History Analysis / KungFuPanda

The film series features the BlackAndWhiteMorality as its ShadesOfConflict, though [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda Tai Lung]] and [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 Lord Shen]] have some redeeming and sympathetic qualities.

* They serve as the KnightOfCerebus in [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda their]] [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 respective]] [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3 film]] (though all have lingering shades of comedy from their bluster and Po catching them off guard).

** Power-hungry: [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda Tai Lung]] wants to get the Dragon Scroll in order to become the true Dragon Warrior, [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 Lord Shen]] wants to conquer all of China, and [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3 Kai]] wants to consume all of the kung fu masters' chi.

* They serve as the KnightOfCerebus in [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda their]] [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 respective]] [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3 film]].

* Even though Po offers Tai Lung and Lord Shen a LastSecondChance for redemption, they never make a HeelFaceTurn or regret their action partly because of the ShadesOfConflict in the series.

** In the first movie Po suffers from extreme cases of self loathing and low self esteem. His arc throughout the movie has him trying to escape his unfulfilling life and self. During this time he's trying to hang on to his dream but even though he doesn't think he can be the dragon warrior barring some miracle. He of course fulfills his dream when he's trained to be himself and when he truly accepts himself. Tai Lung's arc is basically the inverse of Po's. He is raised as an elite Kung fu warrior; a role which he both accepts and allows to completely define him. Like Po he is also reaching for the dragon scroll. But unlike him he completely believes he deserves to and will get it. So when he is "denied his destiny" he refuses to accept that he is not the Dragon Warrior. While Po thinks he can't escape his unfitting life Tai Lung refuses to. In the end Po defeats Tai lung because he accepts his own identity. While Tai Lung loses because he is focused on the scroll to the exclusion of all else. Essentially Tai Lung represents chasing a foolish obsession in place of discovering and accepting who you are.

** Tai Lung and Shen were both very similar in that they were villains who chased external obsessions as opposed to dealing with their internal issues. Kai is different in that he has no internal issue he's ignoring. Instead the theme of Kung Fu Panda 3 deals with how we learn from and interact with others. After Kung Fu Panda 2 Po has solidly established himself as a Kung Fu learner and warrior. His final hurdle is to become a mentor. Kai actually is a fitting foil for this stage of Po's life. This is because while Po is learning to give (mentoring) to others in order to recieve (chi kind of) Kai is all about taking. In the past when Kai learned about how the panda village shared chi he saw at as a way to take power from others. He essentially steals their power and forces them to serve him. This can be seen as him plundering knowledge and skills without giving anything back. A consequence of this can be seen in that no one in the present knows who he is. Compare this to Oogway who is revered for founding Kung Fu. When all you do is take your legacy will be minimal. Ultimately Po defeats Kai because he motivates and trains his friends. The village then give back to him in the form of their chi. Kai demonstrates that supporting and teaching only yourself is self defeating.

* The morality of the movies is black and white essentially because Po is learning the lessons of the movies.

** By the time of the second movie Po has moved on from his past of self loathing and has accepted who he is. However, this is disrupted when his tragic past reappears. Now Po has to face his past and accept it while realizing it doesn't have to dominate his life. Shen like Po is also dealing with his past but unlike Po he has been brooding on it for decades. He tries to sever his obsession with past and focus on his ambition. But ultimately that ambition is just a way to avoid confronting his mistakes. In the end Shen is destroyed because he refuses to let his scars fade and instead embraces death. While Po is able to move on and achieve inner peace at a remarkably young age. Similarly to Tai Lung Shen can represent what happens when you refuse to accept, deal with, and move on from your past.
** Tai Lung and Shen were both very similar in that they were villains who chased external obsessions as opposed to dealing with their internal issues. Kai is different in that he has no internal issue he's ignoring. Instead the theme of Kung Fu Panda 3 deals with how we learn from and interact with others. After Kung Fu Panda 2 Po has solidly established himself as a Kung Fu learner and warrior. His final hurdle is to become a mentor. Kai actually is a fitting foil for this stage of Po's life. This is because while Po is learning to give (mentoring) to others in order to recieve (chi kind of) Kai is all about taking. In the past when Kai learned about how the panda village shared Ki he saw at as a way to take power from others. He essentially steals their power and forces them to serve him. This can be seen as him plundering knowledge and skills without giving anything back. A consequence of this can be seen in that no one in the present knows who he is. Compare this to Oogway who is revered for founding Kung Fu. When all you do is take your legacy will be minimal. Ultimately Po defeats Kai because he motivates and trains his friends. The village then give back to him in the form of their chi. Kai demonstrates that supporting and teaching only yourself is self defeating.

The film series features the WhiteAndBlackMorality as its ShadesOfConflict, though [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda Tai Lung]] and [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 Lord Shen]] have some redeeming and sympathetic qualities.

!! On the ShadeOfConflict in the film series


The film series features the WhiteAndBlackMorality as its ShadeOfConflict, though [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda Tai Lung]] and [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2 Lord Shen]] have some redeeming and sympathetic qualities.

* Even though Po offers Tai Lung and Lord Shen a LastSecondChance for redemption, they never make a HeelFaceTurn partly because of the ShadesOfConflict in the series.

This lack of gray area means that there is no AntiHero or AntiVillain, that Po and his friends never do something that would [[WhatTheHellHero get them called out]], and that the BigBad never make a HeelFaceTurn. To be more specific, it can explain why [[AngstWhatAngst Po can let go of his pain and find inner peace without nearly becoming]] HeWhoFightsMonsters [[AngstWhatAngst or]] JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope upon learning what Lord Shen did to his parents and kind in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2''.

This lack of the grey zone means that there is no AntiHero or AntiVillain, that Po and his friends never do something that would [[WhatTheHellHero get them called out]], and that the BigBad never make a HeelFaceTurn. To be more specific, it can explain why [[AngstWhatAngst Po can let go of his pain and find inner peace without nearly becoming]] HeWhoFightsMonsters [[AngstWhatAngst or]] JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope upon learning what Lord Shen did to his parents and kind in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2''.