, yet accident-prone, giant panda and die-hard fan of kung fu, who finds himself chosen as the legendary Dragon Warrior by Master Oogway, much to everyone's (and his own) surprise.
- Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu, the elderly and stern red panda kung fu master to the Furious Five and (unwillingly) to Po, who is troubled over mistakes in the past. He is Tai Lung's and Tigress' adoptive father and master.
- Randall Duk Kim as Grand Master Oogway, Shifu's mentor and the wise leader of the Jade Palace. He is an ancient Galápagos tortoise.
- Ian McShane as Tai Lung, a muscular snow leopard who, after rampaging through the Valley of Peace for being denied the Dragon Scroll by Oogway, was sent to Chorh-Gom Prison for twenty years, after which he escaped and returned for revenge. He is Shifu's adoptive son and former student.
- Angelina Jolie as Master Tigress, the South China tiger leader of the Furious Five, who is the most hostile to Po when he's chosen as the Dragon Warrior, but eventually accepts him when he defeats Tai Lung. She is Shifu's adoptive daughter and ill-tempered student.
- Lucy Liu as Master Viper, a green tree viper and member of the Furious Five; she is kind and the most good-natured to Po when he is chosen as the Dragon Warrior.
- Jackie Chan as Master Monkey, a golden snub-nosed monkey and member of the Furious Five; he has an easygoing attitude and is adept with a staff.
- Seth Rogen as Master Mantis, a Chinese mantis and member of the Furious Five; he is extremely strong for his size and is also experienced in acupuncture.
- David Cross as Master Crane, a red-crowned crane and another member of the Furious Five; he is pragmatic and has a dry sense of humor.
- James Hong as Mr. Ping, Po's adoptive father, a happy-go-lucky Chinese goose who runs a noodle restaurant along with Po, who is unwilling to follow in his footsteps.
- Dan Fogler as Zeng, a Chinese goose who is Shifu's nervous messenger.
- Michael Clarke Duncan as Commander Vachir, a Javan rhinoceros who is the boastful warden of Chorh-Gom Prison, where Tai Lung is imprisoned.