Kung Fu Panda (2008)
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” – Tortoise Master Oogway
Genre: Animation
This feature stars a seemingly displaced noodle-serving Giant Panda named Po (voiced by Jack Black)
In the Valley of Peace where bunnies, piggies and geese are in abundance—Po (voiced by Jack Black), a seemingly displaced noodle-serving Giant Panda dreams big as he aspires to fight side-by-side with the famed Furious Five—comprised of Master Tigress (A South China Tiger) (voiced by Angelina Jolie), Master Mantis (voiced by Seth Rogen), Master Viper (voiced by Lucy Liu), Master Crane (A Red-crowned Crane) (voiced by David Cross), and Master Monkey (A Gee’s Golden Langur) (voiced by the legendary Jackie Chan).
Not long after, a formal ceremony is held high atop the Jade Temple in order to select the mighty Dragon Warrior who is set to do battle with the consumed snow leopard named Tai Lung (voiced by Ian McShane). The Furious Five gather at the Temple’s courtyard and await Master Oogway’s (Randall Duk Kim) blessing only to have a seemingly inept Panda fall from the sky—effectively disrupting the ceremony. But Master Oogway sees wisdom in this turn of events and selects Po as the Dragon Warrior citing that, “there are no accidents” to his livid student and old friend Master Shifu (A Red Panda) (voiced by Dustin Hoffman).
With all the hype surrounding this “sacred Dragon Scroll,” I thought to myself, “What if there’s nothing in it?”
Tasked with training the Dragon Warrior, an unconvinced Master Shifu makes the road difficult for Po until he waivers on his traditional teaching methods and adapts to more unconventional ones—namely those that would pique Po’s stomach. Over time, Po learns Master Shifu’s lessons well and is bestowed the sacred Dragon Scroll which was said to give the Dragon Warrior the power necessary to defeat his or her adversary (Prior to this scene in the movie, with all the hype surrounding this “sacred Dragon Scroll,” I thought to myself, “What if there’s nothing in it?”)
And sure enough, as Po gazed into the contents of the sacred Dragon Scroll, all he could see was his own reflection.
The famed Furious Five
Faced with these turn of events, Master Shifu instructs Po and The Five to assist in the evacuation of the townsfolk, as he was to stay and face the wrath of his former protégé Tai Lung.
As Po assists in the Valley of Peace evacuation, he returns to his father’s noodle shop wherein Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hong) attempts to cheer up his son by disclosing the secret ingredient to his family’s noodle soup recipe—which turned out to be nothing as the true secret ingredient comes from the perception that it is special.
Po suddenly realizes the similarities between the Dragon Scroll and his father’s secret then rushes to the aid of Master Shifu who is overpowered by “feeling of guilt and responsibility” as he battles Tai Lung.
Po and Tai Lung square off and battle across the Valley of Peace (ironic, isn’t it?) until Tai Lung gains possession and reads the contents of the Dragon Scroll to which he is unable to comprehend its symbolism that ultimately leads to his defeat at the hands of Po’s “Wuxi Finger Hold.”
In the end, Po dream comes to fruition as The Furious Five become Six with the Giant Panda being accorded the title of Master.
Kung Fu Panda is certainly a great 92-minute animated feature that is replete in Jungian Archetypes (e.g., The “shadow” or “dark side” of Tai Lung, etc.) as well as quality learning’s that not only children, but also the whole family can take something from.
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