The Brilliance of The Kung Fu Panda Trilogy... 8 Years Later
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
- Thank you to Factor for sponsoring! Use code THEGOLDMAN50 to get 50% OFF First Box and free wellness shots for life with any active subscription at bit.ly/494U6EZ!
🐼 Explore the timeless brilliance of The Kung Fu Panda Trilogy... 8 Years Later! Join me on a cinematic journey as we delve into the heartwarming world of Po and the Furious Five in this in-depth video essay.
🎥 In this analysis, we dissect each film of the beloved trilogy, unraveling the intricate character arcs of Po, the formidable villains Tai Lung, Shen, and Kai, and the overarching themes that resonate throughout the series. From the humble beginnings of a noodle-slurping panda to the epic showdowns against powerful adversaries, we examine how each installment contributes to the rich tapestry of the Kung Fu Panda universe.
🐉 But our exploration doesn't stop there. We also delve into the broader discussion of "kids films" and the societal stigma surrounding them. Through thought-provoking insights, we challenge the notion that enjoyment of animated stories is limited by age, exploring the universal themes and profound messages that resonate with audiences of all ages.
🌟 Key Topics Explored:
Po's Heroic Journey and Character Development
Villainous Arcs: Tai Lung, Shen, and Kai
Themes of Identity, Friendship, and Self-Discovery
The Impact and Importance of "Kids Films" in Cinema
🔍 Join me as we celebrate the enduring legacy and cultural significance of The Kung Fu Panda Trilogy. Whether you're a fan of animated cinema, a lover of compelling storytelling, or simply seeking inspiration, this video is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful analyses and discussions on your favorite films! Hit the notification bell to stay updated on future uploads.
#KungFuPandaTrilogy #KFP #Po #TaiLung #Shen #Kai #AnimatedMovies #VideoEssay #CharacterArcs #KidsFilms #FilmAnalysis #CinematicLegacy #FilmDiscussion #Animation #CinemaCritique #StorytellingBrilliance #youtubeanalysis
Chapters:
0:00 - The Brilliance of The Kung Fu Panda Trilogy
0:32 - Kung Fu Panda 1
8:03 - Factor Sponsorship
9:31 - Kung Fu Panda 1 (Cont'd)
14:32 - Kung Fu Panda 2
25:36 - Kung Fu Panda 3
32:35 - Anatomy of a Kids Story
Music:
-'Ronin' by Jantrax Japanese 🗾 Trap Music (No Copyright)
-🇯🇵 Samurai & Japanese (Royalty Free Music For CZcams) - A JUST RONIN by @SolasComposer 🇦🇺
-A.L.I.S.O.N - Sentinel
-Chill - sakura Hz (No Copyright Music)
-ROYALTY FREE Science Documentary Music Ambient Background Music Royalty Free by MUSIC4VIDEO
-the background MUSIC for [CHILLing] you need 😌►1 hour ►NON COPYRIGHTED 4
For business inquiries please email:
-thegoldmanbusiness@gmail.com
✪ Thumbnail ✪
-Render Driver: / renderdriver
❗️WANT TO WATCH MORE OF ME?❗️
-Gold Man Gaming: coming soon
-Man of Gold: / @starwarsoveranalyzed
-Twitter: / thegoldman25 - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Thank you to Factor for sponsoring! Use code THEGOLDMAN50 to get 50% OFF First Box and free wellness shots for life with any active subscription at bit.ly/494U6EZ!
Well done for being big and important enough to have a sponsor !!!!
And the only true reason why this movies still haliours and funny is because Seth rogen the voice for mantis everyone should know this by now because this movie came out in 2008 was making everyone laugh on set of the movie even though he had a miner role
Sorry but this part of your video is dumb 27:38. Kai didn't just become evil become he wanted power it's become of oogway he was Kai and oogway was warrior both of them lead arms. Almost everyone new who kai was but one day oogway the guy kai see's as a brother got hurt. Kai take oogway to get help. But when kai learn about Chi he take it for himself become he didn't wanted oogway to get hurt again to Kai it's his fault oogway got hurt. Kai was trying to protect oogway. Like Kai said oogway was like a brother to him but oogway betrayed him. So yeah L take and i'm going you a dislike
No
@@thesassyfish605 I hope there's a sence in dspocbale.me.for were mrperkins trys to get revenge on gru and possible kill him for what he did to vector over 14years ago on July 9th 2010 and he's trying to sneak inside grus window of his house and then fred sees his ass trying to and he ignores it and then when mrperkins does sneak in and grabs a snack before killing gur the minions all attack mrperkins and there all like we must save our boss gru aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and there all beating the shit out of mrperkins andthere using a bunch of deadly weapons and then doctor nefario uese a flame thrower and mrperkins gets third degre bunred and then the fire department comes and scaes him and you see mrperkins in the next sence all burned up inside the fire truck as a fat guy that had a huge ass juts laying on the bed looking all bunrded uo and stupid
Kung Fu Panda: Believing oneself
Kung Fu Panda 2: Discovering oneself
Kung Fu Panda 3: Mastering oneself
Kung Fu Panda 4: growing oneself beyond past achievements
@@theadmiral4625basically
@@theadmiral4625if only
But also believing in others
Kung Fu Panda 4: Stupidity
I love how it's not shifu or oogway that told po that there is no secret ingredient, but it was his dad that told him that.
It's so poetic that it's his dad that got to po on an emotional level.
Blud,this ain’t a hot take
@@gamsando9305 who said it is a hot take?
@@gamsando9305
r/lostyoutubereplier
Yeah he never said it was
Facts. I love how in each and every three films, Ping plays a subtle but important role in either helping Po or conveying the movies’ messages.
In kfp1, he’s the motivation for Po’s epiphany later in the movie, letting him realize there is no secret ingredient. In kfp2, he’s the one who says at the very beginning, “Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but look at where you are now.” In kfp3, he directly helps Po during the whole movie, while also being the one to help Li get back on track as well.
It’s certainly may not seem like much, but Ping is more of an important character than people tend to think. I think he’s criminally underrated, and he’s actually really wise despite all of the goofy, commercialized behavior.
“There is no one teaching method that works for everyone.”
US Department of Education: Y’all hear something?
hahahahah
This might be a hot take but the Kung Fu Panda trilogy is actually my favorite film series from Dreamworks. (Yes more than How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, and, yes, even more than The Boss Baby) I just love the mix of action, comedy, and the surprising amount of drama that these movies can incorporate without any of them seeming forced.
It was really good!
I agree. The Kung Fu Panda trilogy just resonates more to me and my family. Po reminds me so much of my older brother. His goofy innocence, identity struggles and weight shame, his kindness, and of course his passion for food. These films are art. THE SOUNDTRACK gosh the soundtrack. I really hope Kung Fu Panda 4 rocks!!
I can’t put it over HTTYD but I respect it
That’s not a hot take that’s like just true all of dreamworks major movies are good like the httyd series and megamind
Totally agree and I think many would as well
Secretly brilliant? I would not say secretly, just brilliant
Was gonna say the same thing,almost
Your mini-rewrite of Kai’s character at 28:39 is fricking genius and it didn’t even change the story
Except for the fact that in the first movie po Legit says “I learned it myself”
I liked the rewrite tho
@@Leon_el_pro LOL I forgot about that😭
Ah shit, but that could easily still be reworked
Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it
@@thegoldman25Great Video (also wanna rewrite Po’s biological father? Because design-wise and personality-wise, he just doesn’t feel like how he did in the post-credits scene in the second movie. And as for the fourth movie, let’s just hope Tai Lung finally redeem himself even if he’ll never deserve to be the Dragon Warrior despite training so hard because of his malicious past and that the Furious Five at least, at the very least, makes a cameo, and that Mantis be voiced by anyone other than Seth Rogen considering his recent comments, like, I dunno, maybe Zachary Levi?)
I think Kai is more a force of nature type of villain / antagonist. He doesn't reflect Po in any particular way, yet he still imposes Po and company due them being an obstacle in his way, and he won't stop till he gets what it is he wants.
Well tai lung was in a way the same he wont stop till he gets what he wants but his back story was great and he affected the whole story compare to kai who hasn't affected any thing in my opinion.
Tai lung affects shifu cause in a way he made him who he is and shifu has a 2nd chanche with Po to be a better teacher, he also affects Tigress cause whatever she dose nothing is as good as Tai Lung.
@@ervinjasaryou really misunderstood the comment
@@zoorockf1 how so?
I think Kai, despite his motivations, is literally a test of if po is the actual dragon warrior. The other villains tested po from the inside out as a person, but now Kai challenges him spiritually. Kai is the ultimate threat that can steal the chi of almost anyone, so po defeating him pretty much saves an uncountable amount of lives and preserves everything his masters before him built. He the dragon warrior, protects cong fu as a whole and to an extent the world. Kinda like Shen, but not so much.
He was definitely shallow though from what I’ve heard.
@@literallya442ndclonetroope5 i get your point and its quite interesting now that i see it that way. But i still think that the aspect of spirituality was not really necessary or at least brought in a good way. Showing Po in the second movie perplexed and confused and troubled is what made him lose againt Shen on many occasions and its not until he find inner peace and lets go of the past that he can defeat him and he truly shows that he is the dragon warrior by defating Shen's canons wich were undefeated. But in the 3rd kovie we dont see him having trouble with his spirituality and we dont need him to prove to himself that he is the dragon warrior cause he did that in the 1st movie. What would have been more intriguing in my opinion is to base on the next step and see if poo got what it takes to be a master and if he can pass his knowledge and skill to a new generation and since this movie came close to 10 years after the 1st i would have been nice for the kids from the 1st now grown up to se their hero getting older and wiser and preparing a new generation rather than conquer death and make death in kung fu panda movies pointless now on.
24:56 I never thought about the fact that Shen could’ve been the one to destroy himself! That’s such an interesting revelation, being so afraid of your demise that you fail to see all the ways in which it could be fulfilled, even by your own hand. Reminds me of Anakin a bit.
Actually look at it this way about Kai, he wasn't like the other villains about the theme of the movie alone. He is a foil for Po in the WHOLE FRANCHISE. Technically Kai and Po both saw power as a means to an end, Kai never thought of power being from himself (first movie's arc). He also never sought to conquer the past like Po in the second movie because he was so absorbed by the "betrayal" from Oogway. In the third movie, it's about identity and legacy, Kai wants to claim both by destroying Oogway's legacy, Po on the other hand finds identity and enlightenment through what he is to others instead of FORCING himself to turn into something he wants. The whole franchise is a symbol of life (present, past and future). Technically if Po failed to see the path of life without corruption, he would have been just like Kai. That's what Oogway saw, someone who wouldn't take power to help his present, someone who would reflect on their past to see themselves and change and someone who would try to show action the right way to impact the world.
I feel like KFP 3 gets sat on, largely because Kai isn't quite as developed as the previous two villains. I understand that feeling, but I feel like maybe KFP 3 just aimed elsewhere in terms of character focus. It is giving more focus on the supporting characters this time round. I'd argue if anything that might be the point, how Po is influencing his friends and family much like sharing chi. How Shifu and the Five are much more chill, how Ping and Li Shen want to protect him, what the other pandas can learn from Po's mentoring. It's kinda gratifying in showing not just how Po himself is progressing but how he is affecting the world around him.
Kai's motive to me is 'legacy' he has all these blusterous names and is fixated on the history Oogway stole from him. Arguably it is Kai being such a one note self centered villain that plays into the theme of the film, that he does not influence the rest of the world around him because he is so focused on himself, he is just another threat for Po to protect and unite people from. As Shifu warns him, there's always someone to stop a threat, such a legacy is negatable. By contrast his one noted selfless act, saving an injured Oogway, could have made him an undisputed hero in kung fu history. Kai negated having a true legacy because he only saw the superficial side of it, thus he himself became superficial. I do agree that all this could have done with better development and introspective, but I think Kai still kinda works for what the movie wanted out of him, he's just not the main hook here, and that kinda works as a counter to his own beliefs.
Honestly really well said. I'd never thought of it like that.
True
Well, a panda teaching panda kids kow to fight like profesionals, Po having the power of a god in the spirit realm Thanks to some people praying for him isn't a good argument tho
One of the things I like especially about the first movie is the scene when he's making the soup for the five but says that he doesn't know the secret ingredient. Not only is this a subtle setup for the huge payoff near the movie's climax but it also tells us something about Po and the themes of the movie in general once we look back and realize what the secret ingredient really is.
Po was already making the soup perfectly. He just didn't know it. Just as he was already good enough to be the dragon warrior or to be himself. He just didn't know it. We, likewise, oftentimes think of things outside of our control and outside of ourselves as being things we need to attain to be who we are. But instead it just takes self reflection. We oftentimes just don't know how good we are. How we are always "enough." You are never not who you are.
Honestly my favorite animated trilogy the story is so good mix that with amazing fighting sequences, impressive soundtrack (kai's theme goes hard) and the writing is spot on
It's up there for me too!
The thing I noticed about both 1 and 2 is that "One often meets his/her destiny on the road s/he takes to avoid it." In trying to avoid Tai Lung's escape, Shifu gave him the means. In trying to avoid his defeat, Shen created the means.
20:38, perhaps a minor correction, but the line that Po was telling Shen does not mean that "scars don't matter", but rather that they alone don't define who you are today. He's just rephrasing what the Soothsayer said to him a few minutes before, and what his dad (Mr. Ping) had said at the beginning of the movie.
"Your story (Life), may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make it who you are. It is the rest of your story(life), who you choose to be."
13:12 I get emotional thinking about Ly Lung fighting Shifu and demanding that he tell him that he's proud, and the short scene of Tigress trying to impress him and just corrects her as if he's unimpressed, I might cry a couple times through this video.
17:28 yup 🙄😭🤧
the movie is really emotional!
Tai Lung*
@@veganjotaroIt's Tai, just fyi
@@Dark_Starvoid thank you.
this may sound a bit silly but as a guy with autism I truly and honestly relate to poe's journey, everyone always told me I wasn't good enough or I was basically doomed over something I couldn't control, I thought I was incapable of learning how to be the best version of myself, I saw how this self improvement advice helped everyone else but it didn't work for me, so I sought to find my own way, write a list of bad habits I wanted to curb and how to curb them, a list I'd read everyday to form a mental schedule and after months of mental reconfiguration into my true self, unencumbered by despair, hatred or self doubt, I feel whole, I've unlocked my inner dragon warrior and I realized that being different didn't mean there was no hope for me, that is why kung fu panda inspires me and why I relate to poe❤
as another dude with autism this shit made me cry, thank you
@@ElijahSilverman-bj9bx your welcome❤
Kung Fu Panda 3 is such an underrated film
I've always interpreted the thing behind Kai and Po is being able to move forward.
Kai never was never able to forward from Oogway's "betrayal."
But Po moved forward from being a student to a teacher, I guess like how Oogway was.
He did call Po his "true successor"
It's also been a while since I've watched the 3rd movie, but that's the impression I got from it.
im so sick of the kai hate hes a good villain kai deserve better
Especially now that we have the chameleon, we all owe Kai an apology
Cuz it was the most weak in terms of good plot. Kung fu panda 2 was Just peak
Yeah, he's cool.
Wow it's been 8 years since Kung Fu Panda 1 came out?
Man that makes me feel old.
It’s been 8 years since kung fu panda 3 came out
@@thegoldman25 wut why, that means it's been 16 years since the series started
You make such good content how could you do this
What do you mean why? All he said was kung fu panda 3 came out 8 years ago.@alanli2404
I watched the Kung Fu Panda trilogy a year or two ago, and they're all great. My favorite aspect of each of the three movies, even despite the fact that Kung Fu Panda 3 being the weakest of the three is the villains.
For Kung Fu Panda: it's Tai Lung as a villain for Shifu (my favorite fight of the film)
For Kung Fu Panda 2: Lord Shen a villain for Po
And Kung Fu Panda 3: Kai, a villain for Oogway
Also the fights of all movies are some of the most impressive fights I've seen so far. But the first Kung Fu Panda goes so hard when it comes to the fight scenes.
the choreography is seriously impressive
What I also loved about Kung fu Panda 2 is the question, "Can you forgive the person who took everything away from you?"
In other words, can you accept what that person did to you?
I would not forgive
@@michelesantana1816
That is the moral of the movie.
@@SmallOneEyedKing No, the moral of the movie Is not about forgiving, but about controlling yourself, your mind, in order to find peace when you need it
@michelesantana1816 In the end, Po did accept it. Like the Soothsayer said
"Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make you who you are. It is the rest of your story who you choose to be."
@@SmallOneEyedKing yeah, he needed it to have interior peace (idk how it Is called in english), in order to defeat Shen.
I think Kai does have a human moment like Tai lung and Shen. When he confronts the furious five plus shifu at the jade palace we see how much pain Kai is in because of how he was defeated by someone he genuinely loved. Kai wants to tear down Oogways legacy, and destroy all he built. Po on the other hand is building a new legacy and to heal others. Though i admit it could have been better presented
When Lord Shen died we saw that he gave up because see seemed calm and let the cannon crash him. The prophecy told that if he continued on the dark path he would be defeated by a warrior but Po didn’t defeat him which could imply that he gave up on his dark path and excepted his fate.
22:57 This quote must have been one of the strongest things I have ever heard.
The difference between a hero and a villain. WOW
You changed me with that
To me, Kai is a reflection of Po on his ego. Po was developing an ego at the beggining of the movie, he liked to do poses, liked the respect and atention everyone gave to him, and when Shifu told him he had to grow up and become more, he refused. All movies had that theme about expectation and self-definition, but that movie is a humility lesson, a alesson that you should grow and become your better self not only for your own sake, but for the sake of others. It's about the responsibility on that path, that despite you being your person, you still aren't alone (Po won over Kai because he wasn't alone, while Kai tried to control all that chi alone).
I believe Kai was what Po could have become if he didn't learned the lesson: a self centered, arrogant fool, that thinks that is above everyone else, that thinks people couldn't leave without him (look at how pissed he becomes when people forget about him). Perhaps the movie also have a theme of accepting your own mortality. Both Ooogway and Po learned that they aren't the center of the universe, they would eventually go away, so they had to share everything they had, while Kai spent 500 years trying to go back to the mortal realm and become a invincible warrior that will be praised eternally or else
Not exactly. Shen covers the ego department for me as we see as he’s much of obsessive dork as Po is obsessed with Kung fu and how much egocentric he’s become as he tries to shove down his emotions.
@@jamestolbert1856 Well, one thing don't deny the other. Shen had that connection to Po on that movie, Kai have this connection on this movie
@@calebe4266 ok
I love that so much of this trilogy really does boil down to the words Master Oogway:
"One often finds his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it."
I never thought about shens prophecy meaning he defeats himself, but it makes so much sense when you take a step back and really think, shen does not share his parents colors and when you see a peacock in any media, you never see it as black and white, and while this next part is far fetched and i thought of it while typing this. The red could be symbolism as a red herring, the prophecy used our first expectation for po as a red herring
I was excited for this one since you announced it. Can’t wait to watch it.
I love the content
Enjoy!
Maybe it’s just me but I love when there’s Villains that are just evil. It’s always more important to have a story behind a characters motives but sometimes I enjoying seeing someone who wants mayhem/ power and will do anything to achieve it.
I think the ending of Kung Fu Panda 3 means the acceptance of the lessons in 1 and 2.
Po accepts his destiny as the Dragon Warrior, fully embracing his position.
You missed the detail that at the beginning of Kung Fu Panda 2, before they go out of the village, po's dad says that he loves him and po leaves him with the worth in the mouth, and at the end of the movie he comes back to admit that at the end of the day, Po is his son, which is another meaning for the movies theme of Po accepting his trauma and his life
Something I’ve always wanted is a spin-off on Tigress. I enjoyed her character as a kid but as an adult? Her arc throughout the series was executed so well. I get that she’s brilliant in the original trilogy and that she’s developed just as well as Po, but I think I would’ve loved to learn more about her where she gets to shine :)))
Kai actually wanted to power of chi so he would be strong enough to prevent his loved ones(Oogway) from getting hurt again but when Oogway banished him he felt wronged and thus wanted to defeat Oogway and wipe out the person who wronged him's memory
I believe that Kungfu Panda 3’s main lesson is Ping and Li’s relationship growing stronger for their love for their son, Po, and how they can BOTH be in his life. No parent is better than the other and that Ping learns to allow Li in his son’s life while also teaching him how to be a parent (something Li never got to truly be)
Im happy seeing people still cover this amazing series, And man this was a good analysis!
Really hope KFP 4 has a really good story to follow!
I mean i already see the theme represented in the trailer. Expertise vs. Mastery. The Chameleon basically challenges Po on a level no one else did. Knowledge. Po was such a fan he absorbed every knowledge of Kung Fu mentally. Chameleon absorbed the knowledge physically to become an instant expert, while Po was able to learn said techniques in person. Chameleon is a cheapskate taking the easy way, while Po, by learning, training and teaching said techniques achieved true mastery of the craft.
@@aureliodeprimus8018 I could see that as a possibility in the movie. Alternatively, the Chameleon could be a foil to Po in the sense that she doesn't seem to be intimidating yet because of her powers she climbs through the ranks. Similarly, to Po in the first movie but in his own special ways of fighting, Thematically, Po fighting the Chameleon that looks like himself could be the internal struggle he has to give up being the Dragon Warrior and pass it on to somebody else in the film. Just a thought?
@@mechamogaka6964Jup, also the chameleon leading an army, so Po have to recruit his own also ties into his theme of becoming a spiritual leader. Chameleon leading through fear and power while Po leading through inspiration.
@@aureliodeprimus8018your both so horribly wrong
@@dylanrinker6831Yes, we are painfully aware of that.....
The way I always interpreted the dragon scroll was that there was something on it, but when it briefly touched the pool, the ink was so sensitive that it immediately washed away.
I cannot explain why that was my first thought.
What I love most in the first film about opening the Dragon Scroll is that it shows even Shifu still needed to learn. For all his wisdom and even after finding out how to properly train Po, he looks at the scroll and can’t figure out it’s meaning, and with the threat of Tai Ling rather then involving Po he immediately turns to the Furious Five and plans to evacuate the Valley.
Excellent analysis of this trilogy! I absolutely adore these movie and you did an amazing job with this video! I know you said you’d wait for the How To Train Your Dragon analysis but I’m still so excited for it! Much love ❤
Thank you so much!
All the kfp villains are some of the best written, three dimensional, and unique villains I’ve ever seen.
What strikes as interesting to me is that all three of them initially came from a place of love, and it’s because of the influence of that love, that they eventually turned to villainy. Yes, this may sound out of the blue, but I think it’s worth noting, because this concept seems to apply very well in the franchise, while also adding on to Kai’s character(which a lot of people seem to consider as the ‘weakest’ in terms of character depth).
Tai Lung loved his father Shifu, and he hated him for abandoning him. Shen loved his parents while also seeking their approval, and hated them for sending him away. Kai loved Oogway as a brother, and hated him for ‘betraying’ them. These characters, who harbored so much hatred, so much resentment, originally were those who loved, and were loved in return.
I personally like to think Kai did the things he did because he loved Oogway too greatly. Because he never wanted to be powerless in the face of a potential threat to his brother, he was going to make sure he had all the power he needed. Even if it meant going to extreme lengths like stealing chi. To do such a thing only to have Oogway stand against him, the one who he loved, is what caused Kai to hate him so badly to the point that he aimed to destroy his entire legacy. And yet, even in that very endeavor where he swore to erase every memory of his brother, Kai still loves Oogway. Which is why he never uses his brother as a jade minion even under the most dire circumstances. It’s only from THAT level of love can hatred and grudges truly manifest to such deep and extreme levels as Kai’s.
I’ve recently heard a quote saying how hate comes from love, and with every passing day, I can’t help but feel more and more that it truly does. Even in this trilogy. Hate can only come from a place of love, and both of these things - hate and love - are burdens all three villains carried in their hearts throughout. It’s beautiful, and it’s so tragic. Which is why I can confidently say these villains are truly a mastery of writing.
I started following your channel for the Star Wars and Avatar content, and despite enjoying those videos I think this analysis was the best you’ve done yet. Never really thought about how complex the themes and parallels in these movies were until you put it into words, excellent job man. Great message at the end that regardless of your age, we can all learn from these stories despite them being aimed for a younger audience.
Thank you for the kind words! I hope you continue to enjoy my videos to come
I was younger for 8 years ago when I grow up with Kung fu panda 4 because it’s important those years it’s accident before
We ignore the fourth
Aye it’s like shrek 3 it’s filter
And praise the second
I think people are way too unfair to Kai. He's my personal favorite, and I think he is the most unique. There is nothing wrong with his backstory other than it being a bit vague, and things that should be overtly explained go sort of unexplained, like Oogway not always being the kind, wise, peaceful tortoise we know is interesting. In his youth, he led a great army with Kai. Judging by their outfits and occupation, it is safe to say they were warlords/conquerers, but it's never explicitly stated by Oogway in his scroll, which is unfortunate, or if they were really evil, just sort of merely imply thanks to context clues, Kai's very intimidating and ominous titles certainly support that idea. Kai even said he was the 'Supreme Warlord of all China'.
What sets him apart is that he is an unstoppable force of nature. Unlike Tai Lung and Shen, who CHANGED due to circumstances. Kai never changed. I interpret it as Oogway being the one who changed, as in, he became "good." After his near death experience and Kai carrying him to the panda village to be healed with the power of chi. Oogway saw the value of life and giving. Rather than just expanding his territory with a vast army through force. Kai saw it differently. He more than likely saw chi as just a means to make himself, Oogway, and their army more powerful against other forces. So again, Kai wasn't the one who changed, so that's what makes him unique compared to the other two. That is why he sees what Oogway did to him as betrayal. He sounded genuinely distraught about it. He stated he loved Oogway as his brother, which was Kai's moment of vulnerability. I do think they could have explored his feelings of being forgotten and erased from history more. It was mostly just played for laughs.
A face to face talk with Oogway on it probably would have helped. I really liked the idea of him keeping Oogway's totem closest to him (he made his into a necklace). He even talked to it. They had the right idea there to drive home the connection, Oogway and Kai are Yin-Yang, and they saw how to wield extraordinary power differently, I remember Oogway said to Kai, "When will you realize? The more you take, the less you have."
It's as if Oogway was trying to convince Kai at one point to change for the better, but Kai wouldn't budge. He was too stuck in his ways. It's very clear that his status and legacy are very important to him. When he returned to the mortal realm, upon realizing two random farmers didn't recognize him, he actually took the time to explain to them who he was and list off his badass titles. Could more have been done to flesh out Kai? Of course. But he definitely doesn't get enough credit for his uniqueness. Man is a hilarious badass who proved himself to be a very credible threat with awesome powers.
Defeating every Kung Fu master in the Spirit Realm. He was even almost willing to quit his crusade just because Po knows who he is.
They could have just made a copycat of Shen or something. But they didn't. A great villain doesn't have to be super deep or sympathetic. But they should invoke some sort of emotion out of the audience. Again, Kai could have been given more justice in the fleshed out department. However, I'd say he had a motive you could get behind. He wanted a legacy. Tai lung wanted to prove himself, he saw the Dragon Scroll as the ultimate symbol of Shifu's approval, as he was gassed up. Shen wanted to fill a void and shovel away his insecurities, especially when it came to his parents love and his implied sickliness, due to his leucism. Kai wanted to be remembered. Wild, as the villian of the 3 film, he didn't even make it into the thumbnail of this video.
That simple rewrite you made of Kai not wanting to teach anybody and inevitably losing to Po because of what oogway taught shifu and what shifu taught Po🤯🤯. Could’ve made the movie way better and made more sense for whatever the plot of KFP4 and Po apparently picking a new dragon warrior
Tai Lung was denied his destiny
Lord Shen was denied his birthright
Kai was denied his respect
The Chameleon told she can't go to school cause she's small. What a way to shit on a trilogy DreamWorks
IM HYPED FOR THIS ONE..TY
No… thank you!
it’s amazing to revisit some classics after so many years instead of watching 8 year old vids abt them.
here's my idea for a rewrite for kai's character, I'd personally write him as being poor in his childhood, on the verge of starvation, his only comfort were the warriors he saw saving the world, he saw raw unconquerable power as worth so when he assumed that power, he got addicted to it, viewing it as necessary, his character could be about how greed can corrupt someone, how a false image or ideal can shape you into something hideous on the inside, sort of like how Tony Montana imitated what he assumed the American dream was, his twisted view of masculinity that ultimately turned a harmless man into a dangerous man, the truth about Tony and my rewritten version of Kai is that they aren't men, they're fakers, instead of spreading kindness, showing love and doing what's right creating worth, they only saw raw power and a twisted ideal shape they're worth.
Kai and Oogway both were war criminals in the past. That's why Kai was surprised and angry that Oogway didn't want to commit crimes (steal panda's chi) with him. Pandas turned Oogway good and Kai was only good for Oogway. That's why he felt betrayed
I kinda disagree on the Kai part about not rejecting teaching. Oogway wanted to be taught chi by the pandas and Kai didn’t and wanted to trust in only his own power to take control of others so I think he did reject the main point of the 3rd
So the moral of the King Fu Panda is don’t go looking for approval and validation, just live
This is the first I watched from you and already subscribed
Thank you so much!
@@thegoldman25 no problem
I really liked your analysis of all the villains, especially your insight into Kai and you rewrite. Though, I think it's interesting that Kai's theme was identity and legacy, but he sought to destroy other's legacy while Po actively creates his legacy.
Kung Fu Panda 4 is now released! I hope you do a video about it like this one... cuz as of what I've seen from other people, they say it's mid or meh.
my fav is 2. its just the best. nothing genuinely beats it.
As someone who has struggles with body image issues and impostor syndrome, these movies hit hard for me. Such wonderful films that I hope continue to inspire kids on their journeys of self discovery.
20:08 It is actually not ridiculous at all. It is perfectly set up in the beginning of the movie by showing that inner peace can grant you the ability to catch and move raindrops without getting yourself wet, hence if you take this ability to a larger scale it makes absolute sense that you would be able to catch and move a cannon blast without getting yourself burnt.
The other reason why this scene is so thematically great is because it resolves one of the stories underlying themes- spiritual strength vs. mechanical strength. Shen is not a powerful kung fu master, but through the invention of gunpowder he is able to easily defeat people that are way more physically and spiritually stronger than him. His weapon threatens to destroy all of kung fu because no matter how great your physical or spiritual strength is, you are still powerless in front Shen's machinal strength. Po brings this this up in the very beginning- "how can kung fu stop something that stops kung fu" and Shifu tells him anything is possible when you have inner peace, and so that's exactly what happens, Po used his spiritual power of inner peace in order to stop and destroy the machinal power of Shen's weapon, without which he becomes powerless.
Kung fu panda 2 is in my top 3 favorite movies and I am definitely gonna watch 4.
I really enjoyed it, Looking forward to your Wall E video.
probably not for a while, but it'll come
Great video, hope you get more views on it!
Thank you!
I remember the po quote as, "scars fade"
The Kung Fu Panda trilogy are still my favorite animated movies to this day. I hope the 4th movie can at least be not disappointing. I'm not expecting it to be as good as the first two, but I would love to be able to rewatch it and enjoy just like the 3rd film.
I can definitely relate to people try to deny that what they like is intended for kids and say “it’s for everyone “. As someone who is in the Thomas the Tank Engine fandom, I’ve seen some fans that are quick to deny that Thomas is a preschool show, most likely because they’re afraid to admit that the show they still love is mostly intended for 3 year olds. While these franchises can still be enjoyed by all ages, it is important to accept the fact that they are mostly still intended for kids. You can like whatever you like no matter who it’s target audience is, but it’s important to accept that it’s target audience is still mainly kids at the end of the day.
Hello there, bro! I had started to miss you again... (I haven't watched Avatar yet, so I preferred not to spoil myself with your recent videos)
Nice analysis, as always, it's really a nice trilogy with good story, great messages and funny humor. I really like how the villains lose because of their own mistakes and I love your theory about Shen being black and white too, I hadn't thought about it.
TBH I'm more on the "it's a kids movie" side because I find the climactic scenes to be too naive
(inner peace allowing you to stop and reflect fireballs with bare hands, seriously?), but I doubt the creators ever intended for the movie to be taken too seriously, so it's not a big deal.
As you said, the meaning is there even in the silly moments and also what makes these movies to be for kids is that fact that they are understandable by kids, not inappropriate for adults.
(Or something like that. I didn't try to memorize your words, sorry :D)
But speaking of Po's powers, I find it interesting that you didn't say anything bad about the "Chosen one" trope which I thought you hated, at least in Star Wars. I guess it's because Star Wars is a huge saga with incomparably more complex plot where such prophecy is unnecessary convolution, while Kung Fu Panda has more space for something like that
Dam that kai rewrite would been perfect
Thought I kinda wish that Kung Fu Panda 3 could've been better, I still enjoyed the trilogies.
kung fu panda is 1 of my fav animated films😣😣 the only films i enjoy going to the cinema for
This movie seems to be a response to “the character needs to change and get better not the ur perfect as u are message” but still does a good job
Can you do a deep dive like this on the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy? I think it stands next to Kung Fu Panda as one of the greatest animated trilogies of all time.
Maybe in the future
28:39 Is a fantastic rewrite and I feel if that was used instead of what we got this would've gone done as one the greatest movie trilogies of all time. Smh
Thanks!
Not just the trilogy the entire kung fu panda series is good
2008, the year when the masterpiece was created.
Greatest trilogy ever
Never saw the third one but the first two are really good
It’s worth a watch
On Friday June 6, 2008 when me and my twin sister were both last ages of small young little children at age ten both starting to becoming preteens/tweens at age eleven on September 24, 2008 we both saw and enjoyed Kung Fu Panda: The First & Original Film at a local multiplex movie theater with one of my male behaviorists that worked with me after we both finished 5th grade elementary school and me and my twin sister both as ten year old younger kids not only enjoyed seeing Kung Fu Panda at a local movie theater but also we both liked the film as ten year old young children and when the movie was over we both stayed during the closing end credits and the song Kung Fu Fighting (Cover by CeeLo Green & Jack Black-From Kung Fu Panda: The First & Original Film) that played during the closing end credits me and my twin sister also liked as small young little kids at age ten
The Kung Fu Panda Movie Sequels only came out when me and my twin sister were both teenagers and adults and not small young little kids younger than 11
Memories broken, the truth goes unspoken
I've even forgotten my name
I don't know the season or what is the reason
I'm standing here holding my blade
- Mgrr
Po learned the wooshie finger hold by hisself.
Hey great video, can you do something similar for How To Train Your Dragons? Thanks ^^
Really nice review🔥 I liked everything you said about kfp 1 and 2, but i kinda disagree with your take on Kai. Oogway said himself that the more chi Kai takes, the less he has. Thats because Chi is like your soul, so stealing others Chi hinders your own. Po is the opposite because he tried to master Chi by learning to be himself.
Who rembers kung fu panda and the legends of awesomeness
lol I watched an episode of that the other day
I felt like Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2 did a better job than Star Wars with conveying the actual meaning of "letting go of attachments" in Buddhism. While the word "attachment" itself is never used in the movies, we see it in the first movie when Oogway teaches Shifu about the illusion of control, as well as in the second with Po learning to accept his past and move forward.
17:29 , When watching this years ago . I remember laughing a bit cause looks at craine😅.
Hey Goldman, r u going to watch TPM, it was announced that there will be a 25th anniversary for theaters 😈
of course!
mate, your rewrite of kai is freakin genius. what an idea, and what a great video to a great trilogy.
Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2 are personally some of my favorite films from DreamWorks, and while 3 isn't one of my favorites, it still has quite a few strong aspects.
While Kung Fu Panda 4 does leave me a bit weary, I still think it'll be a good movie in its own right, despite the trailers not really doing a good job showing it off.
The more I think about it, Shen ALSO being a warrior of black and white was almost certainly not a coincidental design trait.
I like how even in mannerisms, Shen mirrors Po. He is...a kook. He's arguably the most comical of the three main villains, just like Po is the most openly comical hero, and neither of them are inherent warriors, and yet, like Po, Shen has so many nuances that make him tragic, and demonstrates his ability to trounce so many great enemies. Just unlike Po, Shen went from humble beginnings to a nightmarish threat. He subverted expectations in the most horrific way possible.
I feel like Shen so hard trying to retain a sense of grandeur and menace despite his inherently silly persona also plays well against Po, who is just chill and fine with the eccentric banter. It's all just part of the showy kung fu after all. Plays even more into Shen not being able to just accept his true self.
I would love to see this format of video with the httyd series
maybe in a year when the live action adaptation comes out
I honestly did not know a live action version would be coming out that’s awesome
Never forget the spacebar when talking about the flashback scenes in Kung Fu Panda 2
@The Gold Man
27:45 Kai does have a deeper motive. You could say that Kai wanted the power of chi so he would be able to protect Oogway as he couldn't the first time. And he then felt betrayed by Oogway, as he says "He betrayed me" at first notice, it just seems ignorant but it could be that they just saw it diffrent and then Oogway turned on him. Just saying. I heard it somewhere and thought it made good sense, Kai is a decent villain. He just isn't so obvious, but Tai Lung and Shen is still on another level.
With kung fu panda 4 coming out in about 4 weeks im really hope it dosent get same fate as what happend to other animated franchises when they hit number 4 it happend to shrek it happend to ice age and it happend to hotel Transylvania.
Also the director of KFP4 is mike mitchell and he director of shrek 4 (dont know how people feel about it) trolls (short story its ok) and the lego movie 2 (underrated sequel) also this will be one dreamworks last projects before kissing there in house bye bye.
Unfortunately it did get the same treatment
Also shrek 3 was the bad one, not 4
I'm curious abt KFP4. What did the movie teaches us?
Change is okay
With the "is this for kids" argument. Don't these kinds of films fall into the "family" movie genre?
I think you under sold kai but great either way
Noah's Ark (2007) Panthy
Best part we got two more KFP movies on the way
A KFP 5 is confirmed?
@@thegoldman25well that is the plan as katzenberg said in 2010 in a indie wire article there is six movies or as he calls it “chapters” not even kidding
@@thegoldman25and if you go to the Wikipedia article for the kung fu panda franchise there is section about the planned sequels
The triliogy is amazing soon to be quadriliogy.
Kai actually wanted power to fill the void of Oogway's betrayal, and with this power he would destroy everything Oogway created.