Kung Fu Panda 2 is a 2011 3D American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda. The cast of the original film reprised their voice roles while the new villain is voiced by Gary Oldman. The film was released on May 26, 2011 in Real D 3D and Digital 3D. The film opened to positive reception and became an international success.Cast
Main article: List of Kung Fu Panda characters
- Jack Black as Po
- Gary Oldman as Lord Shen
- Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu
- Angelina Jolie as Tigress
- Jackie Chan as Monkey
- Seth Rogen as Mantis
- Lucy Liu as Viper
- David Cross as Crane
- James Hong as Mr. Ping
- Michelle Yeoh as Soothsayer
- Danny McBride as Wolf Boss
- Dennis Haysbert as Master Storming Ox
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Master Croc
- Victor Garber as Master Thundering Rhino
- Fred Tatasciore as Po's father
- Lauren Tom as Market Sheep
- Conrad Vernon as Boar
Production
Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda. The first film was released in June 2008, and by the following October, the studio DreamWorks Animation announced plans for a second film with the subtitle Pandamoneum,[4] which was changed by 2010 to The Kaboom of Doom[5] before simply being retitled to Kung Fu Panda 2. Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who was head of story for the first film, was hired to direct the sequel. The original film's cast members reprised their voice roles. Like the other DWA films beginning production in 2009, Kung Fu Panda 2 was produced in DreamWorks' stereoscopic 3-D technology of InTru 3D. The studio also plans to release the film in IMAX theaters worldwide.[6]Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, screenwriters and co-producers for the first film, returned to write and co-produce the sequel,[6] with Charlie Kaufman consulting[7][8] on the screenplay early on in the development process.[9]In Kung Fu Panda 2, the production crew showed increased familiarity with Chinese culture. In 2008, after the release of Kung Fu Panda, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and other DreamWorks members visited the city of Chengdu, which is considered as the "panda hometown."[10] In addition to seeing real pandas, crew members learned about the local culture. Katzenberg has stated thatKung Fu Panda 2 incorporates many elements of Chengdu in the film.[11] The film's landscape and architecture also found inspiration from those found at Mount Qingcheng, a renowned Taoist mountain.[12] In an interview with Movieline, Berger stated that "we never really thought of this as a movie set in China for Americans; it’s a movie set in an mythical, universalized China for everyone in the world."[13]
ReleaseKung Fu Panda 2 was screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in early May before its commercial release.[14] The film was released in the United States on May 26, 2011, the United Kingdom on June 10, 2011 and in Australia on June 23, 2011.
Reception
CriticalKung Fu Panda 2 has received generally positive reviews, with many critics praising its animation, voice acting, and character development. The film received a "Certified Fresh" score of 82% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews from 148 critics and a rating average of 6.9 out of 10, with the consensus being that "The storyline arc may seem a tad familiar to fans of the original, but Kung Fu Panda 2 offers enough action, comedy, and visual sparkle to compensate."[15] It also received a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 at Metacritic, based on 31 reviews from mainstream critics.[16]Variety called the film "a worthy sequel that gets an extra kick from the addition of dynamic 3D fight sequences"[17] while The Hollywood Reporter similarly praised the film.[18] Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, praising the sequel as superior to the original and as an ambitious extension of the previous story.[19]Some critics noted the influences of executive producer Guillermo del Toro's works in the film's darker themes,[20] and Jim Tudor of TwitchFilm.net describes that with del Toro on board, the film "effectively probes deeper into Po's emerging hero's journey and personal issues, evoking a truly fulfilling Campbellian archetype, but also remains fully viable as mainstream entertainment suitable for all ages."[21]As with the first film, the animation has been praised. Frank Lovece of Film Journal International describes the film as "truly beautiful to behold" and states it "works on both aesthetic and emotional levels."[22] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times writes that "For Panda 2 is not just wall-to-wall animation, it is artistry of the highest order."[23]Many critics have praised Gary Oldman for his voice acting and developed characterization of main antagonist Lord Shen, with some comparing him favorably to Ian McShane's voice performance as Tai Lung in the original film. Angie Errigo of Empire Magazine described Oldman as "...fabulous as the feathered fiend and his character animators do his performance proud with a stunning, balletic fighting style, the fan tail flicking with lethal fascination."[24] Jason Best of What's on TV writes "Following Ian McShane from the first film as the obligatory British thespian to fill the role of villain, Gary Oldman brings silky menace to the part of the evil Shen."[25] Kyle Smith of The New York Post writes "It's a bit hard to be terrified of a peacock (the snow leopard in the first movie was way more sinister). But the animators are in charge, and they succeed in dazzling with Lord Shen's look."[26]
Box office
Kung Fu Panda 2 has grossed $163,658,377 in the United States and Canada, as of August 18, 2011, as well as an estimated $453,000,000 in other territories, as of August 18, 2011, bringing its worldwide total to $616,658,377.[3] It is currently the biggest 2011 worldwide box office for an animated movie and the fourth highest-grossing film of 2011 worldwide behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. On its first weekend, it earned $108.9 million worldwide, ranking third behind Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hangover Part II.[27]In the USA and Canada, on its Thursday opening day, Kung Fu Panda 2 earned $5.8 million, taking second place to The Hangover: Part II.[28] On Friday, Panda earned $13.1 million, which was behind the original's $20.3 million opening-Friday.[29] Over the three-day weekend, Panda earned $47.7 million, which was behind the first movie's $60.2 million start.[30] Kung Fu Panda 2 went on to make $13.2 million on Memorial Day, bringing its four-day weekend total to $60.9 million.[31] Overall the film made $66.7 million in its first five days, but it still trailed behind the original film's five day opening of $72.6 million.[32] Altogether, Panda 2 earned the same amount of money in five days as the original Panda did in four. However, the opening still came in at the high end of DreamWorks Animation's expectations.[33] It also had the sixth highest opening weekend for a film that did not debut at #1.[34]Although Kung Fu Panda 2 has outgrossed some of Dreamworks Animation's previous films like Shark Tale, Over the Hedge, Megamind, and Bee Movie in North America, it has not performed as well as some people expected.[35][36] Reasons cited for this relative under-performance of the film in the U.S.A. and Canada included inadequate marketing by DreamWorks Animation as noted by analyst Tony Wible of Janney Capital Markets prior to release who observed the film was tracking poorly online compared to its predecessor.[35] Another reason cited after release was a growing American and Canadian marketplace rejection of 3D presentation with its coupled surcharge in movie ticket prices apparently making the film too expensive for many film patrons. As a result, only 45% of the premiere weekend box office earnings of the film's came from screenings in the 3D presentation format as opposed to 60% for Shrek Forever After in 2010.[37] Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation’s chief executive, also attributed to the film's under-performance in these territories for being released the same weekend as The Hangover Part II, a film that an unexpectedly large number of people went to see.[36]However, the film has proven a major international success, opening simultaneously with its North American debut in 11 markets, premiering at number-one in nine. The total foreign box-office earnings on its first weekend, were $55.5 million, landing in third place on the weekend behind Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hangover Part II. It reached number one at the overseas box office on its third weekend, opening at number one in of each of its 17 territorial premieres, including the United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil.[38] It retained first place overseas on the following weekend with $58.2 million, opening at number one in a few more territories including Germany, France and Spain and holding well in markets like Mexico.[39]The film had exceptional earnings in Asian territories. In China, its highest-grossing market after the US and Canada, it had a $19.3 million two-day weekend, setting a new record for a Saturday opening day and a record for a two-day opening weekend in the country.[40] It has earned $91,531,119 by July 6, 2011, which makes it the highest-grossing animated movie of all time in the country, surpassing previous record-holder Kung Fu Panda ($26,024,298).[41] It scored the largest opening weekend of all time for an animated movie in Malaysia, $1,663,199, and became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, surpassing Tangled ($3.0 million) by its second weekend.[42] In Philippines, it earned $1,958,888 on its opening which was the largest for an animated title and became the highest-grossing animated title, surpassing Toy Story 3 ($3.4 million) by its second weekend.[43] In Singapore, with $2,627,425 it made the largest opening weekend of all time. Surpassing the originalKung Fu Panda ($4.3 million) by its second weekend, it became the largest animated feature of all time in the country.[44] In South Korea, it earned $12,802,267 upon release, scoring the 4th largest opening weekend of all time and the biggest for animated title.[45] In Thailand, it made the largest opening for an animation movie ($950,590) and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time in total earnings as well. Both records were taken from Toy Story 3.[46] Similarly in Vietnam, it made two records of being the highest-grossing film ever ($2,287,299)[47] and making the hugest opening with $1 million in its first five days, records taken from Avatar.[48]The film also helped Dreamworks Animation raise its second quarter revenue of $218.3 million and a profit of $34.1 million for the three-month period that ended June 30, 2011, which was an improvement over the same period a year ago when the company posted revenue of $158.1 million and a $24 million profit.[49]
AccoladesAward Category Winner/Nominee Result 2011 Teen Choice Awards[50] Choice Movie Animated Voice Jack Black Nominated
Marketing
DreamWorks Animation has invested $100 million in creating promotional partners and building up marketing for its films. For Kung Fu Panda 2, DWA has partnerships with McDonald's, AT&T, Best Buy, General Mills (cereals), Sun-Maid (raisins), Airheads (candy), Hint Water and HP. The film's characters are used in products and advertising campaigns across various media. The studio is also pursuing social media efforts to promote the film.[51]DWA partnered with House Foods America to brand its products, notably tofu, with advertising of the film. Variety reported that the partnership was the first-ever between a film studio and a tofu company. The studio also enlisted the parade balloon of Po from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to tour in six cities, concluding with Los Angeles over Memorial Day weekend in late May 2011.[51]Merchandise is also being produced for the film: Fisher-Price (toys), THQ (video games), Hallmark (cards), and Jem Sportswear (apparel). Publishers VTech, Penguin Books, Dalmatian Press, and Ape Entertainment are releasing books tied to the film.[51]
Video gameMain article: Kung Fu Panda 2 (video game)The game takes place after the events of the film. Po and the rest of the Furious Five find themselves troubled by an evil group of crocodile mercenaries. With the help of the Kung Fu masters, Po has to uncover the plot behind this siege and put a stop to it.
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