History Characters / KungFuPandaFirstMovieCharacters

[[center: [- [[Characters/KungFuPanda Main Character Index]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaTheJadePalace The Jade Palace]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaMasterPoPing Po]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaMasterTigress Tigress]] | '''First Movie Characters''' | [[Characters/KungFuPandaSecondMovieCharacters Second Movie Characters]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaThirdMovieCharacters Third Movie Characters]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomenessTVSeries Legends of Awesomeness]] | [[Characters/KungFuPandaOtherCharacters Other Characters]]]]-]
----
[[foldercontrol]]

!!Chorh-Gom Prison

[[folder:Tai Lung]]
[[quoteright:252:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Tai_Lung_2_4240.png]]
-->"Fly back there and tell them... the ''real'' Dragon Warrior is coming home."

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/IanMcShane, André Sogliuzzo (TV Series during Po's illusion), Creator/MichelleRuff (as a baby)

The BigBad 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.
----
* AllForNothing: The sudden end of Shifu's unconditional support is what drove him into a rampage of frustrated rage. This is also exactly why he hadn't figured out [[spoiler: the [[IronicEcho Dragon scroll's greatest secret]].]]
* AndIMustScream: [[TailorMadePrison Oogway's turtleshell-armor]] has had him "completely immobilized" for ''twenty years''. Late in the film, an accidental injury to his tail causes Tai Lung so much pain that he briefly loses all composure... so how much ''[[FridgeHorror more]]'' did it hurt when Vachir deliberately stomped on it in his macho showing for Shifu's messenger?
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Entirely convinced that ''he'' is the destined Dragon Warrior; justified since he was raised since birth to believe it.
* BadassBoast: "So that is his name... Po. Finally, a worthy opponent. Our battle will be ''legendary''!"
* BadassMustache: If he had normal feline whiskers, he wouldn't look nearly as intimidating.
* BigBad: Of the first film.
* BloodKnight: Clearly relishes the idea of fighting the actual Dragon Warrior, as his BadassBoast on the bridge against the Furious Five demonstrates:
-->'''Tai Lung''': So that is his name... Po. Finally, a {{worthy opponent}}. Our battle will be ''legendary''!
* CainAndAbel: The Cain to Tigress' Abel, with Tigress being the foster sister.
* CatsAreMean: Aside from being the BigBad, he's also kind of a jerk in general. Look no further than his conversation with Tigress.
* CallingTheOldManOut: He angrily calls out his adoptive father, Shifu, when he returns to claim the Dragon Scroll. Angrily relaying that everything he ever did was to make him proud. And his fury over Shifu not doing anything when he was denied the scroll:
-->'''Tai Lung''': All I ever did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how proud of me you are, Shifu! Tell me! (''Punch'') Tell me! (''Punch'') ''TELL ME!''
* TheCameo: He returns in the third film [[FreezeFrameBonus as a jade amulet on Kai's waist,]] but he is never utilized as a jombie.
* TheChosenWannabe: When he was denied the chance to be the Dragon Warrior, he decided to simply take the scroll by force.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: "One thousand guards, and ''one'' prisoner." Justified by the fact that all those security measures were in place for a ''damn'' good reason.
* CripplingOverspecialization:
** Tai Lung is a highly formidable and resourceful warrior who has mastered various kung fu styles and [[PressurePoint nerve attacks]], making him more than a match for his former mentor Shifu and the Furious Five, Shifu's later students who each use different styles. However, all of these skills ultimately turn out to be less effective against Po's unpredictable new kung fu style combined with the panda's physique and humorous resolution. More than anything, it's Tai Lung's complete inability to accept defeat or thinking to change his brutal tactics that lead to his demise.
** As discovered in the sequels, kung fu is about spiritual enlightenment as much as it is about physical strength and skill. Tai Lung trained hard and became the first student to master the thousand scrolls of kung fu, to the point of becoming a fearsome [[OneManArmy One Leopard Army]]. But for all his strength, he could not [[spoiler:understand the meaning of the Dragon Scroll or find inner peace. Without any understanding of the spiritual side of kung fu, he amounted to little more than a rampaging brute that wouldn't be able to take on the more mystical threats in the world]].
* CurbStompBattle: He delivers quite a few during his time onscreen.
** The aforementioned prison escape features him serving one of these to a ''1000-strong army! Of '''rhinos!'''''
** His fight with Tigress starts off like this, but things even out once the other members of the Furious Five start to join in. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, towards the end of the fight, it loops right back around in his favor.]]
** Played brutally straight [[spoiler: during his battle with Master Shifu, who couldn't land a clean hit on him ''at any point during the fight!'']]
** Sadly for him, he was also on the receiving end of one of these [[spoiler: when he was younger, courtesy of Master Oogway.]]
** And even worse for him, he suffers another one [[spoiler: at the hands of Po near the end of the movie]]. From his point of view, it was pretty brutal. [[HumiliationConga And humiliating]].
* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Whether or not it was intentional, Tai Lung is one for the traditional Kung-Fu Hero that is exiled or imprisoned by his enemies and returns to claim what is his. The movie also deconstructs in Tai-Lung's character the idea of TheChosenOne, MasterOfAll, and RoaringRampageOfRevenge. While Tai-Lung was imprisoned by his father figure, it was for a good reason as Tai-Lung would do anything to get the Dragon Scroll and attacked his mentor/father figure without mercy and showed he would go to [[ItsAllAboutMe extreme lengths to get what he wants.]] Tai-Lung believed he was the chosen one due to his father figure raising him into becoming the best student from the temple. While in most Kung-Fu stories, he would be the chosen one, the [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong nature of the Dragon Scroll]] renders that belief meaningless and indeed, anathema to the purpose of Kung-Fu. Being raised to crave outside validation for accomplishments was detrimental to Tai-Lung's personal growth, who instead needed to look to himself rather than others. While Tai-Lung was very much TheAce and a prodigy, learning 1,000 scrolls worth of techniques, he only looked to the physical and technical aspects of Kung-Fu and never focused on spiritual enlightenment or peace within himself. Lastly, while Tai-Lung was let down by Shifu by not supporting Tai-Lung in the ways that mattered most, and for leaving him to rot in prison for 20 years without trying to reach out to his son or helping him in a way that could have given Tai-Lung a chance at redemption, Tai-Lung had become so bitter and selfish that even when Shifu admits his own faults and apologizes, Tai-Lung still ignores him and not only attacks Shifu but is also harming innocent people. [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse While Shifu was at fault for some of the wrong that resulted]], Tai-Lung became a cold and brutal beast willing to destroy anyone and anything to get what he wanted.
* TheDeterminator: Nothing gets in his way. Not armies, not arrows, not ballista bolts, not five of the greatest Kung-Fu warriors, not his own master and father. What separates him from an ImplacableMan is that he's often hit with what should have permanently ended him, but he keeps finding off-the-cuff solutions to overcome his obstacles and roar back into the fight.
* DoorstopBaby: His backstory. And unlike Po, this has yet to be explained.
* DramaticIrony: 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, entitled and power-hungry, precisely the character flaws that made him unsuitable to receive the scroll. [[spoiler: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]].
* TheDreaded: ''Everyone'' fears him. His master, the villagers, the main character... even Vachir loses his cocky bravado once it becomes clear that Tai Lung has made it past all Chorh-Gom's defenses.
* EtTuBrute: Tai Lung feels this way when [[spoiler:Shifu doesn't speak up after Oogway refuses to give him the Dragon Scroll.]]
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: [[spoiler:His arrogance prevents him from understanding that the secret to limitless power lies not within the Dragon Scroll, but within himself. WordOfGod says this is the only thing that prevents him from making a HeelFaceTurn.]]
* EvilCounterpart: Functions as this to both Po and Tigress.
** To Po -- Both are orphans whose life had something to do with Kung Fu and being the Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung was shown to be gifted at Kung Fu and groomed for the role of the Dragon Warrior, but was not chosen as the Dragon Warrior and became the BigBad he is; Po had to work his way to being a Kung Fu master and was chosen as the Dragon Warrior. Also, while Po is a HumbleHero (bordering on HeroicSelfDeprecation), Tai Lung is an ArrogantKungFuGuy (which is his FatalFlaw).
** To Tigress -- Both do not know their real parents (the latter was raised in an OrphanageOfLove, the former was a DoorstopBaby), and [[WellDoneSonGuy just wanted their teacher's love]]. Like Tai Lung, Tigress believed that she would be chosen as the Dragon Warrior by Oogway, and resented Po for 'stealing her thunder'. Also, both are big [[CatsAreMean felines]] who suffer from {{Pride}} and [[BerserkButton a bad temper]]. Unlike Tai Lung, Tigress remained honorable by choosing to become an even better and more worthy warrior. This decision, combined with her defeat at the Thread of Hope, kept her from following the same path as him.
* EvilFormerFriend: To Shifu, his master.
* EvilIsHammy: He isn't a subtle character.
-->"Our battle WILL BE ''LEGENDARY!!'''"
* EvilPlan: Escape from prison and steal the Dragon Scroll to become the Dragon Warrior. All to prove to his mentor/adopted father that Oogway was wrong and should have supported him.
* EvilSoundsDeep: His overall assertive demeanor is matched by a firm, commanding voice.
* FaceHeelTurn: In flashback, he went from Shifu's beloved son and prize pupil to a destructive FallenHero that went on a rampage through the Valley and tried to kill his own mentor when he was deemed unworthy of the Dragon Scroll.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: He thinks that the Dragon Scroll will give him the power of the Dragon Warrior- it won't, because the scroll doesn't have power to begin with, and it's more of a symbolic item. Since the Dragon Warrior is TheChosenOne who can understand the Scroll's lesson, he can ''never'' become the Dragon Warrior because the Dragon Warrior is not something you "become" in the first place.
* FallenHero: Used to be a great hero in the Valley. Then Oogway decided that he wasn't ''enough'' of a hero to deserve the Dragon Scroll and it all went downhill from there. [[spoiler: At least, that's how it went down in his head. The truth is that his arrogance and refusal to look beyond combat and pursue self-enlightenment is the reason that Oogway denied him the Dragon Scroll.]]
* FauxAffablyEvil: After fighting his way out of the prison, Tai Lung picks up Zeng, strokes his head and amicably tells the goose to deliver his message to the Valley of Peace before helpfully throwing him up to catch flight. All the while with explosions caused by the snow leopard occuring in the background. He also compliments the Furious Five for their performance against him before subduing them with his nerve attacks. And finally, he acts nearly respectfully upon first meeting his master for twenty years, but he drops the act upon Shifu's answer that they ''must'' fight.
-->'''Tai Lung''': I'm glad Shifu sent you. ''[brings his paw close to the shivering Zeng before stroking the goose's head]'' I was beginning to think I'd been forgotten. Fly back there and tell them... the ''real'' Dragon Warrior is coming home.
* FighterMageThief: The Fighter to Shen's Thief and Kai's Mage.
* FreudianExcuse: 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.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: He went from a sweet orphan to TheDreaded ArrogantKungFuGuy.
* FurryReminder: He punctuates some of his dialogue with growls and snarls.
* GeniusBruiser: Not only is Tai Lung TheJuggernaut, but he's clever enough to pick up one of Zeng's loose feathers with his unrestrained tail and use it to pick the intricate lock of his chi-disrupting restrain. [[DownplayedTrope However]], he does not have the spiritual intelligence to comprehend the true power taught by the Dragon Scroll.
* TheGift: Though it's to his detriment. He has a severe [[ArrogantKungFuGuy ego problem]] that prevents him from being [[spoiler: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.
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: He only wears a belt and a pair of pants.
* HerosEvilPredecessor: Downplayed. Tai Lung is Master Shifu's former pupil and a talented Kung Fu fighter who trained since his early age, and Shifu thought he was certain to become the legendary Dragon Warrior. Master Oogway didn't agree, leading to Tai Lung rebelling against the masters and then getting imprisoned for his troubles. Twenty years later, our hero Po is made the Dragon Warrior and then he's informed that he's fated to defeat Tai Lung, the former candidate for the title.
* HumiliationConga: [[spoiler:Much of the final battle with Po.]]
* IgnoredEpiphany: Rejects both his former Master's apology, and the true message of the Dragon Scroll.
* ImpactSilhouette: In his fight with Po when he crashes to Earth, he leaves a hole not just with an impression of his body, but his tail as well.
* IncendiaryExponent: He is so badass he can set his paws on fire and not even get burned!
* IncompletelyTrained: In a different and worse way than Po. Shifu only taught him to focus on the physical side of kung fu, not the spiritual one, preventing him from becoming enlightened [[spoiler:and realizing the true wisdom of the Dragon Scroll]].
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Raised to believe he would be made the Dragon Warrior (his given name's [[BilingualBonus meaning in Mandarin]] makes it clear Shifu believed this as soon as he discovered what a ChildProdigy he was, and [[WordOfGod the director's commentary]] stated Shifu believed ''he'' would be the Dragon Warrior). Tai Lung became arrogant in his skill, entitled to his destiny, and convinced of his own heroism and perfection... but since [[CallingTheOldManOut "all I ever did, I did to make you proud!"]] it seems obvious that Tai Lung believed he needed the validation of the Scroll to make himself have any real worth, let alone to earn Shifu's love and pride. (The RealitySubtext of how orphans were treated in ancient China, and how important it was to know one's ancestry, should be kept in mind here.) This is made clearest of all when Po explains the meaning of the Dragon Scroll to him— not only is he unable to accept that the only real power comes from within (because he thinks he has no worth and thus needs outward validation), but when he first stares into the scroll to see only his reflection, he declares, [[RuleOfSymbolism "It's nothing!"]]
* InterspeciesAdoption: He was adopted by Shifu, a red panda.
* IResembleThatRemark: Oogway deemed him unfit to receive the Dragon Scroll, seeing a darkness in his heart. Tai Lung responded by destroying the entire Valley of Peace in a fit of rage.
* {{Jerkass}}: Tai Lung used to be an adorable cub, but he grew up egotistical and smug before turning evil, partly thanks to Shifu neglecting to teach him humility. He looks down on ''everyone'' in his delusions of invincibility, refusing to accept blame for his undoings, and ultimately rejecting his mentor's heartfelt apology.
* JerkassHasAPoint:
** When Tai Lung faces the Furious Five and Tigress tries to suggest that she's the Dragon Warrior, Tai Lung replies in a belittling tone that he knows that the Dragon Warrior is neither her or the rest of them -- and he's ultimately proven right.
--->'''Tai Lung''': Shifu taught you well. ''[immobilizes Monkey]'' [[PreAsskickingOneLiner But he didn't teach you everything.]] ''[viciously attacks]''
** While [[CallingTheOldManOut ranting at Shifu]] over Tai Lung's crushed life goal of becoming the Dragon Warrior, the snow leopard brings up the fact that Shifu set him to work hard on martial arts, fed his adoptive son's dreams, and then immediately stopped supporting him because of Oogway judged him to be unfit.
--->'''Tai Lung''': I rotted in jail for ''twenty years'' because of ''your'' weakness!\\
'''Shifu''': Obeying your master is not weakness!\\
'''Tai Lung''': You ''knew'' I was the Dragon Warrior! You ''always'' knew! But, when Oogway said otherwise, what did you do? ''What did you do?! NOTHING!''\\
'''Shifu''': You were not meant to be the Dragon Warrior! That was not my fault!\\
'''Tai Lung''': ''Not. Your. FAULT?!'' Who filled my head with ''dreams?!'' Who drove me to train until my ''bones cracked?!'' Who denied me my ''DESTINY?!''
* TheJuggernaut: A thousand rhino warriors don't get a hit on him, the Furious Five can't stop him and even ''Master Shifu'' is solidly defeated by him. Master Oogway seems to be the only character who stands any sort of chance against him. However, Master Oogway is confident that ''Po'' is up to the challenge.
* KiAttacks: His signature nerve strike.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: The third movie reveals that the Wuxi finger hold banished him into the Spirit World.]]
* KnightOfCerebus: The tone of the first film completely darkens whenever he's around.
* LightIsNotGood: He is a snow leopard with golden glowing eyes and the BigBad.
* LightningBruiser: He's big and muscular while also incredibly agile.
* MeaningfulName: His name (太龍, tàilóng) means "great dragon", which is everything but what he actually is (i.e., the Dragon Warrior). For a second meaning, it addresses the great expectations placed on him by Shifu.
* MeaninglessVillainVictory: He ''does'' eventually gets his paws on the Dragon Scroll... but its metaphorical meaning is so lost on him that he gets no value out of it.
* MillionToOneChance: With a dash of BecauseDestinySaysSo for flavor. That one feather Vachir knocked loose landed in ''just'' within Tai Lung's reach, providing him the exact tool he needed to escape.
* NeverMyFault: He blames Shifu and Oogway for not being allowed to become a Dragon Warrior and his imprisonment. While his accusations in regards to Shifu have some truth to them, it wasn't his right to lash out at everyone in arm's reach for not getting what he wasn't fit for.
* NotWorthKilling: After beating up the entire Furious Five and having them at his mercy thanks to them being immobilized, Tai Lung opts to let them return back to Shifu as a form of gloating.
* OlderThanHeLooks: He's at least 10-15 years older than Po, but you couldn't tell just by looking.
* OneManArmy: ''No'' number of conventional soldiers is a match for him.
* PantheraAwesome: Of the snow leopard variety.
* TheParalyzer: His nerve strike which he learned from the [[AwesomenessByAnalysis restraining shell that held him imprisoned]].
* PrehensileTail: Tai Lung uses his unrestrained tail to pick up Zeng's loose feather and use it to pick the lock of his restraint.
* PressurePoint: "Shifu taught you well... but he didn't teach you ''everything''." However, it fails to work on Po as Po, [[{{Kevlard}} being a large and chubby panda,]] means that the pressure points aren't exactly where they would be or aren't as effective as it would be on thinner beings.
* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: Shifu raised Tai Lung as his adoptive son, believing the Kung Fu prodigy to be the destined Dragon Warrior. When Oogway denied the talented warrior the title due to lack of humility and wasn't defended by Shifu, Tai Lung snapped, [[{{Understatement}} to put it mildly]].
* RageAgainstTheMentor: 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. '''"ALL I EVER DID, I DID TO MAKE YOU PROUD!"'''
* RedemptionRejection: Twice.
** "I don't want your ''apology''! I want the ''Scroll!''" Made worse by the fact that for a moment, just a moment, it looked like [[HopeSpot he was going to accept]] Shifu's apology, but [[IveComeTooFar then remembered why he was there]].
** It happens again [[spoiler: near the end of his battle with Po, as Tai Lung finally opens the Dragon Scroll. Po calmly comforts him and tries to explain to him what the scroll was for and why it was never given to him. Tai Lung won't have any of it and tries to attack Po again, and Po regretfully has to take the fight up a notch.]]
* TheResenter: Deeply resents Shifu, and to a lesser extent, Oogway, for denying him the Dragon Scroll.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: He was this when he was young, believe it or not.
* RunningOnAllFours: Like Tigress, he seems to do this by default.
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: A variant - he gives a deeply undignified startled-kitten squeak when Po tricks him into biting his own tail. (In his defense, cats have bones in their tails--such a bite would ''hurt''.)
* SealedEvilInACan: Chorh-Gom Prison exists for the sole purpose of keeping Tai Lung, and ''only'' Tai Lung, locked up. The one thing that keeps him immobilized is a turtle shell-shaped harness with acupuncture needles in his back... and the only thing he needed to escape from [[TheAlcatraz the prison carved out of a mountain that goes down for miles and is guarded by a thousand rhinoceri]] is a ''single feather''.
** SealedBadassInACan: A lockpick was the only thing he needed to unleash a reign of terror.
* ShadowArchetype:
** He represents what Po could have been with a bad teacher. Notice one of his first lines (see LargeHam) 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 at a distance for some time and waiting for Shifu to blink, so that his entrance could be appropriately dramatic (as explained in DVD commentary).
** Also Tigress, due to their similar InferioritySuperiorityComplex and TheResenter role for not being chosen as the Dragon Warrior. However while Tigress' honour code and loyalty to Shifu still offset that slight, Tai Lung's sense of entitlement made him turn on his masters.
* SlouchOfVillainy: 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.
* SpareAMessenger:
** After Tai Lung has fought his way out of Chorh-Gom Prison, leaving a lot of guards injured or worse, he allows Zeng to return to the Valley of Peace to deliver his message to Shifu: "the ''real'' Dragon Warrior is coming home".
** Once Tai Lung has defeated the entire Furious Five and immobilized nearly all of them with nerve attacks, he allows Crane to transport them all back to the Valley to intimidate Shifu and Po.
* StarterVillain: He's the first villain Po faces and it's not until he defeats him that he truly earns his title as the Dragon Warrior.
* StartOfDarkness: His rise and fall is told by Tigress.
* SteppingStonesInTheSky: When the pit of Chorh-Gom is collapsing around him, he leaps from one piece of falling debris to the next.
* SuperStrength: 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.
* TigerVersusDragon: The Tiger to Po's Dragon.
* TragicVillain: Tai Lung could have been a great hero if Shifu could have helped curb his growing monstrous ego and emotional insecurities, or if he had the strength of character to feel secure within his limits to do it himself.
* TrashTalk: 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 TrashTalk 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.
* TheUnfavorite: Mentioned when Tai Lung returns to the Jade Palace:
-->'''Tai Lung''': I have come home, master.
-->'''Shifu''': This is no longer your home, and I am no longer your master!
-->'''Tai Lung''': Oh, yes. You have a new favorite. So where is this Po? [''evil chuckle''] Did I scare him off?
** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when Shifu mentions how he had become so proud of him that he failed to see what he had become.
-->'''Tai Lung''': Everything I did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how proud you are Shifu! Tell me! TELL ME! [Tai Lung knocks Shifu to the ground]
-->'''Shifu''' [''with a regretful sadness'']: I have always been proud of you. From the first moment I've been... proud of you. And it was my pride that blinded me. I loved you too much to see what you were becoming. What I... was turning you into. I'm s... I'm sorry. [''Tai Lung pauses, then grabs Shifu by the throat'']
-->'''Tai Lung''': I don't want your apology! I want my scroll!
* TheUnfettered: He will stop at nothing to get the Dragon Scroll, even if it means [[spoiler:trying to kill his adoptive father and mentor]].
* UsedToBeASweetKid: Part of what makes him UnintentionallySympathetic.
* VillainHasAPoint: While Tai Lung is responsible for his own crimes, he's right about Shifu cultivating his ambitions for becoming the Dragon Warrior and then drawing back all the support because of Oogway's decision -- a responsibility Shifu admits in a heartfelt way after he's beaten up by his adoptive son. Also, Shifu didn't say anything to console Tai Lung over his crushed dreams and never visited him in prison for two decades, effectively cutting him out of his life and embittering Tai Lung further.
* VillainousBreakdown: Really starts to lose his cool during his fight with Po, but ''especially'' after he finally [[spoiler: reads the Dragon Scroll]].
* VocalDissonance: He is a ripped anthro snow leopard who has just finished tearing apart a prison... and then speaks in a smooth British accent, courtesy of Creator/IanMcShane.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Never wears a shirt, much to the delight of his fangirls.
* WallCrawl: He can use his claws for this purpose, as shown when he breaks out of Chorh-Gom.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Played for pathos.
--> '''Tai Lung:''' All I ever did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how ''proud'' you are, Shifu! Tell me! '''Tell me!'''
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Tai Lung's ultimate fate is never revealed, until the true nature of the Wuxi Finger Hold is revealed in the third film. Tai Lung was sent to the spirit realm where he was captured by Kai and is seen as an amulet on his waist.
* WrongGenreSavvy: He seems to think he's TheHero of the story. Supported by the fact that WordOfGod says that in the film, [[ColorMotif the color gold represents glory and heroism]], and given that he has gold eyes... Tai Lung's scenes are framed as episodes of a stereotypical action HerosJourney. He gets betrayed and defeated by enemies in the past, then he breaks out of the predicament they put him in. He overcomes obstacles and beats up a whole lot of {{Mook}}s led by TheBrute; then he beats up a QuirkyMinibossSquad led by his counterpart/ShadowArchetype by revealing an EleventhHourSuperpower he developed after his initial defeat; then he beats up the BigBad, who was responsible for the things that happened to him at the beginning; then the DragonAscendant powered by an ArtifactOfDoom is revealed as the TrueFinalBoss... Then his story crumbles around him, primarily because he does not have what it takes to be TheHero.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Commander Vachir]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Vachir_2_8787.png]]
-->"You doubt my prison's security?"

->'''Voiced by:''' Creator/MichaelClarkeDuncan

The head of security at Chorh-Gom Prison, where Tai Lung was held for twenty years.
----
* AssholeVictim: He's pointlessly cruel towards his sole prisoner.[[note]]Although, considering [[BigBad who he is]], it's justified.[[/note]] Still when Zeng arrives he relishes at being able to be cruel to someone else for a change.
* BerserkButton: Having his prison and its guards insulted. Shifu's mild FreakOut about Oogway's vision causes him to send a message to Chorh-Gom Prison with an order to double the guards, which infuriates Vachir and prompts him to make a demonstration of how effective the prison is and inadvertently providing Tai Lung with the means of escape.
* BigWhat: His very first line, indicating he's not very happy with Shifu's concerns.
* TheBully: He needlessly badgers Shifu's messenger and makes a point of tormenting Tai Lung to show how tough he is, implying in turn that he's actually ''quite'' afraid of [[TheDreaded the widdle kitty]].
* BullyingADragon: Harasses [[TheDreaded Tai Lung]] by telling him he's not getting ''what drove him to villainy'' and nonchalantly stomping on his tail to see how apparently "weakened" he is. It ends as well as you'd expect.
-->'''Vachir:''' Hey, tough guy! Did you hear? Oogway is about to give someone the Dragon Scroll, and it's ''not'' gonna be you.\\
'''Zeng:''' What are you doing? Don't make him mad!\\
'''Vachir:''' What's he gonna do? I've got him completely immobilized. ''[Deliberately stomps on Tai Lung's tail and laughs it off]'' Oh, did I step on the widdle kitty's tail? Aw.
* {{Irony}}: Vachir not only knocks the ill-fated feather free, providing Tai Lung with the key to his escape, the rhino also makes a point of stomping on the widdle kitty's tail, which is the one limb that was left unsealed.
* {{Jerkass}}: Oh yeah.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: His treatment of Tai Lung would be normally KickTheDog if Tai Lung wasn't a BigBad.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: You know, it's never a good idea to pat the back of a goose and not realize that feathers can make ''really good lockpicks''.
* NominalHero: Technically on the side of the good guys as he is keeping a public enemy imprisoned, but he's such a {{Jerkass}} that it's hard to see.
* NonMammalMammaries: A rare male example: he is a rhinoceros with visible nipples on his bare chest.
* OhCrap: His last word, when Tai-Lung flings a string of dynamite at him.
-->'''Zeng:''' Can we run now?
-->'''Vachir:''' *Whimpering* Yes.
* RhinoRampage: Inverted. Tai Lung is the one doing the rampaging.
* ScaryBlackMan: Sort of. He is a ''White'' Rhino but his VA sounds the part.
* SmugSnake: He 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.
* TemptingFate: Yup, taunting [[SealedEvilInACan Tai Lung]] about someone else becoming the [[TheChosenOne Dragon Warrior]] won't have ''any'' consequences at all. Now, [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge how did that go again?...]]
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: His own arrogance in the security of his prison leads to Tai Lung escaping.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It isn't clear as to what became of him since Tai Lung's escape besides being replaced as the head of security at Chorh-Gom Prison as the [[Main/ComicBooks Comic Book]] ''Kung Fu Panda Issue 1'' reveals.
[[/folder]]
----

* AssholeVictim: He's pointlessly cruel towards his sole prisoner. [[labelnote:]] Although, considering [[BigBad who he is]], it's justified. [[/labelnote]] Still when Zeng arrives he relishes at being able to be cruel to someone else for a change.

-->'''Vachir:''' Hey, tough guy! Did you hear? Oogway is about to give someone the Dragon Scroll, and it's ''not'' gonna be you.
-->'''Zeng:''' What are you doing? Don't make him mad!
-->'''Vachir:''' What's he gonna do? I've got him completely immobilized. ''[Deliberately stomps on Tai Lung's tail and laughs it off]'' Oh, did I step on the widdle kitty's tail? Aw.

* BadassBoast: "So that is his name. Po. At last, a worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary!"

** "I don't want your ''apology''! I want the ''Scroll!''" Made worse by the fact that for a moment, just a moment, it looked like [[HopeSpothe was going to accept]] but [[IveComeTooFar then remembered why he was there]].

** "I don't want your ''apology''! I want the ''Scroll!''" Made worse by the fact that for a moment, just a moment, [[HopeSpot it looked like]] [[IveComeTooFar he was going to accept]].

** He represents what Po could have been with a bad teacher. Notice one of his first lines (see LargeHam) 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 at a distance for some time and waited for Shifu to blink, so that his entrance could be appropriately dramatic (as explained in DVD commentary).
** Also Tigress, due to their similar InferioritySuperiorityComplex and TheResenter role for not being chosen as the Dragon Warrior. However while Tigress' honour code and loyalty to Shifu still offset that, Tai Lung's sense of entitlement made him turn on his masters.

* SuperStrength: 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.

* TragicVillain: Tai Lung could have been a great hero if Shifu could have helped curb his monstrous ego and emotional insecurities, or if he had the strength of character to feel secure within his limits to do it himself.

* BerserkButton: Shifu's mild FreakOut about Oogway's vision causes him to send a message to Chorh-Gom Prison with an order to double the guards, which infuriates Vachir and prompts him to make a demonstration of how effective the prison is and inadvertently providing Tai Lung with the means of escape.

* TheBully: He badgers Shifu's messenger and makes a point of tormenting Tai Lung to show how tough he is, implying in turn that he's actually ''quite'' afraid of [[TheDreaded the widdle kitty]].

* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: He thinks that the Dragon Scroll will give him the power of the Dragon Warrior- it won't, because the scroll doesn't have power to begin with, and it's more of a symbolic item. Since the Dragon Warrior is TheChosenOne, he can ''never'' become the Dragon Warrior because the Dragon Warrior is not something you "become" in the first place.
* FallenHero: Used to be a great hero in the Valley. Then Oogway decided that he wasn't ''enough'' of a hero to deserve the Dragon Scroll and it all went downhill from there. [[spoiler: At least, that's how it went down in his head. The truth is that his arrogance and refusal to look beyond combat to self-enlightenment is the reason that Oogway denied him the Dragon Scroll.]]
* FauxAffablyEvil: After fighting his way out of the prison, Tai Lung picks up Zeng, strokes his head and friendly tells the goose to deliver his message to the Valley of Peace before helpfully throwing him up to catch flight. All the while the explosions caused by the snow leopard occur in the background. He also compliments the Furious Five for their performance against him before subduing them with his nerve attacks. And finally, he acts nearly respectfully upon first meeting his master for twenty years, but he drops the act upon Shifu's answer that they ''must'' fight.

* HerosEvilPredecessor: Downplayed. Tai Lung is Master Shifu's former pupil and a talented kung fu fighter who trained since his early age, and Shifu thought he was certain to become the legendary Dragon Warrior. Master Oogway didn't agree, leading to Tai Lung rebelling against the masters and then getting imprisoned for his troubles. Some years later, our hero Po is made the Dragon Warrior and then he's informed that he's fated to defeat Tai Lung, the former candidate for the title.

* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Raised to believe he would be made the Dragon Warrior (his given name's [[BilingualBonus meaning in Mandarin]] makes it clear Shifu believed this as soon as he discovered what a ChildProdigy he was, and [[WordOfGod the director's commentary]] stated Shifu believed ''he'' would be the Dragon Warrior), he became arrogant, entitled, and convinced of his own heroism and perfection... but since [[CallingTheOldManOut "all I ever did, I did to make you proud!"]] it seems obvious that Tai Lung believed he needed the validation of the scroll to make himself have any worth, let alone to earn Shifu's love and pride. (The RealitySubtext of how orphans were treated in ancient China, and how important it was to know one's ancestry, should be kept in mind here.) This is made clearest of all when Po explains the meaning of the Dragon Scroll to him— not only is he unable to accept that the only real power comes from within (because he thinks he has no worth and thus needs outward validation), but when he first stares into the scroll to see only his reflection, he declares, [[RuleOfSymbolism "It's nothing!"]]

* IResembleThatRemark: Oogway deemed him unfit to receive the Dragon Scroll, seeing a darkness in his heart. Tai Lung responded by destroying the entire valley in a fit of rage.

** When Tai Lung faces the Furious Five and Tigress tries to suggest that she's the Dragon Warrior, Tai Lung replies in a belittling tone that the Dragon Warrior is neither she or the rest of them -- and he's ultimately proven right.

** While [[CallingTheOldManOut ranting at Shifu]] over Tai Lung's crushed life goal of becoming the Dragon Warrior, the snow leopard brings up the fact that Shifu set him to work hard on martial arts, fed his adoptive son's dreams, and then stopped supporting him because of Oogway saying him to be unfit.

* TheJuggernaut: A thousand rhino warriors don't get a hit on him, the Furious Five can't stop him & even ''Master Shifu'' is defeated by him. Master Oogway seems to be the only character who stands any sort of chance against him. However, Master Oogway is confident that ''Po'' is up to the challenge.

* MeaningfulName: His name (太龍, tàilóng) 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.

* NeverMyFault: He blames Shifu and Oogway for not being allowed to become a Dragon Warrior and his imprisonment. While his accusations in regards to Shifu have some truth to them, it wasn't his right to lash out for not getting what he wasn't fit for.
* NotWorthKilling: After beating up the entire Furious Five and having them at his mercy thanks to them being immobilized, Tai Lung opts to let them return back to Shifu in a form of gloating.

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: Shifu raised Tai Lung as his adoptive son, believing the kung fu prodigy to be the destined Dragon Warrior. When Oogway denied the talented warrior the title due to lack of humility and wasn't defended by Shifu, Tai Lung snapped, [[{{Understatement}} to put it mildly]].

* TheChosenWannabe: When he was denied the chance to be the Dragon Warrior, he decided to simply take the scroll.

** Tai Lung is a highly formidable and resourceful warrior who has mastered various kung fu styles and [[PressurePoint nerve attacks]], making him more than a match for his former mentor Shifu and the Furious Five, Shifu's later students who each use different styles. However, all of these skills ultimately turn out to be less effective against Po's unpredictable new kung fu style combined with the panda's physique and humorous resolution. More than anything, it's Tai Lung's inability to accept defeat or trying to change his brutal tactics that lead to his demise.
** As discovered in the sequels, kung fu is about spiritual enlightenment as much as it is about physical strength and skill. Tai Lung trained hard and became the first student to master the thousand scrolls of kung fu, to the point of becoming a fearsome [[OneManArmy One Leopard Army]]. But for all his strength, he could not [[spoiler:understand the meaning of the Dragon Scroll or find inner peace. Without any understanding of the spiritual side of kung fu, he amounted to little more than a rampaging brute]].

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Whether or not it was intentional, Tai Lung is one for the traditional Kung-Fu Hero that is exiled or imprisoned by his enemies and returns to claim what is his. The movie also deconstructs in Tai-Lung's character the idea of TheChosenOne, MasterOfAll, and RoaringRampageOfRevenge. While Tai-Lung was imprisoned by his father figure, it was for a good reason as Tai-Lung would do anything to get the dragon scroll and attacked his mentor/father figure without mercy and showed he would go to [[ItsAllAboutMe extreme lengths to get what he wants.]] Tai-Lung believed he was the chosen one due to his father figure raising him this was and being the best student from the temple. While in most Kung-Fu stories, he would be the chosen one, the [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong nature of the dragon scroll]] renders that belief meaningless and indeed, anathemetical as being raised this way made outside validation for accomplishments detrimental to Tai-Lung who instead needed to look to himself rather than others. While Tai-Lung was very much TheAce and a prodigy, learning 1,000 scrolls worth of techniques, he only looked to the physical and technical aspects of Kung-Fu and never focused on spiritual enlightenment or peace within himself. Lastly, while Tai-Lung was let down by Shifu for both not supporting Tai-Lung in the ways that mattered most and for leaving him to rot in prison for 20 years without trying to reach Tai-Lung or helping him in a way that could have given Tai-Lung a chance at redemption, Tai-Lung has become so bitter and selfish that even when Shifu admits his own faults, Tai-Lung still ignores him and not only attacks Shifu but is also harming innocent people. [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse While Shifu was at fault for some of the wrong that resulted, Tai-Lung became cold and brutal beast willing to destroy anyone and anything to get what he wanted.]]
* TheDeterminator: Nothing gets in his way. Not armies, not arrows, not ballista bolts, not five of the greatest kungfu warriors, not his own master. What separates him from an ImplacableMan is that he's often hit with what should have permanently ended him, but he keeps finding off-the-cuff solutions to overcome his obstacles and roar back into the fight.

* EtTuBrute: Tai Lung feels this way when [[spoiler:Shifu doesn't speak up after Oogway refuses to give him the dragon scroll.]]

** To Po -- Both are orphans whose life had something to do with kung fu and being the Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung was shown to be gifted at kung fu, but was not chosen as the Dragon Warrior and became the BigBad he is; Po had to work his way to being a kung fu master and was chosen as the Dragon Warrior. Also, while Po is a HumbleHero (bordering on HeroicSelfDeprecation), Tai Lung is an ArrogantKungFuGuy (which is his FatalFlaw).

* FaceHeelTurn: In flashback, he went from Shifu's beloved son and prize pupil to a destructive FallenHero who tried to kill his own mentor when he was deemed unworthy of the Dragon Scroll.

* FallenHero: Used to be a great hero in the Valley. Then Oogway decided that he wasn't ''enough'' of a hero to deserve the Dragon Scroll and it all went downhill from there.

* DeconstructedCharacterArchetype: Whether or not it was intentional, Tai Lung is one for the traditional Kung-Fu Hero that is exiled or imprisoned by his enemies and returns to claim what is his. The movie also deconstructs in Tai-Lung's character the idea of TheChosenOne, MasterOfAll, and RoaringRampageOfRevenge. While Tai-Lung was imprisoned by his father figure, it was for a good reason as Tai-Lung would do anything to get the dragon scroll and attacked his mentor/father figure without mercy and showed he would go to [[ItsAllAboutMe extreme lengths to get what he wants.]] Tai-Lung believed he was the chosen one due to his father figure raising him this was and being the best student from the temple. While in most Kung-Fu stories, he would be the chosen one, the [[ItWasInsideYouAllAlong nature of the dragon scroll]] renders that belief meaningless and indeed, anathemetical as being raised this way made outside validation for accomplishments detrimental to Tai-Lung who instead needed to look to himself rather than others. While Tai-Lung was very much TheAce and a prodigy, learning 1,000 scrolls worth of techniques, he only looked to the physical and technical aspects of Kung-Fu and never focused on spiritual enlightenment or peace within himself. Lastly, while Tai-Lung was let down by Shifu for both not supporting Tai-Lung in the ways that mattered most and for leaving him to rot in prison for 20 years without trying to reach Tai-Lung or helping him in a way that could have given Tai-Lung a chance at redemption, Tai-Lung has become so bitter and selfish that even when Shifu admits his own faults, Tai-Lung still ignores him and not only attacks Shifu but is also harming innocent people. [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse While Shifu was at fault for some of the wrong that resulted, Tai-Lung became cold and brutal beast willing to destroy anyone and anything to get what he wanted.]]

* VocalDissonance: He is a ripped anthro snow leopard who has just finished tearing apart a prison... and then speaks in a smooth British accent, courtesy of Creator/IanMcShane. WalkingShirtlessScene: Never wears a shirt, much to the delight of his fangirls.

* WalkingShirtlessScene: Never wears a shirt, much to the delight of his fangirls.

* DramaticIrony: 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. [[spoiler: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]].

* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Raised to believe he would be made the Dragon Warrior (his given name's [[BilingualBonus meaning in Mandarin]] makes it clear Shifu believed this as soon as he discovered what a ChildProdigy he was, and [[WordOfGod the director's commentary]] stated Shifu believed ''he'' would be the Dragon Warrior), he became arrogant, prideful, and convinced of his own heroism and perfection... but since [[CallingTheOldManOut "all I ever did, I did to make you proud!"]] it seems obvious that Tai Lung believed he needed the validation of the scroll to make himself have any worth, let alone to earn Shifu's love and pride. (The RealitySubtext of how orphans were treated in ancient China, and how important it was to know one's ancestry, should be kept in mind here.) This is made clearest of all when Po explains the meaning of the Dragon Scroll to him— not only is he unable to accept that the only real power comes from within (because he thinks he has no worth and thus needs outward validation), but when he first stares into the scroll to see only his reflection, he declares, [[RuleOfSymbolism "It's nothing!"]]

* CallingTheOldManOut: Gives Shifu one, saying "I rotted in jail for '''20 years''' because of '''your''' weakness!" Shifu apologizes sincerely, but Tai Lung declares that he doesn't give a damn and prepares a killing blow.

* VillainHasAPoint: While Tai Lung's responsible for his own crimes, he's right about Shifu cultivating his ambitions for becoming the Dragon Warrior and then drawing back all the support because of Oogway's decision -- a responsibility Shifu admits in a heartfelt way after he's beaten up by his adoptive son. Also, Shifu didn't say anything to console Tai Lung over his crushed dreams and never visited him in prison for two decades, effectively cutting him out of his life and embittering Tai Lung further.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Tai_Lung_2_4240.png]]

* AssholeVictim: He's pointlessly cruel towards his sole prisoner. [[labelnote:*]] Although, considering [[BigBad who he is]], it's justified. [[/labelnote]] Still when Zeng arrives he relishes at being able to be cruel to someone else for a change.

-->'''Vachir:'''*Whimpering* Yes.

* SmugSnake: 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.

* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: Even after Shifu apologizes and takes responsibility for turning Tai Lung into the monster he is now, Tai Lung is caught temporarily off-guard, only to shrug it off and go back to attacking him.