Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda is an American martial arts comedy media franchise that started in 2008 with the release of the animated film Kung Fu Panda (film) produced by DreamWorks Animation. The story follows Po Ping Po Ping, a giant panda voiced by Jack Black and later Mick Wingert, who becomes the Dragon Warrior and learns to master kung fu. Despite his initial doubts, Po proves himself worthy and embraces his destiny.

The franchise includes four animated films: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024). It also features three television series: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Paws of Destiny, and The Dragon Knight. These stories are set in a fantasy version of ancient China filled with anthropomorphic animals.

The films and series have received many awards and have been very popular with audiences around the world. The franchise has earned over $2 billion, making it one of the top-grossing animated film series. It is also celebrated in China for its creative take on the wuxia film genre.

Films

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Po, a panda who loves kung fu but feels unsure of his skills, is surprisingly chosen to be the Dragon Warrior. With help from his friends, he learns to believe in himself and protects his home from a dangerous enemy.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Po faces new challenges as he learns about his past and must stop a powerful villain who wants to destroy kung fu. With support from his friends and family, Po finds strength within himself to overcome obstacles.

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Po must face a new enemy who steals the powers of kung fu masters. With the help of his fathers and friends, Po learns special skills to protect everyone and defeat the villain.

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

Po helps find a new Dragon Warrior while facing a clever shape-shifting villain. With the aid of a reformed thief named Zhen, Po works to stop the villain and restore peace, eventually choosing Zhen as his successor.

Potential fifth film

In May 2024, following the success of Kung Fu Panda 4, it was suggested that a fifth film could happen, but it would likely not be until at least 2027 due to the lengthy production process.

Television series

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2014; 2016)

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness is an animated TV show based on the Kung Fu Panda movies. It takes place between the first two films and follows more adventures of Po. The show started on Nickelodeon in 2011 and had three seasons, with the final episodes airing in 2016.

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019)

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is the second TV series in the franchise. It aired on Amazon Prime Video from 2018 to 2019. This series follows Po as he mentors four young pandas who discover they have special powers. Together, they work to protect the world from evil.

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022–2023)

Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight is the third TV series, which began in 2022 on Netflix. In this series, Po teams up with a brave knight named the Wandering Blade to seek justice around the world. Jack Black returns to voice Po, and Rita Ora joins as Wandering Blade.

Short films

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)

Main article: Secrets of the Furious Five

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five is an animated short film that tells the stories of Po’s friends, the Furious Five, in a mix of computer and 2D animation.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)

Kung Fu Panda Holiday is a television special where Po hosts a big feast, even though he’d rather spend the holiday with his dad.

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters explores the past of three kung fu masters: Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox, and Croc.

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll shows how the Furious Five first came together and fought their first big battle.

Panda Paws (2016)

Panda Paws features the character Mei Mei competing with Bao during the Spring Festival.

Dueling Dumplings (2024)

Dueling Dumplings follows Po and Zhen as they playfully argue over whose dumplings are better, eventually trying and enjoying each other’s.

Cast and characters

Main article: List of Kung Fu Panda characters

This section lists the characters who appear in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. You’ll see which movies they are in, with special notes for cameo roles (^C) or younger versions of characters (^Y). Some movies might not feature certain characters at all — that’s what the empty grey cells are for!

Additional crew

The Kung Fu Panda movies feature a talented team of creators who bring the stories to life. DreamWorks Animation, known for its animated films, produced the franchise. The films combine humor, action, and heartwarming moments, making them fun for audiences of all ages. Many skilled artists, writers, and voice actors worked together to create this beloved series about a panda’s journey to become a kung fu master.

Reception

The Kung Fu Panda film series has been very successful, earning more than $2.3 billion overall. It ranks as the eighth highest-grossing animated franchise and is DreamWorks Animation's second highest-grossing series after Shrek.

People who watch the movies generally like them. Critics have said good things about the animation, the voices of the actors, and how the characters grow and change through the stories.

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Video games

Several video games are based on the Kung Fu Panda films. The first game, Kung Fu Panda, was released in 2008 for various gaming systems including Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS. Later games include Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends, each offering new adventures with Po and his friends.

Crossovers with other popular games have also happened. Po, Tigress, and Tai Lung became playable characters in Brawlhalla in 2021, and skins inspired by Kung Fu Panda characters were added to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in 2022. Most recently, Po, Tigress, Shifu, and Oogway were included as racers in DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing, released in 2023 for multiple platforms.

Arena show

Directed by entertainment director Franco Dragone, Kung Fu Panda: Arena Spectacular is a live arena show featuring characters from the Kung Fu Panda films. The show combines circus acts and Chinese acrobatics with special effects. It was originally planned to open around the same time as Kung Fu Panda 2, but after some casting tours and auditions, the production was postponed, and no new updates have been announced since.

Attractions

A themed area called Po's Kung Fu Garden opened in 2012 at the DreamWorks Experience in Dreamworld. It started with a small photo spot featuring Po and later added more rides and attractions. In 2023, this area was moved to Ocean Parade when the land was renamed Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland.

A multi-sensory Kung Fu Panda attraction opened at the DreamWorks Theatre on June 15, 2018, at Universal Studios Hollywood. A children’s play area inspired by Kung Fu Panda opened at DreamWorks Water Park on October 1, 2020. Universal Studios Beijing also features a Kung Fu Panda themed area called Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, which opened in September 2021. Universal Studios Florida’s DreamWorks Land will have a play area named “Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp” and a digital meet-and-greet called “Po Live!”