Oddballs and Unlikely Heroes in Kung Fu Panda
In Kung Fu Panda, the oddballs are the main characters that stand out. The village is predominantly populated by rabbits, pigs, geese, and ducks, while the protagonists are a panda, a red panda, a tiger, a snake, a mantis, a monkey, a crane, a tortoise, and a snow leopard. The movie takes the 70s kung fu vibes and elevates them to a whole new level. However, kids are more likely to focus on the humor of the big, fat panda, Po, voiced by Jack Black, who carries the movie with his amusing and somewhat pathetic character.
Po’s Journey: Passion, Acceptance, and Equality
Po is a kung fu fanatic who loves martial arts despite not knowing much about them. He’s desperate to do something with his life and can’t think of anything else. The movie touches on the idea of a fat, unqualified individual taking a woman’s opportunity, but it’s not a significant issue in this kid’s movie. Tigress, who is already well beyond Po, eventually learns to respect him as an equal rather than continually pointing out his shortcomings.
Po’s victory over the villain is not due to his gender but his realization and acceptance of his differences, coupled with his heart, passion, and the skills he’s gained. The movie teaches the importance of valuing others for their differences rather than excluding them because they appear to be elevated for no good reason.
Personal Growth, Cooperation, and Acceptance
Kung Fu Panda delves into the idea of personal growth and the importance of cooperation between those seeking to attain the same goal. It’s a deep concept for an animated feature, but it’s a topic many people have discussed and thought about. The movie highlights the frustration of watching someone unqualified take a position that a qualified person has been working hard to attain. However, it also emphasizes the importance of accepting what has happened for personal growth and promoting necessary cooperation.
A Cartoon with Lessons and Morals
At its core, Kung Fu Panda is a cartoon meant to amuse kids and adults alike. It has spawned sequels, short films, and video games, providing enough content to last a couple of generations. With every movie and short film, there have been lessons and morals for kids to follow and remember, which is a positive aspect of the franchise. Despite its silliness, Kung Fu Panda was created with good intentions and offers valuable life lessons.
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