Just when we thought Po, the adorable and bumbling panda, had made his final bow, he resurfaces for another run (and more servings of bao) as the "Dragon Warrior."
Kung Fu Panda 4 is the latest chapter in DreamWorks' successful animated franchise first introduced in 2008.
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The fourth installment follows Po (Jack Black) who is due to take the next step—from being a Dragon Warrior to a spiritual leader—and needs to pick a worthy successor to take his place.
But is Po ready to relinquish life as a fighter and the public adulation of being a celebrated hero?
Meanwhile, a shrewd, cold-hearted villain named The Chameleon emerges from nowhere. She will test Po's combat skills, courage, and resolve.
STAYING TRUE TO ITS LEGACY
Kung Fu Panda 4 maintains the franchise's trademark blend of humor and action sequences, spearheaded by a martial arts-savvy panda as its main protagonist.
Visually, the movie maintains its classic animation style and essence—a vibrant fusion of colors seamlessly woven with diverse imagery, rich in Asian references.
Curiously, this has become a contentious topic among animation enthusiasts, who expect this latest installment to adopt the visual style—a combination of analog and 3D resulting in a more lively inkbrush-like finish—used by another DreamWorks project, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish.
This observation isn't exactly spot on.
In fact, Kung Fu Panda 4 boasts, or at least some of its scenes, of fresh visual styles — a result of incorporating live-action and modern cameras, as mentioned by co-director Mike Mitchell in an interview.
Of course, casual viewers may not be concerned with such intricacies, and sticking to mostly the tried-and-tested animation style of Kung Fu Panda gives a feeling of familiarity to fans of the franchise.
“There is a legacy to Kung Fu Panda, and to break the mold too much would be a disservice to what’s come before,” explained production designer Paul Duncan to Animation Magazine.
“So, for me and [co-director] Mike Mitchell, it was always, ‘Let’s stylize parts of the movie that we want to enhance the story.’ We won’t just check that box for the sake of checking the box.”
PO'S INTERNAL BATTLES
The storytelling and its message are the film's strong points.
There are obvious efforts to show Po's vulnerability, an attempt to make him look relatable to viewers, particularly the young audience.
Po's inner turmoil echoes throughout the film as he struggles with insecurity and self-doubt, occasionally hindered by his attachment to his "Dragon Warrior" persona.
Said Mike, “I think we’re all a little bit scared and nervous about that [growing up and facing new challenges], but I think for Po, it’s the most difficult for him. But along this journey, he comes to realize there are more important things.”
Meanwhile, fans of the franchise will be introduced to new characters led by the wily and clever fox named Zhen (Awkwafina), along with her rascal friends from the underworld.
Familiar faces will also make an appearance, and Po will be reunited with his former nemesis. There's no love lost for sure among these brave, skilled warriors.
In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po learns to accept and let go of the past, live in the present, and face the future with courage, unburdened by fear.
It's a timeless lesson that resonates with children and adults alike.
Kung Fu Panda 4 is now showing in cinemas nationwide.