Voiced by: Jack Black (Films) Mick Wingert (TV Series)
A Giant Panda with a big heart, he is a major kung fu fanatic and runs a noodle shop with his father (who is a goose). To the surprise of everyone, he is selected by Master Oogway to be the Dragon Warrior destined to defend the Valley of Peace from danger, and now trains under Master Shifu and alongside his idols, the Furious Five.
Accidental Athlete: In the first movie, when he climbed several feet off the kitchen floor and performed a perfect split just to get Monkey's cookies off the top shelf. When he sees Shifu watching him, Po's first words are "Don't tell Monkey."
Though he can still tire after too long and struggles with over-long staircases
Adorkable: Look no further than when he first entered the Jade Palace and spent the next minute or two just gawking to himself over the cool kung fu artifacts. Pandaing To The Audience indeed.
Ascended Fanboy: Even after he's been established firmly as the Dragon Warrior, he occasionally looks around at his comrades like he can't believe something so cool is actually happening.
Ass Kicks You: While Po is fighting Tai Lung, he sits on Tai Lung at one point. It becomes one of his signature moves later on.
Awesome by Analysis: In the cartoon series, it is revealed that he is quite talented through means of observing attacks. Yes, even dangerous techniques.
He shows a bit of this in the films too. After all, he learned the Wuxi Finger Hold just by "figuring it out".
Badass Boast: "I'm not a big fat panda. I'm THE big fat panda!" He also tries to deliver one to Shen, but he's too far away for the sound to reach him.
Memetic Badass: In-universe, the Dragon Warrior is the ultimate kung-fu master and a paragon of badassery, as well as one in harmony with the energy of the universe. Po eventually grows into that hype.
Charles Atlas Superpower: It's revealed in "Oogway's Ghost" that Po relies the most on the frequent training sessions to keep his skills sharp out of the group. Going for even a few days without the proper level of taxation leaves him nigh useless in battle.
Dark and Troubled Past: Po's family and his species in his infancy were massacred by Lord Shen, but Po has no conscious memory of this for years and soon comes to terms with it.
Determinator: Even before he knows any kung fu, the Five are somewhat impressed by the fact that he will not give up, no matter how much a beating he is taking.
Disability Immunity: He is so chubby that Tai Lung's pressure-point attacks don't work on him.
Disappeared Dad: His biological father. Who actually turns out to be alive.
Ditzy Genius: Has figured out advanced Kung Fu techniques by himself without being shown while capable of inventing new ones on his own, has an encyclopedic knowledge of kung fu history and lore, is a competent and imaginative strategist, and is a Supreme Chef to boot. Discovers inner peace three days after being told what it is and able to do the seemingly impossible with it, and has an excellent grasp of kung fu philosophy. And the end credits for the second movie show that he didn't buy his near-identical action figues of the Furious Five- he carved them by himself when he was just a kid. For all that though he's pretty childish, occasionally clumsy, easily excited and often lacks common sense.
Doorstop Baby: His adoptive father found him in a radish box from the vegetable order delivered to him. He waited for someone to come by, but when no one came, he adopted Po.
Drives Like Crazy: On a cart in Gongmen City chasing down the Wolf Boss in Kung Fu Panda 2.
Elephant in the Living Room: The question of why a panda has a goose for a father is completely ignored by all of the characters, including Po himself. However, this is addressed in the second film.
Encyclopaedic Knowledge: Even before Shifu decided to seriously train him, Po still had a stunningly complete fanboy knowledge of kung fu lore and philosophy.
Hard Work Hardly Works: Averted. While Po has a great deal of natural talent and can learn very quickly under the right circumstances while creating powerful innovations, he still has to rely extensively on the Five in combat (although he is still an asset to them as well), and Tigress in particular is implied to be a much more formidable combatant.
Heroic BSOD: In the sequel, he suddenly goes into shock whenever he sees Lord Shen's symbol, and it heavily effects his ability to focus. Before he achieves inner peace, that is.
Hidden Depths: Leaving aside his martial arts skills, as much as Po so often seems an immature Ascended Fanboy, Shifu learns that he is an excellent teacher of kung fu's philosophical aspects.
I Just Want to Be Special: Turns out he's destined to be the Dragon Warrior, and the one who is to defeat Lord Shen.
Incompletely Trained: Only receives about a day of actual training before facing Tai Lung in the first movie.
Like Father, Like Son: Po and Mr. Ping share several personality quirks, most notably that when embarrassed, they turn sideways and nervously peak towards those looking at them.
Made of Iron: Because of his fat, he can deflect blows quite easily. Even Tai Lung's nerve strike attack.
As a result, when he begins to lose weight in KFP2 (as noted by his father), he no longer has this resistance (as the Wolf Boss is able to hurt him with a strike to the belly).
Meaningful Name: Word Of God says his full name is "Po Ping" (寶平, bǎopíng), which means "precious peace".
The Messiah: Because he does not hate anybody, even Shen who attack Po's village, and killed his mother, still forgave him and told him to let go of the Past.
Messiah Creep: Because in the first movie he was a fool, and a chosen one, but in the second movie he becomes a Messiah after his Character Development when he finds inner peace to forgive Shen.
Po dreams about having a totally Nice Hat at the beginning of the first film. At the end of the film he walks out of the mist appearing to be wearing one, but it turns out just to be a wok that fell on his head.
He gets one in the second movie, but promptly loses it in a failed attempt to use it as an attack.
Oblivious Adoption: Quite obviously, there is no way a panda could be the biological son of a goose, but the issue is never addressed. When Mr. Ping reveals to Po that he isn't his father, Po says he already knew, probably because of how obvious it was.
Older Than He Looks: Shen's comment about waiting "thirty years for this day" when he takes over Gongmen implies Po to be at least in his late twenties, giving a couple years for Shen experimenting before he was exiled.
RookieSixth Ranger: The newest addition to the Furious Five, and initially the least experienced.
Sad Clown: In the first film, Po has serious self-esteem issues, considering himself a fat failure. However, Master Shifu is able to lift his spirits considerably and he has since felt better about his his new life.
Ship Tease: With Tigress, especially during the second film.
Stone Wall: Po is not nearly at the level of fighting skill as Shifu or any of the Furious Five, but he is nearly impossible to physically injure. Every fight he goes in is mostly him absorbing damage (and after learning to fight, attacking opportunistically). This ultimately saves him in the second movie, where his sheer defense allows him to survive getting hit by Shen's giant cannon.
Took a Level in Badass: The first film's plot revolves around this. In the sequel, although his fighting skills are still far from flawless, he kicks much more butt.
Use Your Head: He favors this move to shut enemies up fast, as seen in the holiday special and the second film.
What Could Have Been: In an early version of the original movie's script, Po was intended to be something of a Parody Sue, expecting the Furious Five to love him and adore him as much as he liked them. Apparently, Jack Black intervened because he realized how unlikeable this made the character, and urged the writers to change Po to being insecure and well aware of his own flaws.
An old Red Panda, he is the kung fu teacher and master of Po and the Furious Five, and deuteragonist of the series. He originally refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior until the young panda proves himself. He is the protege of Master Oogway, and has succeeded him as spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace in the wake of Oogway's death.
Anti-Hero: At first, given his borderline abusive treatment of Po and frankly assholeish attitude.
Big Damn Heroes: In the second film, he convinces a pessimistic Master Ox and Master Croc to fight against Lord Shen in the climax, though the convincing happens off screen.
Big Eater: He is seen eating a large amount of dumplings in a few mere seconds during Po's training montage.
Character Development: Since he trained Po to be the Dragon Warrior, and the giant panda helped undo his mistakes with Tai Lung, he's been feeling much better in the second film. Just take a look at this visual proof.
Comedic Sociopath: A teacher chucking his student down a flight of stairs the size of a small mountain wouldn't have much in the way of employment prospects in real life.
Justified in that he's a traditional Chinese Wushu Sifu. Historically, in Imperial China, outright abusive treatment of students by people in his position was not only tolerated, but expected.
Demoted to Extra: In the sequel, he gets a couple of brief scenes at the start, then sends Po on his way while he remains in the Valley of Peace until the very end when he does the Big Damn Heroes bit. Justified in that his character arc was mostly done with by the end of the first movie.
Disney Death: Averted. "I'm not dying, you idiot!"
Establishing Character Moment: Shifu's first scene is effortlessly evading the Furious Five's attacks during a training session and then harshly berates all of them for "doing well if they were trying to disappoint [him]."
Flash Step: He was quick in the first movie. In the sequel, he's able to essentially teleport.
Glass Cannon: He is a very fast and powerful fighter, but against tougher and larger opponents like Tai Lung. First evidenced in his match with Po at the end of his training, when the main advantage Po has on him is that Shifu is comparatively tiny.
Handicapped Badass: He walks with a limp since he was struck in the leg/hip by Tai Lung, but that does nothing to stop him from being a good fighter.
I Gave My Word: Shifu promises Oogway he will train Po minutes before the former unexpectedly passes away.
I Have No Son: Towards Tai Lung, briefly. Shortly after he tells him he was always proud of him though, and apologises for being a poor parent.
Jerkass: Until his Character Development in the latter half of the first film, he only shows concern about the kung fu techniques of his pupils and is downright mean to everyone who does not meet his impossibly high standards (while his contempt is completely focused on Po for much of the story, the Furious Five get their share before Po enters the stage). No wonder that both Tai Lung and Tigress have... serious self-esteem issues under their outward demeanor.
Word Of God has said his name was chosen for it translating to "Father Teacher", which Shifu was originally developed to be: Po's adoptive father as well as teacher (which was also the reasoning behind casting him as a red panda), "so the sentiment is still there even though the story point is not".
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: One could see it as Shifu allowing Tai Lung to be released, since if not for his paranoia, he wouldn't have sent Zeng to double check his holdings and allowed Tai Lung the feather he needed to escape. However, he only did that because Oogway said Tai Lung would escape, therefore it could be considered Oogway's fault. Also counts as Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.
Doubly so for Shifu: If he had taken efforts to ensure Tai Lung was taught humility, Tai Lung wouldn't have gone down the dark path when he was denied the Dragon Scroll by Oogway.
Not So Different: In an episode of Legends of Awesomeness titled My Favorite Yao, he's compared to Po. He's a giant fanboy of this kung fu master named Yao, and even has action figures of Yao (in his meditation box) and himself even going as far as to accidentally letting Yao unleashed and going into Sensory Overload!
The Obi-Wan: Much more apparent by the sequel, where he replaces Oogway as the Valley of Peace's resident Obi-Wan. He is also the Obi-Wan to Po's Luke.
By the sequel he has achieved the inner peace necessary to be this. It wasn't so much unapparent in the first film as averted, as he was too bitter and cold to be this, save towards the end.
Parental Abandonment: His con-artist father left him at the Jade Palace when he was a kid.
Parents as People: Was far too busy training his adopted children in kung fu to actually, you know, parent them.
Perpetual Frowner: At least for the first half of the first movie. Both the Furious Five and Po even straight-out lampshade this when they talk about a time that Shifu "actually used to smile" and when Po is imitating him. However, he starts to get better when Po (unintentionally) starts showing promise of really being the Dragon Warrior.
Pintsized Powerhouse: He's, what, a tenth Po's size? Smaller? Yet he can fling Po around like it's nothing.
This shines in the sequel when the first sign of Shifu's presence in the final battle is no less than a dozen armed wolves being sent flying in the distance.
Pride: He was blinded by this while training Tai Lung, preventing him from seeing the monster Tai Lung was becoming.
Sadist Teacher: In the first film, towards Po. His main motive may have been to get RID of Po, but there is a slight chance that he was enjoying it.
You Are Better Than You Think You Are: When Shifu at the Pool of Sacred Tears asks Po if he wants to learn kung fu, his response to the panda's impassioned "Yes!" says that he knows Po can be trained after all.
The strongest and boldest of the Furious Five, and tertiary protagonist of the series. She initially resents Po for being chosen as the Dragon Warrior over her, believing herself to be more worthy, but has since mellowed out considerably and is now one of his most loyal friends.
Badass: Particularly in the second film. Amongst other things, it's strongly implied she could still beat the crap out of Po, even after he's defeated Tai Lung. Then there's her plan to run to the top of a toppling tower. From the outside.
Battle Couple: As part of the Ship Tease in the second film, Po and Tigress often work closest together in combat with specific tactics they evidently developed together.
Cats Are Mean: Played straight in the first film in that she's the rudest of the Furious Five towards Po until the end; it's downplayed massively after that.
Celibate Heroine: Tigress claims to avoid romantic relationships because they affect a warrior's chi.
The Comically Serious: Wise and strong. Doesn't know what the word "Relaxation" means.
Conspiracy Theorist: Tigress does not trust anyone, not even the mailman who has come to the Jade Palace for thirty years or, as Tigress said, "planning something for thirty years".
Cool Big Sis: Becomes this to Po in the second movie.
Cooldown Hug: Delivers one to Po in the second film to end their fight over why Po couldn't open up about his problems, and to show him just how much she cares for him. She is later paid back with a Bear Hug.
Crazy-Prepared: Tigress has protocol for dealing with a rooster wielding a battle-axe and a banana. You have to approach from the side holding the battle-axe, because the banana's a decoy.
Did You Think I Can't Feel?: Po assumes that she can't feel emotional pain in addition to being Made of Iron. She seems taken aback, but is interrupted before she can correct him. Later, he thinks Tigress is too "hardcore" to understand why he wants to ask Lord Shen about his past. She retorts by lunging at him...and giving him a hug coupled with this little comment:
Tigress: The hardcore do understand. But I can't watch my friend be killed.
Does Not Know Her Own Strength: In her backstory in Secrets of the Furious Five, she was feared by everyone at the orphanage she was raised in because she couldn't control her strength properly.
Doorstop Baby: In "Kung Fu Day Care", it's revealed that Tigress was left at the doorstep of the Bao Gu Orphanage as a baby.
Femininity Failure: Doing anything stereotypically feminine is outside her skillset. She tries to sing and do the Ceremonial Princess Dance in "The Princess and the Po" and can neither dance nor sing.
Freudian Excuse: She acts so cold and aloof because she knows about the trouble Shifu went through with Tai Lung, which means that he hasn't let himself show any emotional attachment towards her and constantly tells her—as well as the rest of the Five—that she can do better, rather than ever say he is proud of what she has already done. She desperately wants his approval, so is understandably annoyed when Po is selected as the Dragon Warrior with zero training after spending decades of hard work trying to become Shifu's star pupil. She warms up to him when he goes through Shifu's Training from Hell and still doesn't quit, because he's always modest around all of them, and after he earns the respect of her teammates, though she's the last to show it.
Happily Adopted: Subverted; she was very happy that Shifu (who trained her to control her brute strength as a child) adopted her, but until her adulthood Shifu was very cold to her.
Huge Schoolgirl: She was raised in an orphanage full of pigs, bunnies, and geese, and she was naturally much bigger and stronger than any of the other children. The fact that she did not know her own strength only made things worse.
Loves My Alter Ego: In Legends of Awesomeness, she falls in love with the Midnight Stranger who is actually Po in disguise. When Tigress finds out who he really is, she leaves to throw up.
Made of Iron: Po punches her in the arm and only succeeds in hurting his hand. She doesn't even seem to notice.
Counting half the planks in the Thread of Hope with her back (and taking solid hits from Tai Lung in general) and not dying wasn't indication enough? Not to mention the fact she took a direct hit from Lord Shen's cannon and survived. For perspective, Another kung fu master known for being unstoppable died from the same cannon.
Though it was only an Orphanage of Love after she learned to control her strength. Up until then, it was an Orphanage of Fear...and she was what everybody was afraid of.
Parental Abandonment: She is confirmed to be an orphan, though how and why she became one is unknown.
Perpetual Frowner: Especially in the first movie. By the second, she's lightened up a little, having gotten closer to Po and actually enjoying his company (some of his childish antics aside), but she's still easily the most serious of the Five even then.
Replacement Goldfish: She feels overshadowed by Tai Lung, and incapable of taking the place he supposedly had in Shifu's heart. As Secrets of the Furious Five reveals, she was adopted by Shifu as well, making her Tai Lung's replacement in all aspects. She's wrong at least in the sense that Shifu did a very poor job of expressing his love and approval in time to Tai Lung as well.
The Resenter: To Po, initially. She more than gets over it when he impresses her by defeating Tai Lung by himself.
When She Smiles: She always tries to be the serious martial arts warrior, but when she smiles, it's like she's letting you see the true inner beauty she has. While some of her smiles might seem somewhat strained if you're Po or a little bunny on Winter Festival Eve, you get the honest, heartwarming smile.
Deadpan Snarker: More snarky than deadpan, but still qualifies.
Disappeared Dad: "I don't have any problems with my dad. Probably cuz Mom ate his head before I was born..."
Fragile Speedster: He was known to be very fast, but his fragility came from his impatience.
He-Man Woman Hater: Somewhat logically. All There in the Manual. The sequel seems to suggest he's actually looking forward to the day he can settle down with a female mantis and eventually get his head bitten off. Then again it may have been Gallows Humor, since he and the Five were captured by Shen and they all thought China was done for.
One of KFP2's deleted scenes included a scene where he goes up to a bar to try to find Master Ox and Master Croc... but he utterly freaks out when he finds out that it's a female mantis who's the bartender. Doing everything in his power not to attract her attention, he quickly flees.
Strangely averted in an episode of Legends Of Awesomeness," where he tried to woo a female mantis, and fights against another'' mantis for her hand. Thankfully, it didn't work out.
Leeroy Jenkins: In the past, when he'd rush into battle without paying heed to any precautions.
The Medic: This is where the acupuncture comes in.
Napoleon Complex: Not to the point of it being a Berserk Button, but he does get a bit irked whenever his size is mentioned. It's also said in the artbook that Mantis does all of his lofty kung fu feats (i.e. breaking buildings instead of bricks) in compensation for his size. He also beats the crap out of a couple of bad guys when they indirectly call him cute in the sequel.
Pintsized Powerhouse: Strong enough to hold a broken rope bridge with Tai Lung and three of his team mates on it.
What Could Have Been: The creators were going to make him The Mole until character designer Nico Marlet gave him more of a playful look that played with the stereotype of a creepy praying mantis.
For the second movie, there was time in the plot where a female mantis was going to eat him.
Master Viper
Voiced by: Lucy Liu (Films, TV Series) Jessica DiCicco (Young) Kath Soucie (video game)
One of the sweeter members of the Furious Five. She makes up for her lack of fangs and venom with her elegant dexterity and precision.
Dance Battler: She sometimes uses a dance ribbon in battle. In Secrets of the Furious Five she was also noted as the best ribbon dancer in her village.
Viper:(to the gorilla bandit she'd just tied up with her dance ribbon) My deceptive dancing defies your poison proof armor!
Flower in Her Hair: Well, head, but the two lotus flowers are pretty. She's also had them since she was a baby.
Well Done Daughter Gal: She was very loved by her father, a kung fu master who relied on his venomous fangs, but he feared that she wouldn't be able to carry out his legacy because she was born without fangs. She eventually proved herself to him when she used her ribbon dancing skills to beat up a bandit who shattered her father's fangs with armor.
Family Unfriendly Violence: The creators decided to not incorporate Crane's beak into his fighting style for this reason.
Feather Fingers: Averted. He's the only bird character in the cast who uses his talons instead of his wings as hands.
The one exception is in Secrets of the Furious Five, in which he uses his wings to hold several different things.
I Just Want To Be Badass: He used to be the janitor at a kung fu academy, where he wanted to be one of the students. Mei Ling was the only one who believed in him.
Jaw Drop: Twice in the sequel, when Tigress first gives a Cooldown Hug to Po and again when Po hugs Tigress near the end.
Super Strength: Not to the extent Tigress and Mantis have it, but he does regularly carry the heavier members of his team with no visible effort. He starts breathing hard when he has to carry four of them at once, though.
Team Mom: Word Of God describes him as being a "mother hen" to the other members of the Furious Five.
It's hinted at in the first film. It takes one heck of a Mama Bear to simultaneously carry all four of his paralyzed teammates away from a losing battle, even though they are heavier than him even without being deadweights, just to ensure all of their safety.
Also in the second movie when Po is pulled out of the water after Shen's boat explodes, Crane asks him to "never do that again" in a voice that shows he was seriously worried.
Weak, but Skilled: Given his scrawny frame, no one thought he was cut out for kung fu and he got a job as a janitor. However, he developed the speed and reflexes he needed while working to become a skilled warrior; all he needed was confidence.
Also counts as a Chekhov's Gun. He did it once for the demonstration in the first movie, but never really got to use it after that until the sequel.
Workplace Acquired Abilities: How'd he become so skilled? He single-handedly (wingedly?) took care of the cleaning of the number one kung-fu school he worked in!
Yamato Nadeshiko: Probably not intentional (the setting is China and Yamato Nadeshiko is a Japanese ideal), but strangely enough Crane actually features the key personality traits: Helpfulness, caring, obedience of authority, humility, soft-spoken politeness, grace, while still knowing how to be Badass. Being the Team Mom only contributes to this. Though Crane was about as irritated at Po for one-upping him as everyone else, only Viper shows it less than he does. This exchange shows the closest he gets to losing his temper:
Po: Thanks. Crane: Don't mention it. Po: No really, I appreci— Crane: —ever.
Master Monkey
Voiced by: Jackie Chan (Films) James Sie (TV Series) Jaycee Chan (Young)
The prankster of the Furious Five. He's very approachable, fairly street smart, and has a good sense of humor.
Actor Allusion: His VA is Jackie Chan. His son played Monkey's voice in Secrets of the Furious Five, and Monkey's VA for the TV series is the same man who played Jackie Chan himself in Jackie Chan Adventures!
Banana Peel: In his younger days, he liked leaving these on the ground for people to slip on. He even tried using them against Oogway, but it didn't work.
Cymbal Banging Monkey: Parodied briefly in the first battle of the second film, in which he uses a pair of cymbals to bash a wolf bandit's head.
Defeat by Modesty: Again in his younger days. He could quite literally beat the pants off of anyone...except for Oogway, who didn't wear pants.
Defeat Means Friendship: Oogway, after defeating the trickster Monkey in the past, convinces him to use his skills for good.
Delinquent: Before Oogway convinced him to change his ways.
Seldom Seen Species: A Gee's golden langur is only found in India and Bhutan. It is also endangered.
Simple Staff: He sometimes fights with a bō, making him the only member of the Furious Five to fight with a weapon.
The Trickster: He originally played pranks on people because of an embarrassing event that happened to him when he was a child, making him a laughing stock. Also, the "Owl Be Back" episode of the TV series: "Can I borrow that fake doodie?"
An ancient tortoise from the Galapagos Islands and creator of kung fu. He is Shifu's mentor, and was the one who chose Po to become the Dragon Warrior. He has ascended to the heavens, leaving Shifu in his place as leader of the Jade Palace.
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He's a bit eccentric, but he is regarded as being one of the wisest and most powerful (if not the most powerful) characters in the series.
Curbstomp Battle: He delivers a single, swift beatdown on a rogue Tai Lung in a flashback... and he was already past his prime by then.
Po's adoptive goose father. He runs a noodle shop, and would rather like to see Po become a noodles seller, but just the same, he is very supportive of Po's dream to become a kung fu master.
Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: In the second movie, he packs Po a lunch and his Furious Five action figures... in front of the Furious Five.
Charles Atlas Superpower: After decades of raising his son, both literally and figuratively, he is capable of flinging Po around with ease when motivated enough.
Good Parents: Despite their obvious differences, he truly loves Po as his own son.
Hidden Depths: Quirky goose, awesome cook, surprisingly skilled at Chinese chess.
It should be noted that, in both films, he is wise in the general themes that the films play upon before anyone else grasps them, such as the importance of being yourself in the first and the ability to let go of the past in the second.
Honest John: A mild case in that he is a loving father and has a nice sense of community, but he's also a canny restauranteur sees nothing wrong in taking advantage of opportunities to honestly enhance his business' profits such as charging extra for lonely people to eat at his place's Winter Festival night dinner or displaying his son's old possessions as tourist attractions.
I Am Not Your Father: Confesses this in the second movie. Ironically, Po already knew (well, he says he knew), he just wanted his dad to admit it.
Like Father, Like Son: Both he and Po share personality quirks, most notably that when embarrassed, they turn sideways and peak nervously at those looking at them.
Nice Hat: Shaped like a bowl of noodles, of course.
Wisdom from the Gutter: He's just a noodles chef, but his personal philosophies include at least two pieces of ultimate kung fu wisdom, the secret of the Dragon Scroll and the path to inner peace.
Zeng
Voiced by: Dan Folger (Films) Mick Wingert (TV Series)
Shifu's timid messenger goose. Bears witness to Tai Lung's escape when he attempts to warn the patrols to step up their security.
Acrophobic Bird: Averted. He's the only goose in the cast who's ever been shown flying so far.
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: After bringing Shifu the news of Tai Lung's escape, he completely disappears from the rest of the movie, save for a picture in the Kung Fu Panda end credits. Not that he was important for anything else. Downplayed because he has made appearances elsewhere in the series.
A voiced appearance in the Holiday special, assisting Po in picking the chef and even talking about the forbidden hand wave.
Several times in Legends of Awesomeness.
He is completely absent from the second film, however.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Though the blame can be spread to others, namely Oggeway for his vision, Shifu for sending him and Vachir for knocking the feather lose it was still his feather that caused the problem.
Tai Lung
Voiced by: Ian McShane André Sogliuzzo (TV Series during Po's illusion) Michelle Ruff (as a baby)
The Big Bad of the first film. One of Master Shifu's earlier students and adopted son, Tai Lung is an arrogant Snow Leopard who turned evil and went on a rampage. For that he was imprisoned for twenty years. It is the prophecy of his escape that sets the events of the series into motion, and his defeat at the hands of Po that affirms Po as the Dragon Warrior.
Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Entirely convinced that he is the destined Dragon Warrior.
Badass: Escaping from the prison built specifically to contain him, using only a feather? Check. Destroying a thousand-strong army in the process, as if it was nothing? Check. Taking on the five most famous kung-fu masters at once? Check. Defeating their even more powerful mentor without taking a single hit in return? Check. There is little doubt that, had he only managed to overcome his inner flaws, he would have been either the most powerful kung fu master ever, or second only to Oogway.
Calling the Old Man Out: Gives Shifu one, basically saying "I rotted in jail for 20 years because of your weakness!" Shifu apologizes for his mistakes he made raising Tai Lung. Tai Lung declares that he doesn't give a damn and proceeds to strangle his former master, claws raised.
Conservation of Ninjutsu: How his escape from his incarceration goes down. Justified by the fact that all those security measures were in place for a damn good reason.
Dramatic Irony: Shifu talked about how Tai Lung would become strong enough one day to receive the Dragon Scroll, and Tai Lung trained hard to succeed and make him proud. This type of upbringing made him arrogant, prideful and power-hungry, precisely the character flaws that made him unsuitable to receive the scroll. And then when he finally reads it and Po explains that there is no secret to ultimate power, you just need to believe in yourself, the deep inferiority complex Tai Lung has developed means he can't or won't accept that because he needs the scroll's "power" to get the validation of his skill that he craves.
Et Tu, Shifu?: Tai Lung feels this way when Shifu doesn't speak up after Oogway refuses to give him the dragon scroll.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: His arrogance prevents him from understanding that the secret to limitless power lies not within the Dragon Scroll, but within himself. Word Of God says this is the only thing that prevents him from making a Heel Face Turn.
Evil Plan: Escape from prison and steal the Dragon Scroll to become the Dragon Warrior. All to prove to his mentor/adopted father that Oogeway was wrong and should have supported him.
Freudian Excuse: He turned evil not only because he was denied the Dragon Scroll, but also because Shifu did nothing about it despite the tremendous amount of support he gave before.
The Gift: Tai Lung, though it's to his detriment. He has a severe ego problem that prevents him from being truly receptive of the Dragon Scroll's wisdom. This is why Oogway refused to make him the Dragon Warrior. His response to this was less than cordial.
Meaningful Name: His name (太龍, tŕilóng) means "great dragon", which is everything but what he is (i.e., the Dragon Warrior). For a second meaning it addresses the expectations placed on him by Shifu.
Pressure Point: "Shifu taught you well...but he didn't teach you everything."
Averted when he tries to use it against Po- while he is hitting in the right spots, Po... still isn't the best of shape, to put it politely, and that layer of cellulite protects him from Tai Lung's attack.
Rage Against the Mentor: Shifu raised him with ideas of greatness but let him down when he was denied that greatness. He took out his rage on the village and later Shifu himself. Then his rage simmered for twenty years. "EVERYTHING I'VE DONE I DID TO MAKE YOU PROUD!"
Shadow Archetype: He represents what Po could have been with a bad teacher. Notice one of his first lines (see Large Ham) is similar, if less funny, to Po's first line. Also both of them are incurable show-offs, even when the situation calls for dead seriousness. When Tai Lung appeared before Shifu out of nowhere before their confrontation he was hiding in a distance for some time and waited for Shifu to blink, so that his entrance can be appropriately dramatic (as explained in DVD commentary).
Slouch of Villainy: When Tai Lung encounters the Furious Five while heading into the village, the first thing he does on the broken bridge is use it like a lounge chair while taunting them.
Super Strength: Having a giant boulder hanging on a chain from each paw was not enough to restrain him, he sends rhinos flying like rag dolls and tears a piece of stone bigger than himself from the temple's stairway to hurl it at Shifu; he distinguishes himself even in the world where unnatural strength automatically comes with kung fu mastery.
Trash Talk: Tai Lung's pre-battle banter with Tigress is such a masterpiece of condescension that he seems to be taunting her on purpose. Against Po he just voices his arrogance... and that piece of Trash Talk sounds much lamer.
Part of it seems to be his disbelief that it was a panda of all creatures that achieved his lifelong dream, rather than one of the more well-known/stronger races, like a tiger or an ox.
Scary Grey Rhino: Sort of. He is a White Rhino but his VA sounds the part.
Smug Snake: Constantly brags how escape-proof Chorh-Gom prison is, not realizing that the restraining shell is the main, if not the only thing that keeps Tai Lung there... and indirectly provides Tai Lung means to escape.
The benevolent leader of the Kung Fu Council, which protects the vast metropolis of Gongmen City. He has descended from a long line of masters and is the son of the legendary Master Flying Rhino.
Early-Bird Cameo: He appeared in the holiday special as a guest at the Master's dinner. Po even mentioned him by name. This leads to a minor plot hole when, in the second movie, Shifu asks Po if he has ever heard of Master Thundering Rhino, even though the special is set before that film.
Stone Wall: Tigress says he is impervious to all techniques. This is why Shen does not use a technique.
Well Done Son Guy: He is the son of Master Flying Rhino, whose armor is stored in the Jade Palace, as mentioned in the first Kung Fu Panda movie.
The Worf Effect: Is shown to be very powerful and formidable to make Shen and his cannon seem more of a threat.
Master Storming Ox
Voiced by: Dennis Haysbert
Thundering Rhino's star pupil and loyal friend, and a member of the Kung Fu Council of Gongmen City.
Awesome by Analysis: Is capable of analyzing his opponents weaknesses, but may not be able to capitalize on this information own his own.
Early-Bird Cameo: He's in Po's dream (as a bad guy) in the first film.
Heroic BSOD: After seeing the power Shen's weapon possesses and getting imprisoned, he and Croc decide they'd rather stay in a jail they could easily break out of. Shifu talks them into it.
Only in It for the Money: Initially agreed to help defeat the Wu Sisters because he thought he would be rewarded with great financial riches.
Play Along Prisoner: The Gongmen City prison bars don't keep him imprisoned. He could leave whenever he wanted but he doesn't because of his fear of Shen's cannon, and because he fears that if he and Croc don't play along, Shen will turn the canon on the city.
Call Back: He's the former leader of the Wool-Stealing Crocodile Bandits that Mantis battled in Secrets of the Furious Five.
Defeat Means Friendship: According to Word Of God, he was a lawless bandit who decided to use his skills for good after being defeated and spared by Thundering Rhino.
Leads to a minor plot hole when Secrets of the Masters talked about a completely different story on how he became a good guy and met up with Thundering Rhino, which also included Ox and Oogway. Of course, it's not inconceivable that it could be a Retcon, or that the source wasn't in charge of Secrets of the Masters.
Early-Bird Cameo: He's in Po's dream (as a bad guy) in the first film.
He also shows up in Mantis' story from Secrets of the Furious Five.
An elderly goat with the power of foresight, who served as an adviser to the ruling family of Gongmen City, the Peacocks. Upon request by Lord Shen's parents, she had foretold what the future held for their son should he continue his current path: defeat at the hands of a warrior of black and white.
The Atoner: She holds tremendous guilt for telling Shen the prophecy that he would be defeated by a "black and white" warrior, inadvertently making herself responsible for the ensuing panda holocaust.
Badass Damsel: Shen keeps her as a prisoner and while she never tries to escape but she doesn't make her imprisonment easy for him. Indeed, she irritates and lectures him.
Soothsayer: (telling Shen's fortune) I see...*plucks Shen's feather*...pain... Shen: Ow! Soothsayer: And anger... *bites Shen's robes* Shen: How dare you! That is the finest silk in the province! Soothsayer: ...followed by denial... Shen: This not fortune-telling! You're just saying what's happening right... Soothsayer: ...now?
Parental Substitute: To Shen. All In The Manual, though some of her interactions with Shen imply this. You get the feeling that if anyone else tried to take a bite out of his robes, they would get a knife to the throat.
The Big Bad of the second film. He is a peacock whose clan rules over Gongmen City but that wasn't enough for him; he is possessed by a desire to take over all of China. For that he invented the cannon, which poses a threat to the very existence of kung fu itself.
Agent Peacock: Literally. By the time the credits roll, you will believe a peacock can be a skilled fighter and a cruel and terrifying villain.
And Then What?: The Soothsayer asks him if conquering China and destroying kung-fu will finally make Shen happy. He simply mutters "it's a start" before giving a rather obvious snarky dodge.
Ax Crazy: Constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, manic and crazy-eyed, plagued by paranoid delusions about his parents not loving him. He deals with all of them by starting wars and commiting genocide, which he sincerely thought would make his parents proud (from his point of view, it was a pre-emptive act of self-defence).
Badass: Despite how insane and evil he is, he is a pretty awesome fighter.
Badass Bookworm: Studied gunpower from fireworks to make his cannons.
Chocolate Baby: His parents were both regular blue peacocks, he came out white. He could be be albino, due to his bright red eyes.
Combat Pragmatist: Uses throwing knives in addition to his spear, conceals his movements with his tail, and the entire purpose of inventing the cannon was to destroy kung fu masters he can't beat one-on-one. When confronted with a fight he can't possibly win, Po and the Furious Five, he flees out the window and calls down a barrage of cannonfire to destroy his own tower.
The Comically Serious: Despite of being the most evil foe Po has faced so far, he has his hilarious moments, usually when Po is in the same scene.
Dark and Troubled Past: He heard his death fortold as 'murder', comitted genocide, and was exiled.
Death Seeker: His introduction portrays him as an arrogant, prideful, and bloodthirsty villain, but it soon becomes clear that he is a deeply depressed bird, and even admits that conquering China won't be enough to make him happy. As well his attitude swings between being precise in the details of his Evil Plan and being completely dismissive of events around him, so it's likely he really doesn't care what happens or if he succeeds or not. And when he doesn't, he seems more enraged that Po has achieved inner peace than he does actually being thwarted.
Dirty Coward: His first response to a battle not going his way is to flee and/or hide behind his cannons. In particular, he tries to avoid a direct confrontation with Po because of the prophecy.
Even Bad Men Love Their Soothsayers: See Parental Substitute in the Soothsayer category. He shows hints of this when he encounters Po and the Furious Five for the first time. Despite being at the end of his patience, he never actually loses it unless Po makes a comment about the Soothsayer, the second time driving him to point a knife in Po's face. The Soothsayer is also the only character in the movie that he never physically harms despite the robe bitting and snark.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Is shocked that Po doesn't hold what he did to his species, his family, against him, and that he was able to let go of his pain, because his own pain has never went away, and he doesn't believe it ever will.
Eviler Counterpart: His backstory has significant parallels with that of Tai Lung — promised power by his parent figure, denied and exiled, returns to claim his place and prove himself. However, Shen's Freudian Excuse is weaker and his vengeance is more sinister. Tai Lung wanted the Dragon Scroll to prove to himself and Shifu he was worthy of it and was a Worthy Opponent to Po, whereas Shen wants to conquer the country and uses cannons because he can't beat a true kung fu master in a fair fight.
Evil Genius: He discovered that fireworks could also serve as gunpowder, and then invented the cannon to put that discovery to use.
Feather Flechettes: Averted. He doesn't actually attack with his feathers, but rather with throwing knives concealed by his feathers.
Feather Motif: Peacock feathers symbolize vainglory, especially appropriate for Lord Shen. Unlike normal peacock feathers, however, his are white and red, for madness and death.
Freudian Excuse: His parents banished him for massacring the pandas as part of his ambition to rule. He's let the resentment percolate inside him ever since, though that said they had already been worried about his desire to turn fireworks into death machines. Of course, the massacre and other traits suggest he was already pretty messed up long before this.
Alternatively, Shen's backstory states that he was born sickly because of his leucism (similar to albinism) and that his parents deemed him "too weak and pitiful to deserve any attention." The Soothsayer acted as his nanny, but the coldness his own family showed him drove him to act the way he did.
Master Ox: What's in the box, Shen? Shen: Want to see? It's a gift. It's your parting gift. In that it will part you. Part of you here, part of you there. And part of you waaay over there, staining the wall.
Good Colors, Evil Colors: White is the traditional color of death in eastern Asian cultures, which suits nicely to his health issues and his villainy.
In Wu Xing, white is metal and red is fire. He has both as his weapons in the form of the cannon, which is even described by Shifu as "it breathes fire, and spits metal".
Given that red is associated with positive emotions in chinese imagery, specially love, his red motif can also be seen as a distortion of his relationship with his parents.
Fire Is Red: As a consequence of this colour motif, the fires that Shen and his mooks use, both in the cannon and in regular torches, are of an unusual crimson tone. Justified as in Shen is explicitly stated to be working off of firework chemicals, so it stands to reason his cannonballs would have a colorful glow to them.
Good Scars, Evil Scars: His feet are covered in burn scars from weapon forging. He partly hides them with his metal talons.
Glass Cannon: Very agile and quick and has lethal aim with his throwing knives, but he's one of the few characters not Made of Iron and is clearly at a disadvantage when his blades aren't enough to overwhelm a more defensive foe.
Hoist by His Own Petard/Karmic Death: Crushed by the very weapon he was going to use to conquer China, which only happened because he accidentally cut the ropes holding it up while trying to kill Po.
Ignored Epiphany: When the Soothsayer tells him his parents did love him, so much it literally killed them to banish him, Shen looks genuinely moved for a few seconds before he closed his eyes and brushes the information aside.
Killer Rabbit: Who knew a peacock could be such a threatening, efficient villain?
Never Trust a Trailer: The Italian trailers were all aimed at making him looking the less impressive as possible.
Knife Nut: He hides an arsenal of blades under those robes of his and he is terrifyingly skilled with them.
Knight of Cerebus: The worst Tai Lung did was beat up Shifu and the Furious Five, and he just wanted the Dragon Scroll. The second film opens with Shen ordering the genocide of the pandas, and ten minutes later he kills Thundering Rhino with a cannon.
Last Villain Stand: He spends the entire film running from a direct confrontation with Po because of the Soothsayer's prediction. In the end, after he's killed his own Dragon and had everything he built be obliterated before his eyes, he finally stops running and fights Po with everything he has and nothing more that he can lose.
Light Is Not Good: Both to chinese and western imagery. In the west, white is obviously seen as the "good" colour, while red is the "good" colour in China (white is actually symbolic of death there). Add this to the fact that his name can be translated as "divinity", his association with fire and the resemblence to the mythological Feng Huang, and you got yourself a heavenly monster.
Man in White: A given thanks to his white plumage and colors.
Meaningful Name: One of the meanings of "Shen" (神) is "divinity", which relates to his quest for power and attention.
An alternate reading of Shen (焴) is "flame", which connects to his cannons.
The Mentally Disturbed: He seems to suffer from chronic depression, paranoia (as far as his parents are concerned, thinking they never loved him) and is deeply insecure.
Moral Sociopathy: The creators' commentary implies that part of his denial to recognise how wrong he is because it's the only way he can justify his genocidal actions.
Never My Fault: When his parents banish him for committing genocide, he takes it as further proof they don't care about him instead of punishment. Even more so due to the fact being banished as opposed to being executed may have been an act of mercy on their part.
Nice Job Breaking It, Herod: Shen overhears a prophecy that he will be defeated by "black-and-white". He proceeds to massacre a panda village. However, Po's mother leaves the infant panda in a case of groceries that get delivered to Mr. Ping. This results in Po being in the right place and the right time to become the Dragon Warrior, receiving the training he will need to stop Shen. In fact, it's remembering the massacre and his mother's sacrifice that allows Po to master the skill he needs to overcome Shen's cannons.
Noble Demon: Deconstructed. Word Of God is that he realizes just how terrible his deeds are. This only pushes him to do more in his attempt to conquer China because if he turns back now, his genocides and murder will have been meaningless instead of necessary sacrifices.
Obi-Wan Moment: He just closes his eyes before he is flattened by the weapon he knocked onto himself.
Overshadowed by Awesome: Despite being a sickly albino, and despite relying on artillery and trickery over brawn, Shen is still a deadly skilled blade wielder. It's just that the kung fu masters are so powerful they overshadow him.
Pet the Dog: He lets the Soothsayer go, unharmed. Indeed, he never harms her, in spite of the attitude she gives him (and the fact she keeps eating his clothes).
Razor Wings: His throwing knives are in the shape of feathers to help him conceal them, and he also uses his giant tail as a weapon and distraction similar to what real life martial-arts styles with metal folding fans.
Screw Destiny: Shen's goal to conquer China is partially motivated by his desire to prove the Soothsayer wrong about her prediction that he will be defeated by a panda.
Soft Spoken Sadist: For most part, he speaks very calm, cool, collective and his voice is usually monotoned.
Tragic Villain: All he wanted was to make his parents proud, and thought that a path of conquest was the way to do it. It's hinted several times that he knows full well conquering China will do nothing to ease his pain. At the end, when he's finally beaten, he calmly accepts his death, perhaps realizing that his defeat truly was inevitable, or perhaps believing that death is the only way to stop his torment.
Villainous BSOD: Is at a lost for words when Po achieves inner peace and uses his kung fu to redirect Shen's cannonfire to destroy his armada.
Villainous Breakdown: When Po returns after being blasted into the harbor and assume dead, Shen loses it and opens fire on his own men while killing his only true friend. After Po obliterates his armada by redirecting cannon fire, Shen is left in a Villainous BSOD, not only because that he'd lost everything he'd spent years creating, but because Po overcame his own troubled past without succumbing to rage, instead finding inner peace. As Po tries to explain to him he just has to let go of the past because it doesn't matter anymore, Shen loses it and goes berserk, and in the ensuing battle Po never even gets in a hit with Shen's blades flying at him every second.
Well Done Son Guy: Is deeply insecure about how his parents rejected him for his evil ways and thinks they never loved him, and considers it an Awful Truth when Po demands to know about his parents and Shen lies that his parents didn't love him. Is also completely unable to understand how Po is able to come to terms with him killing Po's parents.
What Could Have Been: Before the movie was released, there was information that pointed out a totally different backstory from what was shown: Shen's parents were said to be ashamed of his albino coloring and poor health, so they left him in the care of their advisor, the Soothsayer, who raised him like her own. Traces of this can be seen as Shen is never outright cruel to the Soothsayer, such as how he releases her before the launch of his armada, meaning that he still respects her for showing him love.
Wolverine Claws: Shen wears metal talons for both combat and to cover up the burn scars on his feet.
They also resemble the ornaments Chinese nobles wore to protect their long nails.
You Cannot Fight Fate: Played with. It was predicted that a "warrior of black and white" would defeat him, but it was also included that he could change his fate if he stopped his destructive ways.
Wolf Boss
Voiced by: Danny McBride
Lord Shen's oldest (and probably only) friend and most loyal servant.
Adorkable: For being a brutal warrior, he has many dorky features, like whimpering when his toe is stomped or annoying Shen with out of place comments. See also Trash Talk below.
Like Wolf and Fox, he's also Not So Different than Po in terms of attitude—it's just their morals and their choice of allies that sets them apart, as they can both be silly or serious, and their short battle has elements of You Fight Like A Cow.
Eye Scream: He lost his eye during the attack on the Panda Village. When he tried to attack baby Po, Po's father smashed his face with a rake.
Family Unfriendly Death: Considering the Bloodless Carnage of the rest of the series and its focus on slapstick kung fu fighting, taking a volley of throwing knives to the chest and falling to the side is pretty brutal.
Family Unfriendly Violence: The whole "eye ripped out with a rake" thing isn't exactly kid-friendly either.
A Father to His Men: He stands up to Shen for ordering to fire on his own men.
Kick the Dog: Not above throwing innocent bystanders in front of danger to slow down his foes. He even throws children.
Killed Off for Real: Most likely, considering he was hit with several of Shen's knives point blank. Word Of God via DVD Commentary states that he's alive but that particular comment about him being "alive" was a joke by Rodolphe Guenoden ("But he's not dead! He just fell off...yeah..."). While it's never confirmed that he's alive, it is true that it's never confirmed he is dead, either; in fact, Melissa Cobb did mention that she wondered if he ever died, and that she didn't know.
Papa Wolf: Since the alpha male of a wolf pack is also the father of many members, it could apply.
Spell My Name with an S: While the credits refer to him as Wolf Boss, Fanon often switches it around and calls him Boss Wolf instead. Probably because it sounds closer to an actual name.
Stupid Cuddly Po: He can't seem to stop talking about how soft and cuddly Po is. Somewhat justified, as one of Po's main strategies in a fight is to use his... er... bulk, as a weapon, so he was probably exposed to the "Soft and Cuddly," nature of Po several times...
Trash Talk: Played for Laughs. His "insults" consist of calling Po big, soft and cuddly... except that he talks about Po that way even when Po isn't around, and he isn't making fun of him. He describes him to Lord Shen as "Big and furry, soft and squishy... uh, kind of plush and cuddly."
"My revenge will be like a poison river of molten iron that drips and burns like iron that has been melted and now drips..."
One of the former guards of Chorh-Gom prison, who lost his job after it was shut down after Tai Lung's defeat, which caused him to lose his house, his family, two goat friends, and a pair of slippers. Po met him during the Dragon Warrior Day celebration, and attempted to get his life back on track by getting him a job, a place to stay, and by teaching him kung-fu in order to quell his rage. Unfortunately, once he learned Po's true identity, he attempted to kill him. Ironically, his actions caused Chorh-Gom to be reopened... with himself as its first new inmate.
Dumb Muscle: Subverted. He's actually surprisingly competent and intelligent; his strange way of speaking just makes him seem dumb.
Dangerously Genre Savvy: After his return, he realizes Shifu may have made up Dragon Warrior Challenge Day, but he's the only one that knows it. He knocks out Shifu and locks him in a closet so no one knows he's really not the Dragon Warrior.
Genius Bruiser: He's actually surpisingly intelligent, homemaking a number of fake horns containing various weapons and picking his spot for when he could take revenge most effectively.
Evil Plan: Motivated by revenge on the Dragon Warrior for his lost job.
Ignored Epiphany: Po helps him and bends over backward to help him get his life back on track, but he throws it back in his face at every turn.
It's All About Me: He doesn't care about the damage Tai Lung would have done to the Valley of Peace, only that Po defeating him caused Hundun to lose his job.
Lightning Bruiser: After Po trains him. Unfortunately, Po is a stronger one.
Meaningful Name/Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Named for the Chinese god of chaos. Subverted in that, while a credible threat after Po has trained him in kung fu, he is still fairly pathetic and certainly not an embodiment of chaos or evil. However, in his return, he's far more competent and a legitiment threat.
Soft Spoken Sadist: Is quite polite in speech normally, but outright says she could just poison people to kill them and prefers more sadistic methods solely for her own entertainment.
Fung is the leader of a group of Crocodile Bandits. He most often relies on weapons to fight his opponents, but has been show to know some Kung Fu techniques, mostly in cases of defense. Fung appears regularly, sometimes leading his bandits, and other times serving as a lackey to another villain*
Such as Tong Fo or Evil!Po
.
Affably Evil: He may be a bandit leader, but he acts like a snarky, rebellious twenty-something.
Nice Hat: He wears a traditional Chinese helmet with a spike on it. It seems to be a Running Gag for it to get knocked off at least once everytime he shows up.
Surrounded by Idiots: He sometimes feels embarrassed by the incompetency of his lackeys.
Well Done Son Guy: Fung used to work for his father, in an effort to please him by helping him make terracotta warriors. However, he kept messing up and even once glued one to his father's face by accident. Fung would later leave and take up thievery as a living.
"You think I don't know nobody likes me? You saw them pretend to, but... it's just because I'm a princess."
The daughter of the emperor, who was sent on a mission of peace to the kingdom of Qidan. Though she proved to be an insufferable brat at first, Po eventually got through to her and the two became friends. Eventually, it was revealed that she was to be offered to the Qi Dan as a servant to the Qidan's king, Temutai, in exchange for peace, but Po challenged him and successfully earned Mei Li's freedom.
Bratty Half-Pint: Throughout her introduction episode, until Po helps her turn around.
The king of the Qidan Clan, a group of warrior water buffalo, whose people once waged war with Mei Li's kingdom, until an agreement was made to bring peace. Said agreement was that the emperor must turn over a princess to be his royal servant, in exchange for the Qidan not attacking. Mei Li was set to become his new servant, until Po defeated him in battle, earning her freedom.Temutai appears regularly, usually as antagonist. One time he came to the Valley of Peace as part of a peace celebration, where he's amiable with Po and the others (though, with some hiccups along the way).
The Dreaded: Has such a reputation that even Tigress and Mantis are wary of him.
Po, however, initially thinks that his supposed kung-fu technique of being able to tear someone in half without touching them would be cool... to watch.
Go Karting with Bowser: In "The Kung Fu Kid", Temutai is invited to the Peace Jubilee. While there are hostilities and even fights, he and Po do gush together about their liking of the olive branch crowns, he has a nice time at the evening feast alongside everyone (except Po), and ultimately things end well overall.
Temutai's nephew, who he brought to the Peace Ceremony in order to participate in the children's kung-fu matches. He ended up losing to Peng. Has a sister, who is apparently much better at kung fu than he is.
Dirty Coward: Runs away instead of helping his uncle in his fight with Peng.
Generation Xerox: Shares a voice actor with his uncle, and is just about as bright (read, not at all).
Improbable Age: Just look at him. Not only is Jing Mei the size of a small car, he's already sprouted facial hair.
The Unfavorite: Temutai really doesn't care much for him.
The Unseen: His sister, who's both larger and more skilled in kung fu than Jing Mei.
Taotie
Voiced by: Wallace Shawn
"Well, I have news for you! Kung Fu is outdated and useless! With machinery comes power!"
A warthog who studied kung-fu under Master Oogway alongside Shifu. Together, the two of them created the Jade Palace's training hall. However, Taotie was still unable to improve his kung-fu, so he turned to machines to make up for his weaknesses, only for him to be cast out after unveiling his invention. Years later, he would manipulate Po, who had accidentally wrecked the training room, into helping him sneak into the Jade Palace so he could create a new machine and take his revenge.Taotie appears regularly, usually attempting to gain vengeance on Shifu and assert the dominance of machines over kung-fu.
Brains: Evil; Brawn: Good: The way his resentment towards kung-fu can look from the outside. Subverted, however, in that cleverness and not sheer force are what leads to his defeat.
Humongous Mecha: Created one during his backstory to make up for his lack of proficiency in kung-fu. Oogway and Shifu weren't all that thrilled about it. He manipulates Po into letting him turn the Training Hall into a new one.
Simple Staff: Carries around a shinai that actually has a bunch of blades hidden in it. They also serve as propellers for a handy escape.
Weak, but Skilled: Tried to make up for his poor kung-fu with his skills in machinery.
Bian Zao
Voiced by: Simon Helberg
"Lame!"
Taotie's apathetic, slacker son, who effectively serves as his henchman. He doesn't seem to care much for his dad's work, despite Taotie saying he's "learning the family business." Bian Zao appears regularly with his father.
Well Done Son Guy: Part of the reason he's always griping about things being "lame" is to cover his disappointment that his father is all consumed by revenge on the Jade Palace, and won't actually spend any quality time with him.
Jong Sung Jai Kai Chow
Voiced by: Wayne Knight
Jong is a takin that rules over a land that does not abide trespassers. Fung tricked Po into helping him kidnap his son for ransom, and in response, Jong had Po arrested. Even when Fung returned his son and confessed, Jong was still going to hold them captive for their crime.
Cool and Unusual Punishment: Anyone caught trespassing on his land will have their heads boiled with cabbage and their ear lobes stretched around their heads. He chooses to employ more traditional methods on Po, however.
The Mafia: His mode of dress, his Verbal Tic (and overall mode of speech), and his Cool and Unusual Punishment all suggest an ancient Chinese version of this. Possibly an attempt to reference the Tongs and Triads.
Verbal Tic: Tends to refer to others as "My friend", even when they're not. Including his own son.
Hao Ming
Voiced by: April Hong
Mantis's ex-fiance, who only took him back after he (falsely) claimed to be the Dragon Warrior. They were set to be married (again), when Mantis admitted the truth, and realized that Hao didn't deserve him.
Gold Digger: Only wanted to get back together with Mantis in order to enjoy the prestige of being the Dragon Warrior's wife.
Hao's ex-boyfriend, who she dumped two hours before getting back together with Mantis. Dosu attempted to fight Mantis and get her back, only for Hao to continue to show disinterest in him.
"What a beautiful day... to be destroying the valley of peace!"
A loris incarcerated in Chorh-Gom Prison, who once attempted to destroy the Valley of Peace with the devastating Sacred War Hammer of Lei Lang, but switched it with a fake before being captured. In order to learn the location of the real hammer, Po went into the prison disguised as a criminal, only for Tong Fo use him to help him escape. Tong Fo was eventually stopped and recaptured.
Big Eyes Little Eyes: The "small with large eyes" variation, though they do more to make him look more unsettling than cute.
Expecting Someone Taller: When meeting him for the first time, Po looked around as if expecting someone much larger before finally looking down and noticing him.
The Sociopath: His mannerisms, his voice, his admitted fondness for manipulating others, and his general lack of empathy or concern for the damage the hammer would cause give him shades of this, though he's naturally a Lighter and Softer version of this trope.
An owl who was once the most powerful member of the previous Furious Five, who consisted of Shifu, three others, and herself. As Fenghuang grew stronger, she fell to evil, and attempted to wrest control over the Jade Palace from Oogway. Oogway defeated her and attempted to imprison her in an owl-shaped cage, only for her to flee. Years later, she encountered Po and learned Oogway had passed and returned to gain her vengeance on Shifu. She attempted to turn Po to her side, only for him to trick her and seal her in the owl-shaped cage. She was later taken to Chorh-Gom prison.
Affably Evil: Not only does she banter playfully, act coquettish and genuinely offer to help train Po but she saves his life even before she knows who he is or how he can help her.
Bad Ass: Not only one the most powerful and individually threatening antagonists in TV Series, but also the only character in the entire franchise to actually put a decent fight against Oogway in the flashback. Sure, she loses, but after a real battle, not an effortless curbstomp.
Evil Feels Good: Makes this claim to Po, and by her mannerisms, seems to fully embrace it.
Meaningful Name: Fenghuang is taken from the legendary bird of the same name, which was the Chinese incarnation of the phoenix (the Japanese version is called Ho Oh).
A monitor lizard and one of the xiaolin masters of the Sacred Onyx Council. He first appears to evaluate Shifu's qualifications as a master, and after Junjie manipulates Po, he removes Shifu and places Junjie in charge. Fortunately, he later arrived and overheard Junjie's machinations, and once the sinister fox was defeated, he re-installed Shifu as the master of the Jade Palace.
Genre Savvy: Played straight when he expects and catches one of Junjie's poison darts. Averted, however, when he doesn't expect the dozen or so that hit him in the back.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Chao at first seems to be defying this trope when he removes Shifu as master, but after all is said and done, he admits he learned something from Po and sets things right again.
One of the two xiaolin masters of the Sacred Onyx Council. After arriving to evaluate Shifu's qualifications as Master, he manipulates Po into getting Shifu dishonored and removed from his position as master of the Jade Palace. Once in charge, he throws out Po and the Furious Five, putting his five leopard underlings in their position. However, Po became wise to his schemes, and eventually, he was defeated and thrown into Chorh-Gom prison with his five servants. His next appearance, presumably after escaping, shows him impersonating the ghost of Oogway in order to sow discord within the Jade Palace.
Even Evil Has Standards: When Oogway's ghost who is really Shifu in disguise he shows reverence towards his former master.
Junjie may just be a coward. He did the same thing when he realized Chao was within earshot, and his voice shook both when addressing Oogway's ghost and Chao.
Worth noting that he looked genuinely thrilled when he thought Oogway saw his ruthless pursuit of power as "passion for [his] goal".
Evil Counterpart: To Shifu, both as a kung-fu master and in design. Also, he's a fox, to Shifu's red panda - a species of animal sometimes referred to as a firefox.
Fallen Hero: Was a master of Kung Fu under Oogway and one of Shifu's old friends, but has now become a power hungry Manipulative Bastard and one of Shifu and Po's worst enemies.
Knight of Cerebus: Episodes where he's the antagonist have had a much darker tone and unlike most of the recurring villains, he isn'tLaughably Evil. Not to mention that he's Dangerously Genre Savvy and on par with Shifu when it comes to martial arts.
Mythology Gag: Junjie not only resembles an unused design for a fox civilian from Kung Fu Panda 2, he also appears similar to one of the early designs for Shifu, including a pair of spectacles that were included in said design.
Right Behind Me: Rants about his plan and calls Chao a "doddering old fool"... only for him to show up right behind him.
Dangerously Genre Savvy: Averted, however, when he reveals he was prepared countermeasures for this... and then had more poison darts ready should those fail.
A quintet of five snow leopards that serve Junjie. After Junjie takes over as Master of the Jade Palace, they replace Tigress and the others as the new Furious Five. However, they are ultimately defeated by the originals when they come to save Po and Shifu, and are later incarcerated with him in Chorh-Gom prison.
Expy: Of the Wu Sisters, complete with Wind and Fire Wheels.
Samus Is a Girl: One of them is apparently a girl. We never find out which one.
The Voiceless: Other than grunts during battle, only one or two have ever spoken.
Peng
Voiced by: Danny Cooksey
A young snow leopard on a journey. After visiting the Valley of Peace during the Peace Jubilee, his kung-fu talents were discovered after he won a match against Temutai's nephew. He was immediately invited into the Jade Palace, quickly becoming popular and earning Po's jealousy. In an effort to drive him away, Po lied to Peng, only for him to become angry and attempt to defeat Temutai in order to prove himself. Po later revealed the truth and apologized, leading to Peng giving up and apologizing himself. In the end, he returned to his journey. He also reveals that he is the nephew of Tai Lung.
The Bus Came Back: In season 2, episode 8, to be exact. Only for him to leave for good at the end of the episode, thinking if he stays his inner darkness will take over and he'll become a second Tai Lung.
Cats Are Mean: Zig-zagged. He's friendly and kind at first, goes absolutely nuts when he thinks he's been rejected, and then cycles back around when the truth comes out.
He was furious when he found out Po killed his Uncle, then regretful when he found out Tai Lung was evil and Po had no choice. Then he got possessed by an evil amulet and nearly went Tai Lung on everyone, and then Po snapped him out of it, and then he decided he'd better leave for good.
Generation Xerox: Played with. Like Tai Lung, he appeared well adjusted, only to explode with anger when he found he was being rejected by the Jade Palace. However, once the truth came out, he did the exact opposite of his uncle and stood down. Only time will tell if Peng's destiny is to follow in his uncle's footsteps.
He seems to think it's inevitable if he ever trains any further, and leaves the Jade Palace for good after his second visit.
Super Strong Child: Without a doubt. We see him send Po flying, and hard, when he kicks him (twice), and Temutai clearly and visibly has to struggle to hold back a much smaller Peng.
In his second appearance, this is his reason for leaving the Jade Palace for good. When an amulet possessed him and fed his anger over Tai Lung being evil, only Po was strong enough to stop him. Peng is terrified if next time, Po isn't around to do that, and gives up Kung Fu forever.
A member of the "Ladies of the Shade", a dancing troupe of snow leopards which is in actuality a group of clever thieves. When their leader, Su, decides to trick Po into inviting them into the Jade Palace so that she can steal the Dragon Chalice, she chooses Song to worm her way into the Dragon Warrior's good graces to accomplish this task. However, things don't go quite as Su had planned...even though they do get away with the chalice, when Po goes to recover it Song ends up changing sides and helping him escape. After Su is captured and sent to prison, Song takes over the Ladies of the Shade and will be helping them all reform.
Back-to-Back Badasses: Happens accidentally between her and Po during the Ladies' theft of the Dragon Chalice and again in the Ladies' village after she changes sides and helps Po escape.
Becoming the Mask: The longer she's around Po and finds out what a friendly, cute, innocent fellow he is, the harder it becomes for Song to lie to and trick him.
Expy: Like the rest of the ladies, her character model is based off of the Wu Sisters.
Sickeningly Sweethearts: Downplayed, since her relationship with Po is genuinely sweet, but some of her exchanges with Po, particularly the "heart" drawing, could come across this way. (The infamous Spaghetti Kiss lampshades this.)
Big Bad: Of the one hour special 'Enter The Dragon'.
The Dreaded: Po is about the only one who wasn't afraid of him, and that's only because of Po's Suicidal Overconfidence at the time. Even Shifu is afraid of him.
A kind young kung fu student who supported Crane in his path to becoming a kung fu master. First appeared in Secrets of the Furious Five, in Crane's story.
Su, Wing, and Wan Wu form a trio of infamously deadly criminals. First appearing in the Kung Fu Panda video game, the sisters were conceptualized as characters for the first film, but were ultimately left out. They make their first canon appearance in Secrets of the Masters.
The Dreaded: Po describes them as "the most feared and notorious villains who ever terrorized China" and even Oogway considers them a serious threat.
The Syndicate: The sisters try to form one by bringing all of China's gangs together.
We Can Rule Together: Su tries to pull one of these on the leaders of China's gangs.
What Could Have Been: Their original designs differ greatly from their current ones, including them looking completely identical and having a rather obnoxious Verbal Tic. See for yourself.
A Giant Panda with a big heart, he is a major kung fu fanatic and runs a noodle shop with his father (who is a goose). To the surprise of everyone, he is selected by Master Oogway to be the Dragon Warrior destined to defend the Valley of Peace from danger, and now trains under Master Shifu and alongside his idols, the Furious Five.
An old Red Panda, he is the kung fu teacher and master of Po and the Furious Five, and deuteragonist of the series. He originally refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior until the young panda proves himself. He is the protege of Master Oogway, and has succeeded him as spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace in the wake of Oogway's death.
The strongest and boldest of the Furious Five, and tertiary protagonist of the series. She initially resents Po for being chosen as the Dragon Warrior over her, believing herself to be more worthy, but has since mellowed out considerably and is now one of his most loyal friends.
One of the sweeter members of the Furious Five. She makes up for her lack of fangs and venom with her elegant dexterity and precision.
The most patient of the Furious Five, he acts as the group's moderator and tries to avoid conflict when necessary. He can also fly, so that's useful.
The prankster of the Furious Five. He's very approachable, fairly street smart, and has a good sense of humor.
The Big Bad of the first film. One of Master Shifu's earlier students and adopted son, Tai Lung is an arrogant Snow Leopard who turned evil and went on a rampage. For that he was imprisoned for twenty years. It is the prophecy of his escape that sets the events of the series into motion, and his defeat at the hands of Po that affirms Po as the Dragon Warrior.
Fung is the leader of a group of Crocodile Bandits. He most often relies on weapons to fight his opponents, but has been show to know some Kung Fu techniques, mostly in cases of defense. Fung appears regularly, sometimes leading his bandits, and other times serving as a lackey to another villain*.
The king of the Qidan Clan, a group of warrior water buffalo, whose people once waged war with Mei Li's kingdom, until an agreement was made to bring peace. Said agreement was that the emperor must turn over a princess to be his royal servant, in exchange for the Qidan not attacking. Mei Li was set to become his new servant, until Po defeated him in battle, earning her freedom.Temutai appears regularly, usually as antagonist. One time he came to the Valley of Peace as part of a peace celebration, where he's amiable with Po and the others (though, with some hiccups along the way).
A loris incarcerated in Chorh-Gom Prison, who once attempted to destroy the Valley of Peace with the devastating Sacred War Hammer of Lei Lang, but switched it with a fake before being captured. In order to learn the location of the real hammer, Po went into the prison disguised as a criminal, only for Tong Fo use him to help him escape. Tong Fo was eventually stopped and recaptured.
