#kung fu panda shifu

[elegantjellyfishwerewolf]

There are only two ways to raise a child:

1) be a good parent

2) be a Shifu

[compaculaaa]

Forgiveness

[lovewillthaw-j]

Kung Fu masters

[drowninnoodles]

baby furry yoda

idk how to draw kitty

[velvet-vox]

Hot take: Kung Fu Panda 2 is not more serious than Kung Fu Panda, it just dwells into heavier themes.

Rewatching the first movie, I was actually surprised to finally find out that it kind of takes itself pretty seriously? Like, as seriously as the second movie takes itself.

I don't really think Kung Fu Panda started being a more comedic franchise until the third movie, it was just a series of movies with a very silly concept that takes said concept very seriously and uses it to tell a very profound, mature story.

The story of the first Kung Fu Panda movie is about learning to overcome self esteem issues and self hatred, while the story of the second movie is about uncovering themes of genocide, childhood trauma and learning to overcome said tragedy to become the best possible version of yourself, despite all the bad things that have happened.

Each movie takes its themes relatively seriously, while also holding back a lot of the more gory and angsty aspects of said topics.

So no, the second movie isn't more serious than the first one, it just tackles more serious topics.

[groovyic0ns]

kung fu panda

[sarnai4]

Tai Lung Analysis

For the longest time, 3 animated villains remained my absolute favorites and among them was Tai Lung. Years later, he still impresses me. I feel like villains normally fall into certain categories. Two of these are dangerous and sympathetic villains. Of course, these can cross and that's why I enjoy him so much. Tai Lung is constantly acknowledged as a threat and for good reason. The movie sets up Shifu and Oogway as the best of the best, so how can the audience feel anything other than concern when even these two kung fu masters are dreading Tai Lung's escape? It's the first time when Shifu even seems almost scared. As soon as we see Tai Lung, we continue to get this sense of how dangerous he is. The guy has a prison of 1000 rhino guards for only himself. He has a shell trap on so that he can't even move a muscle (outside of his tail). We're not only shown how the characters feel about him but how they try to keep him from being any more of a danger. It perfectly complements the flashback where Tigress is telling Po what happened when Tai Lung went on a rampage. Then as soon as he does break out, we see it's all true. Despite spending 20 years completely immobilized, Tai Lung probably killed all 1000 guards effortlessly. Strategically, he left the goose alive so that he could have a messenger. He doesn't even need the element of surprise.

That escape was beautiful on its own, but then Tai Lung continues to prove how dangerous he is by taking out the Furious Five, making it painfully clear that he could have killed them if he wanted. Again, he wants to send a message to Shifu. These are his new pupils? They're the best he has? Let him remind his old master of the quality he used to breed.

It all leads to the fight with Shifu which ties into why Tai Lung is also a sympathetic villain. He's not just some final boss for Po to fight. He's got a troubled past as well. I don't condone what he did, but it makes sense. Tai Lung was abandoned as a baby and raised with one objective-becoming the dragon warrior. This was what Shifu wanted from him. This was the one way he knew he could make his father proud. It became Tai Lung's life mission to the point of it no longer just being something that Shifu wanted for him. Now, it's the only future he can see for himself. When he finds out he can't have it, where does that leave him? He's spent his entire life working for this. Why would his only family, Shifu, think he was worth the effort of caring for him if it's all been a waste of time? Clearly, Shifu doesn't think he matters anymore because he said nothing when Oogway crushed his dreams. Even though Shifu never stopped being proud and caring for him, through the eyes of a child towards a parent, that's what Tai Lung saw: abandonment again. Another family deemed him unworthy.

The love between Tai Lung and Shifu never really ended. When Shifu finally apologized for training him so hard to reach the goal he wanted Tai Lung to have, we can see that it touched his heart. He's gone down the point of no return now, but it meant something to him. That's why he pointed out how he only ever wanted to make Shifu proud of him. These wounds never healed. If they had, he would have gone in, killed Shifu, and taken the scroll. There would have been no need to admit his past desires of being someone Shifu could be proud of and there certainly would have been no need to delay the attack after the apology. Yet, those twenty years were spent making his body and pain stronger. It's why he loses the fight with Po.

I absolutely adore how they did the fight at the end. They didn't try to make it seem like Po could actually defeat Tai Lung. He lost. Plain and simple. Tai Lung knocked him deep into the ground and read the scroll like he wanted. He won...but he also lost. Tai Lung lost because he didn't have a Mr. Ping in his life who could offer that love to say that he was special with or without the world confirming this. When Po saw the scroll was empty, his dad helped him by pointing out the power we all have just by believing. He always wanted Po to feel special even if other people didn't think that. Po didn't need to earn his love, but Tai Lung thought he needed to earn it from Shifu. So, when the scroll is empty, it's a second blow to his life being wasted. Not only did he work so hard only to be passed up, his goal in life was getting to read a blank scroll. This is when Tai Lung breaks. He can't take it anymore. Nothing in his life has amounted to anything but pain and he's got nothing to show for it but enemies. He lashes out in rage and hurt, easily being defeated. As a poetically depressing moment, it's the move that Po indirectly learned from Shifu that defeats Tai Lung. Shifu was the main reason Tai Lung turned into the villain he became and he was practically the one to destroy him too. Sadly, I don't think this could have ended any other way. Tai Lung has been hurting for too long for him to consider forgiveness now. He doesn't want the apology, he wants what he's worked for and that just became meaningless to him. There's nothing left for him but to reap the consequences of having the legendary battle. The only question is, who is his worthy opponent? Po for using the finger hold? Shifu for building him up and breaking him down? Or himself for being so consumed by his pain that he allowed himself to become a monster? We can each answer that for ourselves and these questions are why I love Tai Lung as a villain and character so much.

[cbs-scorpion-coffee-shop]

"Why did Po have to choose a successor?"

Everyone was asking that question in Kung Fu Panda 4. It felt forced, right? Well, what do you think of this little tweak:

After the third movie, Shifu notices that Tigress isn't herself. She barely spends time with others. She trains too hard, even for her. She strikes with no mercy.

She is angry at herself.

Shifu thinks it's because she never got to be dragon warrior (really she's angry because she couldn't protect Shifu from Tai Lung or Kai and had to run away both times)

That brings back old demons for Shifu because he fears repeating the same mistake with Tai Lung.

He sees how much Po has matured and he feels a duty towards Oogway to continue his legacy and towards Tigress to be better to her.

So he convinces Po that he has to choose a dragon warrior. So Tigress could have another chance and Oogway's legacy continues.

Now it's better, right?

[waezi2]

Shifu fails, not Po

I think my favorite moment of Kung Fu Panda is when Po tries to run away from the temple because Tai Lung is on his way and we see the first argument between Po and Shifu instead of one-sided meanspirited comments from Shifu.

Po is finally pissed at Shifu since he was willing to learn while Shifu just tried to drive him away. Shifu insists that he can turn Po into the Dragon Warrior. But when Po asks him how exactly he intend to do it?

All Shifu can say is "I don't know."

Because it was never Po who was the problem. He was not a bad student, Shifu is the one failing Po since he doesn't know how to teach him.

[1v31182m5]

[schwartzkaft]

A crossover between the two of my former favourite fandoms.

(The last panel was requested by a friend...)

[oddlittlestories]

Requisite Kung Fu Panda Post

Yes, I am going to see Kung Fu Panda this weekend, and I've decided to rewatch the series to prepare. Since this is the "digging deep in analyzing movies" site I'm going to talk way too much about it.

Specifically, I'm going to focus on the truly exceptional storytelling of Kung Fu Panda 1, how each subsequent movie feels like yet another installment of Po's story, and how while the first movie is the best, part of the power of the first movie is the ways in which the subsequent movies lift it up.

I like this series way too much y'all. I have not only seen each movie many times, I have also seen all of the bonus content movie shorts set in the same universe multiple times (the one that covers the backstories of the Furious Five is particularly good imo).

Spoilers ahead. Analysis below the cut.

Okay, first off, I forgot how emotional the first movie is.

There are so many tiny gut punches, but there are also so many funny and 'emotionally high' moments. I think what it comes down to is the first movie knows how to make relatable stakes that hold gravitas.

Here's what I mean by that. We start out with a dream sequence, right? and it's really cool. And then Po wakes up, and tries really hard not to disappoint his dad even though he obviously doesn't quite fit the life he lives (evidenced by his ongoing desire for something else, the way he feels like he's limiting himself to 'realistic expectations,' and how he doesn't quite fit between the tables and struggles to serve the customers).

So instantaneously, and I think this is like in the first ten minutes, we get the following stakes:

not disappoint his dad

enjoy what he loves whenever possible

It's a small life, but man. First of all, I find his problems extremely relatable (trying to keep his dreams 'realistic;' trying to make his dad proud and happy). But they're also resonant, because we get what they mean to Po.

So when we hit the first real goal—watch the Furious Five compete to find the Dragon Warrior—we know just how much it means to Po.

And the obstacles that get placed on him (the noodle cart) are both funny and thematically relevant. He is literally tied down by his noodle life, and his dedication to his dad. He cannot make it to Kung Fu unless he is willing to let go of the noodle cart. To admit to his father what he really loves and wants out of life.

And BAM, it is actually the minute that he admits to his dad (after a poignant and sad-but-funny near-miss) "I love Kung Fu!" that he finally is able to access the Jade Courtyard. (This is also an important moment because, well, him admitting what he wants to his dad. It's important. He's honest, and we get to see his dad's reaction—sympathy and kindness. His dad still only knows noodles. That's all he can offer Po. But he loves Po no matter what.) Also Po whamming into a wall and then fireworking over the wall is really funny. His poor dad, the way he just DOES NOT know what to do.

And poor Po, he does not get to see ANY of the kung fu. First task, 100% failed. Plus, he earns the ire of his heroes and general humiliation. This is one of the few moments where a character gets humiliated that I completely love. Secondhand embarrassment is like poison to me, and I often feel bad about humiliation. But Po's humiliation is funny and then, to me, warm.

I think it's because of the narrative framing. We know, because he is the main character, that Po is the Dragon Warrior. The Furious Five and Shifu are known as good and righteous people, and the way in which they defend each other from this stranger—they are deeply unkind to him but also kind to each other. I can sympathize with why they want Po gone. And then we have Oogway, who seems to hold wisdom and knowledge beyond what he says.

(And an aside about Oogway. The second and third movies give this even more oomph, because there's this person, right, who falls in front of his eyes. But he's also from a group of people thought to be all gone, who are known masters of chi. The weight of destiny in that!! And it makes sense for Oogway to say nothing, right? Because they'll internalize it only if they get to learn from themselves, and you can't argue with someone who won't argue with you.)

So, then, Shifu and the Furious Five conspire to get Po to quit. This is Po's next obstacle. (And, look, the way all the characters but especially Shifu and Tigress get arcs that parallel Po's never fails to impress me.)

And instead of a pure win / lose condition, we get to know that Po is highly tenacious (implied by him trying to get the noodle cart up the stairs), and that he carries a lot of shame.

But when we really get to know about his shame, when he tells Shifu, if anyone could make me not me, it would be you. Man, that's heartbreaking. And it made sense why he stayed before this—but it adds gutwrenching layers of depth to it.

Also Tigress's story breaks my heart every time. "More than he loved anyone before… or since." The way her voice breaks. Her little baby face. And although it's heavily implied in the movie that she too needed Shifu on a deeper level than just teacher, the backstory minisode adds SO MUCH depth. Because she's a little girl whose strength makes her difficult to handle and who, after abandonment, has rage which makes her terrifying. And Shifu shows up, and brings her to a place where those can be assets, not weaknesses. He adopts her, just like he adopted Tai Lung.

But he still doesn't give her all the love she needs.

I think she's my favorite character. And I like that Shifu, though a fair and caring mentor, is also not perfect by any means.

So Shifu confronts Oogway about Po, and gets a lesson in control. Shifu is so interesting here because, one, he's not controlling himself nearly as tightly as he does with the five. He is audibly frustrated and angry. He's making himself vulnerable with his master. And though he is careful not to disrespect him, he does argue with him. The way he argues that he can control when the peaches fall, and then one hits him on the head—hilarious.

And this whole scene makes Oogway's death emotionally impactful, because it's so clear that Shifu still has a lot to learn and still feels like he needs his master.

And just to wrap it all around full circle. "There IS no secret ingredient." Po's experience of social affirmation and self-love and feeling he is enough is what brings out his full potential and allows him to fulfill his destiny. And Tai Lung's tragedy is, that despite being loved, his ego tells him that only external things can ever bring power. The fact that he cannot see what Po can—that there is no secret ingredient—is his downfall in life. Which makes him a perfect foil for Po AND a perfect narrative vehicle in a story that is all about love, acceptance, celebrating our differences, and community. And none of these things would ring true if there wasn't a lack of acceptance to overcome at the start.

[compaculaaa]

New record?!

[lovewillthaw-j]

Something about Tai Lung's death bugs me.

Later, over breakfast:

Shifu: So Po, tell me all about it. How did you defeat Tai Lung? And is he safely back in prison?

Po: (beaming with pride) No master, I used the Wuxi finger hold and obliterated him. He's gone forever!

Shifu: (horrified) YOU DID WHAT???!!!!

You KILLED HIM? You said you defeated him! I never taught you to KILL anyone! The good guys can't kill their enemies in this kid-friendly film! We never actually use the forbidden Wuxi finger hold on anyone! And he was my adopted son! I'll never ever get to see him again or get to hope that he'll repent and turn good!!

Po didn't kill Tai Lung in self defense. He wilfully executed the Wuxi finger hold on a weakened TL 🤯

[alleycatchitchat]

kay so while falling down the rabbit hole of kung fu panda updates and videos and clips I came across this video:

Kung Fu Panda 4: Tai Lung Should Be Redeemed! - YouTube

And I'm OBSESSED with the idea that when Shifu dies, he reconciles with Tai Lung in the spirit realm. I've never seen this concept explored in fan-made content (though I have seen similar stuff with Tai Lung and Oogway) and come on, fandom. Come on! Somebody please write this! Give them a happy ending!

[velvet-vox]

The complete and utter alienation of Tai Lung: Part 1

First thing first: I am not a Tai Lung defender so consider this an unbiased post.

So, Kung Fu Panda color theory is pretty much well known across all of the fandom, and it's obvious even from an outside perspective.

Po and the heroes are yellow/gold

Then Lord Shen's red

Kai's and Oogway's green

And finally Tai Lung colour is blue

(Also Chameleon is also yellow but this ain't about her).

And this is the one I want to touch upon in this post.

You see this graphic?

These are the three primary colours /yellow, cyan and magenta/ that come together to form the main secondary colours /blue, red, green/.

If you are in the fandom, or you just simply pay attention, you'll also know that:

Tai Lung's backstory has ties with Shifu.

Lord Shen's backstory has ties with Po.

General Kai's backstory has ties with Oogway.

But Kai backstory doesn't just simply have ties to Oogway like we were simply led to believe at large, but it also has ties with Po, because of his ties with the panda village and its effect on Oogway's reformation.

And with that, as you might have noticed, both Kai and Shen have, according to the chart, the colour yellow as a part of their secondary colour scheme.

With Shen in particular it goes a step further in that Po has red as a complimentary colour to yellow in some scenes.

Shen is also the least isolated of the villains (mental state doesn't count); always surrounded by his goons who he's going to use to conquer China and the Soothsayer, Shen is only truly alone at the end of the movie on the boat scene where he's just been defeated.

And Kai, despite the fact that he doesn't have goons that can bounce off his dialogue, is also never truly alone whenever we see him; he was a warlord leader of a huge army, he now has a jade zombie army and he often speaks to the Oogway amulet and narrates him whatever is happening, and, like Shen, he only becomes alone during his death scene.

They do tend to isolate themselves from others of their own volition...... but Tai Lung?

He has absolutely nothing. Nobody. Never had.

Returning to the colour wheel, his main colour is blue and he has ties with Shifu's backstory who, after the first movie, loses relevance for the rest of the movies. And blue itself is a pretty alien colour in the entire series (extended material included), it doesn't have any ties with yellow, much like Tai Lung doesn't have any personal ties with Po despite being in opposition, and Tai Lung itself doesn't interact much with the setting besides being a looming threat.

And it all ties back to his isolation and how it probably tied back to his turn to the dark side.

From the glimpses that we see of his childhood, Tai Lung doesn't interact with anyone else aside from Shifu and possibly Oogway, and I'm pretty confident in saying that he probably lived a sheltered life in the Jade palace. A childhood like that can inflict serious damage on a person's mental health in the long run as you don't have anyone who you can confront your experiences with, and it clearly carried on into adulthood, better explaining his fit of rage after being denied the dragon scroll.

Sadly, his loneliness carried on for the 20 years that he spent in jail. And after he escapes, he tries to claim back the dragon scroll by himself since he doesn't have an army or ways to gain allies, so he just carries on with nobody to support him and then he dies of a lonely, gruesome death that reflects on the way he lived.

The franchise itself then continues to portray Tai Lung less as a character and more as a figure of power in Po's journey, completely and utterly dehumanising him in every possible and conceivable way.

Ok, I must admit, maybe I gained a brand new appreciation for Tai Lung while writing this.

Next Part>>>>