Summary
First released in 2008,Kung Fu Pandahas become one of the most iconic Kung Fu movies and is considered one of the best-animated movies ever. Over the years, the franchise has produced three mainline entries and multiple TV series. One of the standout features of the series is its exceptional character development with, Po, the main protagonist of the franchisevoiced by none other than Jack Black. Initially portrayed as a fat and lazy panda working at a restaurant owned by his adoptive father, Po’s journey takes an incredible turn as he evolves into one of the most skilled martial artists, facing numerous formidable adversaries.
Despite its immense popularity and success, fans have been eagerly awaiting a new entry since 2016’sKung Fu Panda 3, which delved into Po’s background and his heritage, hinting at a rich and promising future for the series. DreamWorks Studios appears to be taking its time with the sequel, ensuring that it will be a blockbuster worthy of the franchise’s legacy. As anticipation builds, it’s crucial forKung Fu Panda 4to bring fresh elements to the table while maintaining the essence that made the prequels so beloved. The question arises; What isKung Fu Panda 4even about? Will Kung Fu Panda be able torecapture the glory of the first film? And how canKung Fu Panda 4improve even further upon the high bars set by its prequels?
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Everything We Know About Kung Fu Panda 4
Kung Fu Panda 4was officially announced back in August 2022, with a release date set for early 2024. However, it was only recently, in April of this year, that more information about the movie was revealed at CinemaCon by Jack Black. While no official footage of the movie was shared, Jack Black did reveal some intriguing story details.Kung Fu Panda 4will likely take placeafter a significant time skipfollowing the events ofKung Fu Panda 3. The story will focus on Po’s new role as he trains the next generation of Dragon Warriors, passing down the torch to his successor. One of the main candidates Po will be mentoring is a fox named Zhen, who also shares a close bond with Po.
With the passage of time, Po has become incredibly strong, making him more powerful than ever before and his strength will be put to the test inKung Fu Panda 4, as the movie’s main antagonist, known as The Chameleon, is set to be more menacing than any previous villain. The Chameleon possesses the power to bring backall the formidable adversariesthat Po has encountered in the past movies, making the challenge even greater. With Po’s newfound strength and the support of the Furious Five, battling their old enemies might not be as difficult as confronting The Chameleon himself.
Kung Fu Panda 4 should give Tigress the spotlight
Fans of Kung Fu Panda movies will immediately recognize Tigress as one of the members of the Furious Five, along with Mantis, Monkey, Crane, and Viper. Throughout the movies, she has always beenone of the main charactersand was initially considered a candidate for the Dragon Warrior position before Master Oogway unexpectedly chose Po instead.Known for her incredible strengthand personal training under Master Shifu, Tigress is a disciplined and serious fighter.
At first, she rejected Po as the Dragon Warrior, but as the story progressed, she grew to accept him and became one of his most loyal companions. Together, they faced numerous adversaries, and Tigress proved herself a formidable ally to the Dragon Warrior.
Not much is known much about Tigress’s background aside from the fact that she was an orphan cub when Master Shifu took her in. Despite dedicating her life to Kung Fu and aspiring to become the Dragon Warrior, Po eventually received the title and the spotlight, leaving Tigress in a supporting role.Kung Fu Panda 4offers the perfect opportunity to redeem Tigress’s character by exploring her backstory and giving her a more prominent role. The movie could delve into her growth and development, particularly as she fights alongside Po against The Chameleon and any other villains the sorcerer may revive.
Kung Fu Panda 4 can redeem Tai Lung
While Tigress was the candidate for the Dragon Warrior in the first Kung Fu Panda movie, it was later revealed that Tigress wasn’t the only protege that Master Shifu trained for the title of the Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung, a leopard and the adopted son of Master Shifu was one such protege whom Shifu trained since he was a child, and he grew up to become a formidable kung fu master.
When the time came for the next Dragon Warrior to be chosen, Master Oogway, the master of the Jade Palace,denied Tai Lung the title, leaving the young warrior enraged. Fuelled by frustration, Tai Lung attempted to take the Dragon Scroll by force, which is said to contain infinite strength. However, Master Oogway incapacitated Tai Lung, leading to his imprisonment in Chor-Ghom prison for years. Tai Lung eventually broke out of the prison and made another attempt to steal the Dragon Scroll, but this time Po intervened, preventing him from doing so and eventually sending him to the Spirit Realm with the Wuxi Finger.
Tai Lung had always been promised the title of the Dragon Warrior, making it understandable for him to feel enraged after being denied the honor. Adding to his emotional burden, despite being loved by Shifu, Tai Lung received no visits during his time in prison. Many fans believe that the character was neglected and deserved better treatment, rather than being forced into the situation by Shifu. With The Chameleon’s ability to bring back past villains, there is a possibility that Tai Lung will make a comeback, andKung Fu Panda 4should focuson redeeming the character and giving him the better treatment he deserves.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Should Properly Build Up Po’s Successor
Kung Fu Panda 4’s details have already revealed that Po is going to train his next successor, someone capable of becoming the Dragon Warrior. However, the movie should take its time to build up this character and not rush to immediately make him worthy of the Dragon Warrior title. Since theKung Fu Pandamovies were originally planned as a series of six entries, there has only been one complete trilogy, and it’s not yet theright time to pass downthe Dragon Warrior title.
The Fox, who will be the warrior that Po will be training, has a troubled past as a former thief. This character still needs to go through a redemption arcand earn the trust of Po and the Furious Five before he can assume the role of the next Dragon Warrior. Po being chosen as the Dragon Warrior was pretty quick and even caught many by surprise however this shouldn’t be the case for The Fox. Initially introduced as a supporting character, he should gradually evolve and develop throughout the movie until he becomes the rightful successor to the Dragon Warrior legacy.
