Summary
- Kung Fu Panda 4will take inspiration from theSpider-Verse movies, utilizing a kinetic and bold "inkbrush" style for fight scenes and the spirit realm.
- TheSpider-Verse movies have had a huge impact on animation, inspiring other films to merge CGI, hand-drawn, and painted watercolor styles for striking visuals.
- In the sequel, Po leaves his role as Dragon Warrior to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, but must quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior to protect against a powerful sorceress named Chameleon.
This year’s animated sequel,Kung Fu Panda 4, will take inspiration from a promising source – the Academy Award-winningSpider-Verse movies. As revealed in the new issue ofTotal Film, who have also unveiled a new image from the fourthKung Fu Panda outing which finds Po battling a gargantuan monster, the sequel will utilize the same kinetic, bold, “inkbrush” style that has made theSpider-Verse franchise so visually enchanting.
“When a fight happens we have a face-off moment where we do a swipe - almost like an inkbrush paint - in the background. And we really went to town with the spirit realm.”
Much likeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its follow-upSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, this approach should imbueKung Fu Panda 4with striking visuals as Po once again fights to protect the Valley of Peace. TheSpider-Verse movies have had a huge impact on animation since the first film hit screens back in 2018, with the likes ofPuss in Boots: The Last Wish,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and more turning to the series for inspiration and merging CGI, hand-drawn, and painted, water-color styles to craft something spectacular.
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Kung FU Panda 4 Is Is Due to Land in Theaters in March
- Release Date
- March 8, 2024
- Runtime
- 94 Minutes
- Director
- Mike Mitchell, Stephanie Stine
- Prequel(s)
- Kung Fu Panda,Kung Fu Panda 2,Kung Fu Panda 3
- Franchise(s)
- Kung Fu Panda
Coming this spring, for the first time in almost a decade, comedy iconJack Black returns to his role as Po, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master, with a hilarious, butt-kicking new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved action-comedy franchise:Kung Fu Panda 4. The sequel finds Po leaving his role as the Dragon Warrior behind and being tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. Check out the detailed synopsis for theKung Fu Panda sequel below:
“That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.
Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.
So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.”
Directed by Mike Mitchell and starring Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane,Awkwafina, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan,Kung Fu Panda 4 is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on March 8, 2024. You can also check out the recently released trailer below:
