Kung Fu Panda

Originally published Feb 27, 2024

I’ll skip the formalities; Kung Fu Panda is a cinematic masterpiece that deserves more love and attention than it already gets. Leave it to DreamWorks Animation to take such an utterly ridiculous concept and give one of the greatest movies (period, not just animated) I’ve ever been blessed to have had released in my lifetime. The story is air tight, delivering a consistent amount of laughs without losing any of its dramatic gravitas, thanks in no small part to the cast’s stellar vocal performances. The animation still largely holds up almost sixteen years after its release, and the choreography of its fight scenes are fast, dynamic, and, for lack of a better word, awesome. That awesomeness is further channeled into the soundtrack, proving once more why Hans Zimmer and John Powell are composers to be reckoned with. However, as phenomenal as all the elements are together, as well as individually, there’s a deeper reason this movie earns my praise.

Kung Fu Panda was released when I was only five years old, and I never would’ve guessed it would resonate with me more as an adult. I’m fully serious when I say Po might be one of my favorite protagonists in any movie I’ve ever seen. Jack Black’s hilarity aside, his battle with imposter syndrome makes me, and I’m sure many others, feel seen in a way few other movies do. Becoming the Dragon Warrior seems impossible at first, but once he’s taught in a way that, no matter how unorthodox, he responds to and learns to believe in himself, he becomes who he always dreamed of being. Our dreams might seem unattainable, but Kung Fu Panda teaches what makes us special can help us become who we desire if we believe we can.

Until next time, Skadoosh!

Rating: 10/10