Kung Fu Panda 3

Dir: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni

2016

****

I'm well aware that animated films take a great deal of time to make but I was starting to wonder (worry) that there wasn't going to be another Kung Fu Panda (especially as it had been mooted back in 2012). It was both a relief that in 2016 there was indeed a third instalment and that said third instalment was even better than the last. It is rare that a sequel is better than the original, but for a third to be better than the two before is unheard of (okay, okay, Toy Story is the only other example, again, but it's still pretty rare). Kung Fu Panda 3, like the two previous instalments, really understands the Kung Fu genre and how such a series should progress. It could have easily slipped into rather insulting stereotype and no doubt been just as popular but it didn't, it is better than that. The two previous films Po has been told he is the chosen one, a Dragon Warrior. He is told by his Master Shifu that he has completed his training and now he must teach to fulfil the prophecy but Po fails at it. When the universe is suddenly threatened by a Yak from the spirit realm (voiced by the brilliant J.K. Simmons) Po is told he must master the art of Qi. The only one who can teach him is other Pandas and Po is soon reunited with his long lost father. This is the stuff of real Kung Fu cinema and when we do see Po in full swing as a Dragon Warrior it is clear to see that DreamWorks knows what it is doing. There is good reason for it too, as Kung Fu Panda 3 is the first American animation to be co-produced by a Chinese studio, Oriental DreamWorks, based in Shanghai. A large chunk of the film was made in China and the film has an undeniable authenticity about it because of it. The scenes in the spirit realm are stunning and the return of Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) is a particular highlight. The story is as charming as ever with a much darker edge added for good measure. If that weren't enough, Jean-Claude Van Damme voices are Kung Fu Crocodile. It has been announced that there will be six Kung Fu Panda films in total, each representing a different chapter in Po's life. The best news I've heard all year.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Dir: Jennifer Yuh Nelson

2011

****

 Kung Fu Panda 2 is better than the first film, something that never happens with animated films of this ilk (okay, apart from Toy Story). That said, they do try to cram in a little too much in such a small space of time and the story is rather familiar in many respects but I would argue that it is typical of the Kung Fu genre. The humour, charm and beautiful animation more than make up for it anyway. The voice actors are clearly paid by the hour as each big name actor has approximately three lines each maximum, apart from the rather impressive additions of Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh and Danny McBride. To bag another big name such as Gary Oldman proves the worth of the franchise somewhat, after the success of the first film. It's clearly not only I that thought the squeal was better, as the Academy nominated Kung Fu Panda 2 as one of the best animated films at the 84th Academy awards. It didn't win but it absolutely deserved to be nominated. There is a fluidity in the story, leaving of where the last film ended, we believe what has happened in the meantime without the original story going back on itself as can often be the case. Po is still on a journey of self-discovery and is still as lovable as he was before he became a Kung Fu master. The development of the characters is unusually good for an animated film, we learn more about the characters as they grow, rather than the film back-tracking. It's a seamless transition, as if the squeal was written at the same time as the first, so I applaud the script-writers. The fact that the great Charlie Kaufman was consulted on the story and Guillermo del Toro was executive producer. The darker themes are extremely reminiscent of the great Spanish director and the film clearly benefits from his involvement. Much like I said with the first instalment, Kung Fu Panda understands the Kung Fu genre and that is why it works so well.