Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom
Encyclopedia
Kung Fu Panda 2 is a 2011 3D American computer-animated
action comedy film, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
, 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, Lord Shen, 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. It is the highest-grossing film directed by a woman and the 49th highest-grossing film of all time.
, Lord Shen, heir of the peacock clan that ruled Gongmen City in ancient China, sought to harness the power of fireworks as a weapon with which to rule the entire country. When he learned from the court's goat soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh
) that "a warrior of black-and-white" would one day defeat him, Shen assumed she was referring to a panda
and exterminated much of the panda population to avert the prophecy
. Shen's parents were horrified at this atrocity and exiled Shen, who swore revenge.
Thirty years later, Po (Jack Black
) is living his dream as the Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, the Furious Five, but is told by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman
) that he has yet to achieve inner peace
. While fighting off a pack of wolf
bandits
who have been stealing refined metal for Lord Shen, Po is distracted by a symbol on the head wolf's (Danny McBride) armor, which causes Po to have a flashback of his mother and allows the wolves to escape. Po asks his goose
father, Mr. Ping (James Hong
), where he came from, but all Ping can tell him is that he found Po as an infant in a radish
crate and adopted
him.
Afterwards, Shifu receives word that Master Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber
), the leader of the kung fu council protecting Gongmen City, has been killed by Shen (Gary Oldman
) with his newly developed weapon, a cannon
, with which he intends to destroy kung fu tradition and conquer China. Po and the Furious Five go to stop him, reaching Gongmen City to find it under the control of Shen's forces. The heroes find two imprisoned council members, Masters Storming Ox (Dennis Haysbert
) and Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme
), and ask their help to liberate the city, but both masters cite their helplessness against Shen's weapon and refuse to help. Po and the Five are then discovered by the wolf leader, whom they chase to prevent him from alerting Shen, only to be captured by Shen's army.
Upon being brought before Shen in his tower, Po and the Five free themselves and destroy Shen's cannon. However, Po is again distracted by a flashback upon seeing the same symbol as before on Shen's plumage, allowing Shen to escape and destroy the tower with an arsenal of cannons. After Po and the Five escape, Tigress (Angelina Jolie
) confronts Po over his distraction. Po explains that he remembers Shen's presence on the night he was separated from his parents, and wants to question Shen about his past. Though empathetic, Tigress tells Po to stay behind for his own safety.
Regardless, Po breaks into Shen's cannon factory to confront him, inadvertently foiling the Five's attempts to destroy the factory. Shen claims that Po's parents never loved him before he blasts Po out of the factory and captures the Five. Po is rescued by Shen's soothsayer, who has been exiled by Shen to the ruined village where Po was born. Guided by the soothsayer to embrace his past, Po remembers that when he was young, his parents had sacrificed themselves to save him from Shen's forces, his mother hiding him in a radish crate before being subdued. Po thus attains inner peace, realizing that he had lived a happy and fulfilling life despite this tragedy.
Po returns to Gongmen City to save the captive Five and prevent Shen's conquest of China. During the ensuing battle (in which Ox and Croc participate after being persuaded by Shifu), Po uses his inner peace to enable a kung fu technique that allows him to redirect Shen's cannon fire against his own armada, destroying it. Po then urges Shen to let go of his own past, but Shen attacks Po until he inadvertently slashes the ropes holding up his last cannon, which falls and crushes him to death. Victorious, Po returns to the Valley of Peace and reunites with Mr. Ping, lovingly declaring him to be his father. At the same time, Po's biological father (Fred Tatasciore
) is shown to be living in a far-off, hidden village inhabited by surviving pandas, and senses that his son is alive.
. 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, which was changed by 2010 to The Kaboom of Doom 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 DreamWorks Animation films that began 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.
Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, screenwriters and co-producers for the first film, returned to write and co-produce the sequel, with Charlie Kaufman
consulting on the screenplay early on in the development process.
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". In addition to seeing real panda
s, crew members learned about the local culture. Katzenberg has stated that Kung Fu Panda 2 incorporates many elements of Chengdu in the film. The film's landscape and architecture also found inspiration from those found at Mount Qingcheng
, a renowned Taoist mountain. In an interview with Movieline
, Berger stated that "we never really thought of this as a movie set in China for American
s; it's a movie set in an mythical, universalized China
for everyone in the world."
in early May before its commercial release. The film was released in the United States
on May 26, 2011, in the United Kingdom
on June 10, 2011, and in Australia
on June 23, 2011.
and Blu-ray
on December 13, 2011, accompanied with the short film Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, a sneak peek of the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
television series, and a preview of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.
based on reviews from 156 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." It also received a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 at Metacritic
, based on 31 reviews from mainstream critics.
Variety
called the film "a worthy sequel that gets an extra kick from the addition of dynamic 3D
fight sequences," while The Hollywood Reporter
similarly praised the film. 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.
Some critics noted the influences of executive producer Guillermo del Toro
's works in the film's darker themes, 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."
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". 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."
Many critics have praised Gary Oldman
for his voice acting and developed characterization of 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." 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." 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."
and Canada
, along with $497,775,479 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $663,024,542, surpassing the original Kung Fu Panda during late-August 2011. Worldwide, it is currently the highest-grossing animated film of 2011, the 9th highest-grossing animated film ever released, the 49th highest-grossing film of all time, and the fourth highest-grossing film of 2011 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.
In the United States and Canada, on its Thursday opening day, the film earned $5.8 million, taking 2nd place to The Hangover: Part II. On Friday, the film earned $13.1 million, which was behind the original's $20.3 million opening-Friday. Over the 3-day weekend, the film earned $47.7 million, which was behind the first film
's $60.2 million start. The film went on to make $13.2 million on Memorial Day
, bringing its 4-day weekend total to $60.9 million. Overall, the film made $66.7 million in its first five days, but it still trailed behind the original film's 5-day opening of $72.6 million. Altogether, the film earned the same amount of money in five days as the original Kung Fu Panda did in four. However, the opening still came in at the high end of DreamWorks Animation
's expectations. It also had the 6th highest opening weekend for a film that did not debut at #1.
Even though the film out-grossed some of Dreamworks Animations more recent films (like Shark Tale
, Over the Hedge
, Megamind, and Bee Movie
) in North America
, it did not perform as well as some people expected. Reasons cited for this relative under-performance of the film in the United States 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. 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. 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.
However, the film has proven a major international success, opening simultaneously with its North American debut in 11 markets, premiering at #1 in 9. The total foreign box office earnings on its first weekend were $55.5 million, landing in 3rd place on the weekend behind Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hangover Part II. It reached #1 at the overseas box office on its 3rd weekend, opening at #1 in of each of its 17 territorial premieres, including the United Kingdom
, Mexico
, and Brazil
. It retained 1st 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).
The film had exceptional earnings in Asia
n territories. In China
, its highest-grossing market after the U.S.A. and Canada, it had a $19.3 million 2-day weekend, setting a new record for a Saturday opening day and a record for a 2-day opening weekend in the country. It has earned $92,174,033 by July 14, 2011, which makes it the highest-grossing animated film of all time in the country, surpassing previous record-holder Kung Fu Panda ($26,024,298). It scored the largest opening weekend of all time for an animated film in Malaysia, $1,663,199, and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, surpassing Tangled ($3.0 million) by its 2nd weekend. 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 2nd weekend. In Singapore
, with $2,627,425, it made the largest opening weekend of all time. Surpassing the original Kung Fu Panda ($4.3 million) by its 2nd weekend, it became the largest animated feature of all time in the country. In South Korea
, upon release, it earned $12,802,267, scoring the 4th largest opening weekend of all time and the biggest for animated title. In Thailand
, it made the largest opening for an animation film ($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. Similarly in Vietnam
, it made two records of being the highest-grossing film ever ($2,287,299) and making the hugest opening with $1 million in its first five days, records taken from Avatar. In India
, the film earned 5,250,000 in its first week.
The film also helped Dreamworks Animation raise its 2nd quarter revenue of $218.3 million and a profit of $34.1 million for the 3-month period that ended on 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.
On August 30, 2011, with a gross of $653,254,363, Kung Fu Panda 2 surpassed Mamma Mia!
s worldwide box-office total of $609.8 million to become the highest-grossing film ever directed by a woman.
has invested 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.
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.
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.
on May 23, 2011. The game takes place after the events of the film, and features Po and the rest of the Furious Five troubled by an evil group of crocodile mercenaries. With the help of the other kung fu masters, Po has to uncover the plot behind this siege and put a stop to it.
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
action comedy film, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Jennifer Yuh Nelson is a Korean American director, storyboard artist, and comedienne. She is best known for directing Kung Fu Panda 2 . Yuh is the first woman to solely direct an animated feature from a major Hollywood studio...
, produced by DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
, and distributed by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. It is the sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
. The cast of the original film reprised their voice roles while the new villain, Lord Shen, is voiced by Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
. The film was released on May 26, 2011 in Real D 3D and Digital 3D
Digital 3D
Digital 3D is a non-specific 3D standard in which films, television shows, and video games are presented and shot in digital 3D technology or later processed in digital post-production to add a 3D effect....
. The film opened to positive reception and became an international success. It is the highest-grossing film directed by a woman and the 49th highest-grossing film of all time.
Plot
Years before the events of the first filmKung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
, Lord Shen, heir of the peacock clan that ruled Gongmen City in ancient China, sought to harness the power of fireworks as a weapon with which to rule the entire country. When he learned from the court's goat soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
) that "a warrior of black-and-white" would one day defeat him, Shen assumed she was referring to a panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
and exterminated much of the panda population to avert the prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
. Shen's parents were horrified at this atrocity and exiled Shen, who swore revenge.
Thirty years later, Po (Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
) is living his dream as the Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, the Furious Five, but is told by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
) that he has yet to achieve inner peace
Inner peace
Inner peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious...
. While fighting off a pack of wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
bandits
Banditry
Banditry refers to the life and practice of bandits which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "one who is proscribed or outlawed; hence, a lawless desperate marauder, a brigand: usually applied to members of the organized gangs which infest the mountainous districts of Italy, Sicily, Spain,...
who have been stealing refined metal for Lord Shen, Po is distracted by a symbol on the head wolf's (Danny McBride) armor, which causes Po to have a flashback of his mother and allows the wolves to escape. Po asks his goose
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
father, Mr. Ping (James Hong
James Hong
James Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
), where he came from, but all Ping can tell him is that he found Po as an infant in a radish
Radish
The radish is an edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe, in pre-Roman times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time...
crate and adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
him.
Afterwards, Shifu receives word that Master Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber
Victor Garber
Victor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...
), the leader of the kung fu council protecting Gongmen City, has been killed by Shen (Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
) with his newly developed weapon, a cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
, with which he intends to destroy kung fu tradition and conquer China. Po and the Furious Five go to stop him, reaching Gongmen City to find it under the control of Shen's forces. The heroes find two imprisoned council members, Masters Storming Ox (Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, President David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well as his work...
) and Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
), and ask their help to liberate the city, but both masters cite their helplessness against Shen's weapon and refuse to help. Po and the Five are then discovered by the wolf leader, whom they chase to prevent him from alerting Shen, only to be captured by Shen's army.
Upon being brought before Shen in his tower, Po and the Five free themselves and destroy Shen's cannon. However, Po is again distracted by a flashback upon seeing the same symbol as before on Shen's plumage, allowing Shen to escape and destroy the tower with an arsenal of cannons. After Po and the Five escape, Tigress (Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
) confronts Po over his distraction. Po explains that he remembers Shen's presence on the night he was separated from his parents, and wants to question Shen about his past. Though empathetic, Tigress tells Po to stay behind for his own safety.
Regardless, Po breaks into Shen's cannon factory to confront him, inadvertently foiling the Five's attempts to destroy the factory. Shen claims that Po's parents never loved him before he blasts Po out of the factory and captures the Five. Po is rescued by Shen's soothsayer, who has been exiled by Shen to the ruined village where Po was born. Guided by the soothsayer to embrace his past, Po remembers that when he was young, his parents had sacrificed themselves to save him from Shen's forces, his mother hiding him in a radish crate before being subdued. Po thus attains inner peace, realizing that he had lived a happy and fulfilling life despite this tragedy.
Po returns to Gongmen City to save the captive Five and prevent Shen's conquest of China. During the ensuing battle (in which Ox and Croc participate after being persuaded by Shifu), Po uses his inner peace to enable a kung fu technique that allows him to redirect Shen's cannon fire against his own armada, destroying it. Po then urges Shen to let go of his own past, but Shen attacks Po until he inadvertently slashes the ropes holding up his last cannon, which falls and crushes him to death. Victorious, Po returns to the Valley of Peace and reunites with Mr. Ping, lovingly declaring him to be his father. At the same time, Po's biological father (Fred Tatasciore
Fred Tatasciore
Frederick "Fred" Tatasciore is an American voice actor who portrays secondary characters as well as monstrous-looking types...
) is shown to be living in a far-off, hidden village inhabited by surviving pandas, and senses that his son is alive.
Cast
- Jack BlackJack BlackJack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
as Po - Angelina JolieAngelina JolieAngelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
as Master Tigress - Gary OldmanGary OldmanGary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
as Lord Shen - Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
as Master Monkey - Seth RogenSeth RogenSeth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
as Master Mantis - Lucy LiuLucy LiuLucy Alexis Liu is an American actress and film producer. She became known for playing the role of the vicious and ill-mannered Ling Woo in the television series Ally McBeal , and has also appeared in several Hollywood films including Charlie's Angels, Chicago, Kill Bill, and Kung Fu Panda.-Early...
as Master Viper - David CrossDavid CrossDavid Cross is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian perhaps best known for his work on HBO's sketch comedy series Mr...
as Master Crane - Dustin HoffmanDustin HoffmanDustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters....
as Master Shifu - James HongJames HongJames Hong is an American actor and former president of the Association of Asian/Pacific American Artists . A prolific acting veteran, Hong's career spans over 50 years and includes more than 350 roles in film, television, and video games.-Early life:Hong was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His...
as Mr. Ping - Michelle YeohMichelle YeohMichelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
as Soothsayer - Danny McBride as Boss Wolf
- Dennis HaysbertDennis HaysbertDennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, President David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well as his work...
as Master Storming Ox - Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
as Master Croc - Victor GarberVictor GarberVictor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...
as Master Thundering Rhino - Liam Knight as Baby Po
- Fred TatascioreFred TatascioreFrederick "Fred" Tatasciore is an American voice actor who portrays secondary characters as well as monstrous-looking types...
as Panda Dad
Production
Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to Kung Fu PandaKung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
. The first film was released in June 2008, and by the following October, the studio DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
announced plans for a second film with the subtitle Pandamoneum, which was changed by 2010 to The Kaboom of Doom before simply being retitled to Kung Fu Panda 2. Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Jennifer Yuh Nelson is a Korean American director, storyboard artist, and comedienne. She is best known for directing Kung Fu Panda 2 . Yuh is the first woman to solely direct an animated feature from a major Hollywood studio...
, 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 DreamWorks Animation films that began production in 2009, Kung Fu Panda 2 was produced in DreamWorks' stereoscopic 3-D technology of InTru 3D
InTru3D
InTru3D is a brand that identifies content that may be viewed in stereoscopic 3D. Motion pictures or other visual media bearing the brand are developed through animation technology developed by Intel Corporation in partnership with DreamWorks Animation in 2008...
. The studio also plans to release the film in IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theaters worldwide.
Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, screenwriters and co-producers for the first film, returned to write and co-produce the sequel, with Charlie Kaufman
Charlie Kaufman
Charles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. His film work includes Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York...
consulting on the screenplay early on in the development process.
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
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg is an American film producer and CEO of DreamWorks Animation. He is perhaps most famous for his period as chairman of The Walt Disney Company's film division, and for producing DreamWorks animated films such as Shrek, Antz, The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, Chicken...
and other DreamWorks members visited the city of Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, which is considered as the "panda hometown". In addition to seeing real panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
s, crew members learned about the local culture. Katzenberg has stated that Kung Fu Panda 2 incorporates many elements of Chengdu in the film. The film's landscape and architecture also found inspiration from those found at Mount Qingcheng
Mount Qingcheng
Mount Qingcheng is a mountain in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China. It is amongst the most important centres of Taoism in China. In Taoism mythology, it was the site of the Yellow Emperor's studies with Ning Fengzhi. As a centre of the Daoist religion it became host to many temples. The mountain has 36...
, a renowned Taoist mountain. In an interview with Movieline
Movieline
Movieline is a website, formerly a Los Angeles-based film and entertainment magazine, started in 1985 as a local magazine and went national in 1989. Known for its cult status and popularity among film critics, the magazine eventually was retooled and named Movieline's Hollywood Life. The magazine...
, Berger stated that "we never really thought of this as a movie set in China for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
s; it's a movie set in an mythical, universalized China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for everyone in the world."
Release
Kung Fu Panda 2 was screened at the 2011 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in early May before its commercial release. The film was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on May 26, 2011, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on June 10, 2011, and in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on June 23, 2011.
Home media
The film will be released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
on December 13, 2011, accompanied with the short film Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters, a sneak peek of the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness is an American computer-animated television series based on the Kung Fu Panda films. The series was originally set to air on Nickelodeon in 2010, but was pushed back to 2011. A total of 52 episodes have been produced or ordered...
television series, and a preview of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.
Critical reception
The film has received critical acclaim, 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 TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
based on reviews from 156 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." It also received a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 at Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, based on 31 reviews from mainstream critics.
Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
called the film "a worthy sequel that gets an extra kick from the addition of dynamic 3D
3D
3D or 3-D may refer to:*Three-dimensional space, the physical universe*Stereoscopy, any technique capable of recording three-dimensional visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image-Music:*3D...
fight sequences," while The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
similarly praised the film. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
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.
Some critics noted the influences of executive producer Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican director, producer, screenwriter, novelist and designer. He is mostly known for his acclaimed films, Blade II, Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy film franchise. He is a frequent collaborator with Ron Perlman, Federico Luppi and Doug Jones...
's works in the film's darker themes, and Jim Tudor of TwitchFilm.net
Twitch Film
Twitch Film, also known simply as Twitch, is an English language Canadian website featuring news and reviews of mainly international, independent and cult films. The website was founded in 2004 by Todd Brown, a cinephile with personal interests in arthouse and grindhouse cinema...
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
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
The Hero with a Thousand Faces is a non-fiction book, and seminal work of comparative mythology by Joseph Campbell...
, but also remains fully viable as mainstream entertainment suitable for all ages."
As with the first film
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
, the animation has been praised. Frank Lovece of Film Journal International
Film Journal International
Film Journal International is a motion-picture industry trade magazine published by the American company Prometheus Global Media. It is a sister publication of Adweek, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and other periodicals....
describes the film as "truly beautiful to behold" and states it "works on both aesthetic and emotional levels". Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writes that "For Panda 2 is not just wall-to-wall animation, it is artistry of the highest order."
Many critics have praised Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
for his voice acting and developed characterization of Lord Shen, with some comparing him favorably to Ian McShane
Ian McShane
Ian David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
'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." Jason Best
Jason Best
Jason Best is a rugby league footballer playing for the New York Knights in the AMNRL. His position of choice is at five eighth and loose forward.- External links :...
of What's on TV
What's On TV
What's on TV is a weekly television listings magazine published by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.-Overview:What's on TV is a weekly UK television magazine. It publishes features, TV listings, news and gossip from soap operas, as well as puzzles and competitions...
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." Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith is an American critic, novelist and essayist. He is a staff film critic for the New York Post. His film reviewing style has been called "an exercise in hilarious hostility" by Entertainment Weekly....
of The New York Post writes, "It's a bit hard to be terrified of a peacock (the snow leopard
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
in the first movie was way more sinister). But the animators are in charge, and they succeed in dazzling with Lord Shen's look."
Box office
The film grossed $165,249,063 in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, along with $497,775,479 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $663,024,542, surpassing the original Kung Fu Panda during late-August 2011. Worldwide, it is currently the highest-grossing animated film of 2011, the 9th highest-grossing animated film ever released, the 49th highest-grossing film of all time, and the fourth highest-grossing film of 2011 behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series...
. 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.
In the United States and Canada, on its Thursday opening day, the film earned $5.8 million, taking 2nd place to The Hangover: Part II. On Friday, the film earned $13.1 million, which was behind the original's $20.3 million opening-Friday. Over the 3-day weekend, the film earned $47.7 million, which was behind the first film
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
's $60.2 million start. The film went on to make $13.2 million on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, bringing its 4-day weekend total to $60.9 million. Overall, the film made $66.7 million in its first five days, but it still trailed behind the original film's 5-day opening of $72.6 million. Altogether, the film earned the same amount of money in five days as the original Kung Fu Panda did in four. However, the opening still came in at the high end of DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
's expectations. It also had the 6th highest opening weekend for a film that did not debut at #1.
Even though the film out-grossed some of Dreamworks Animations more recent films (like Shark Tale
Shark Tale
Shark Tale is a 2004 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation. In the story, a young fish named Oscar falsely claims to have killed the son of a shark mob boss to win favour with the mob boss' enemies and advance his own community standing...
, Over the Hedge
Over the Hedge (film)
Over the Hedge is a 2006 computer animated family action comedy film based on the characters from United Media comic strip of the same name. Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick, and produced by Bonnie Arnold, it was released in the United States on May 19, 2006.The film was produced by...
, Megamind, and Bee Movie
Bee Movie
Bee Movie is a 2007 computer animated family comedy film starring Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Megan Mullally, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, and Patrick Warburton. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, it is directed by Simon J...
) in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, it did not perform as well as some people expected. Reasons cited for this relative under-performance of the film in the United States 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. 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
Shrek Forever After
Shrek Forever After, taglined as The Final Chapter, is a 2010 animated fantasy-comedy film, and the fourth and final installment in the Shrek film series, produced by DreamWorks Animation. The film was released by Paramount Pictures in cinemas on May 20, 2010 in Russia, and on May 21 in the United...
in 2010. Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jeffrey Katzenberg is an American film producer and CEO of DreamWorks Animation. He is perhaps most famous for his period as chairman of The Walt Disney Company's film division, and for producing DreamWorks animated films such as Shrek, Antz, The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, Chicken...
, 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.
However, the film has proven a major international success, opening simultaneously with its North American debut in 11 markets, premiering at #1 in 9. The total foreign box office earnings on its first weekend were $55.5 million, landing in 3rd place on the weekend behind Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hangover Part II. It reached #1 at the overseas box office on its 3rd weekend, opening at #1 in of each of its 17 territorial premieres, including the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It retained 1st place overseas on the following weekend with $58.2 million, opening at number one in a few more territories, including Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and holding well in markets (like Mexico).
The film had exceptional earnings in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n territories. In China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, its highest-grossing market after the U.S.A. and Canada, it had a $19.3 million 2-day weekend, setting a new record for a Saturday opening day and a record for a 2-day opening weekend in the country. It has earned $92,174,033 by July 14, 2011, which makes it the highest-grossing animated film of all time in the country, surpassing previous record-holder Kung Fu Panda ($26,024,298). It scored the largest opening weekend of all time for an animated film in Malaysia, $1,663,199, and became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, surpassing Tangled ($3.0 million) by its 2nd weekend. In Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 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
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy-adventure film, and the third installment in the Toy Story series. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Lee Unkrich. The film was released worldwide from June through October in Disney Digital...
($3.4 million) by its 2nd weekend. In Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, with $2,627,425, it made the largest opening weekend of all time. Surpassing the original Kung Fu Panda ($4.3 million) by its 2nd weekend, it became the largest animated feature of all time in the country. In South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, upon release, it earned $12,802,267, scoring the 4th largest opening weekend of all time and the biggest for animated title. In Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, it made the largest opening for an animation film ($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. Similarly in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, it made two records of being the highest-grossing film ever ($2,287,299) and making the hugest opening with $1 million in its first five days, records taken from Avatar. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the film earned 5,250,000 in its first week.
The film also helped Dreamworks Animation raise its 2nd quarter revenue of $218.3 million and a profit of $34.1 million for the 3-month period that ended on 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.
On August 30, 2011, with a gross of $653,254,363, Kung Fu Panda 2 surpassed Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! (film)
Mamma Mia! is a 2008 musical/romantic comedy film adapted from the 1999 West End/2001 Broadway musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson...
s worldwide box-office total of $609.8 million to become the highest-grossing film ever directed by a woman.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Winner/Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Teen Choice Awards 2011 Teen Choice Awards The 2011 Teen Choice Awards hosted by Kaley Cuoco aired live on August 7, 2011 at 8/7c on Fox. This was the first time that the ceremonies were aired live since the 2007 show... |
Choice Movie Animated Voice | Jack Black Jack Black Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys... |
|
| British Academy Children's Awards British Academy Children's Awards The British Academy Children's Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1969.-Video Game :*2011: LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean-Writer :... (BAFTA) |
Favorite Movie | ||
| 2012 People's Choice Awards People's Choice Awards The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett... |
Favorite Movie Animated Voice | Jack Black Jack Black Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys... |
Marketing
DreamWorks AnimationDreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
has invested in creating promotional partners and building up marketing for its films. For Kung Fu Panda 2, DWA has partnerships with McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
(cereals), Sun-Maid
Sun-Maid
Sun-Maid Growers of California is a cooperative of raisin growers headquartered in Kingsburg, California. It was founded in 1912 as the California Associated Raisin Company...
(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.
DWA partnered with House Foods America
House Foods
is one of Japan's largest food manufacturers and brands. It began in 1913 in Osaka as Urakami Shoten, and began selling curry in 1926.It is listed on Section 1 of both Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges, symbol 2810. It is headquartered in Higashiōsaka, Osaka, Japan.House Foods is well known for its...
to brand its products, notably tofu, with advertising of the film. Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
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
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
to tour in six cities, concluding with Los Angeles over Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend in late May 2011.
Merchandise is also being produced for the film: Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:...
(toys), THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
(video games), Hallmark
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
(cards), and Jem Sportswear (apparel). Publishers VTech
VTech
VTech is the common name of Video Technology Ltd. , a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of consumer electronics...
, Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, Dalmatian Press, and Ape Entertainment are releasing books tied to the film.
Video game
A video game adaptation of the film was developed and published by THQTHQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
on May 23, 2011. The game takes place after the events of the film, and features Po and the rest of the Furious Five troubled by an evil group of crocodile mercenaries. With the help of the other kung fu masters, Po has to uncover the plot behind this siege and put a stop to it.
External links
- Kung Fu Panda 2 Production Notes at Paramount PicturesParamount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...