Kung Fu Panda - June 2008

Enthusiastic, big and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around…which doesn’t exactly come in handy while working every day in his family’s noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po’s dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols—the legendary fighters Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey—under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it’s up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.

A CG-animated comedy about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, Po (Voiced by Jack Black), who must somehow become a Kung Fu Master in order to save the Valley of Peace from a villainous snow leopard, Tai Lung. Set in the legendary world of ancient China, this is the story of Po, our unlikely hero, who enters the rigid world of Kung Fu and turning it upside down. Po ultimately becomes a Kung Fu hero by learning that if he believes in himself, he can do anything.

Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Produced by Melissa Cobb
Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger and Steven Spielberg
Release date: June 8, 2008
Genre: Animation / Action / Comedy / Family

Casts:

• Jack Black as Po the Giant Panda
• Jackie Chan as Master Monkey the Monkey
• Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu the Red Panda
• Angelina Jolie as Master Tigress the South China Tiger
• Lucy Liu as Master Viper the Viper
• Ian McShane as Tai Lung the Snow Leopard
• David Cross as Master Crane the Japanese Crane
• Seth Rogen as Master Mantis the Praying Mantis
• Michael Clarke Duncan as Commander Vachir the Javan Rhino
• James Hong as Mr. Ping the Goose
• Dan Fogler as Zeng the Palace Goose
• Randall Duk Kim as Oogway the Tortoise

Po (Jack Black) is a panda who is a kung fu fanatic, but whose defining characteristic appears to be that he is the laziest animal in ancient China. Evil warrior Tai Lung has escaped from prison, and all hopes have been pinned on a prophecy naming Po as the "Chosen One" to save the day. He has a group of martial arts masters to help him.

Notably, a number of the martial arts masters are animals who feature in the Chinese Zodiac - Tigress, Monkey and Snake. Others are stances commonly used in the art of kung fu - the Crane and the Mantis.