Fascinating Kung Fu Panda Facts and Trivia
1. The entire Kung Fu Panda series is based on Chinese Culture, especially the martial arts aspect.
Copyright Controversy
A cartoonist named Jamye Gordon filed a copyright infringement lawsuit after DreamWorks released the Kung Fu Panda trailer in 2008. He claimed he was the initial creator of Kung Fu Panda and would be willing to withdraw his lawsuit for $12 million. It was later discovered that Jamye was a fraudster and was fined $3 million plus a 2-year jail sentence.
Master Shifu’s Origins
Surprisingly, Master Shifu in the film “Kung Fu Panda” is a red panda, which, despite the name, the species does not have any relation with the giant panda family. Red pandas are native to China and Nepal; they are roughly the size of a raccoon.
Voice Cast
The character of Monkey in the Kung Fu Panda series was voiced by James Sie, an actor and author famous for having the animated voice of Jackie Chan.
Realistic Accuracy
To make the movie more realistic and familiarize the characters with what they were doing, the animators had to take a 6-hour kung fu class.
Kung Fu Panda Sequels
Kung Fu Panda 2 made a whopping $665 million, significantly more than the other sequels. Interestingly, Kung Fu Panda 2 isn’t even the most liked out of all Kung Fu Panda movies if the reviews are anything to go by. Movie enthusiasts have alleged the success could be attributed to people’s enthusiasm after the first Kung Fu Panda movie.
Notable Guest Voices
The Kung Fu Panda series attracted the who-is-who of the film industry. One such big name was Jean-Claude Van Damme, who voiced Master Croc.
The Making of Kung Fu Panda
According to DreamWorks’ executives, the making of the first film started in 2003, about five years before it was officially released.
Kung Fu Panda Character Details
Po’s full name is Po Ping, which means precious peace. In the third sequel, viewers learn that Po was called Little Lotus, a flower that resembles goodness and honesty by his original family.
The Ending of Kung Fu Panda
At the end of Kung Fu Panda 1, the final move Po uses against Tai Lung is revealed to be a story that the masters at the Jade Palace had made up to scare their students.
Tai Lung’s Connection with Master Shifu
According to Kung Fu Panda enthusiasts, Tai Lung was a student of Master Shifu and had a special bond with him. This makes more sense as Tai Lung proved to be very powerful when he escaped Chorh-Gom Prison with the help of only one feather.
Moves and Styles
Whether it’s the Mantis, Viper, Crane, Tiger, or Monkey, all the moves displayed throughout the series are valid. Po uses the Bear Kung Fu style.
Spin-Off TV Shows
After the success of Kung Fu Panda 1, DreamWorks started producing spin-off TV shows like “Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny” and “Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.” These spin-offs are designed to expose more about Po’s life and his friends.
