Muhammed Ali Week 4: Kung Fu Panda 2 and Identity
Kung Fu Panda 2 and Identity
Kung Fu Panda 2 is one of the most underrated animated movies in cinema history. This piece of art featured one of the best villains in animation, Lord Shen, and had a terrific plot line, speaking on heavy topics such as genocide. What impressed many viewers was Po’s search for who he was and who he was meant to be amidst large amounts of political turmoil with Shen’s rise to power. Studios are attempting to add greater levels of depth to children’s media, and no other film features the transition better than this one.
We begin with Po getting flashbacks of his mother—who he hasn’t seen since he was a child—when fighting bandits in the musicians village. This prompts him to ask his father, Mr. Ping, why he saw those things. Mr. Ping reveals that Po is adopted, and though this was obvious to the viewer, Po has a complete shift in attitude after learning of this. He’s no longer the same character, and throughout the movie, he is struggling with the fact that he never knew his real parents.
Po later finds out that it may have been Shen who committed genocide on all of the pandas, explaining why Po was the last of his kind. He then aims to fight Shen only for personal reasons rather than to save Kung Fu (the original objective), and this distorts his reasoning. He is unable to think clearly, and therefore is defeated once they do fight.
He then returns to his old panda village where he truly remembers what happened the night he last saw his parents. He finally finds “inner peace” and comes to terms with his dark past, largely due to the help of the soothsayer. He clears his mind and is able to return to face Shen once more. In an extremely climactic battle, Po emerges victorious and Shen dies at the hands of his own weapon.
With the stark contrast of Shen refusing to reevaluate his past and his relationship with his parents, Po’s ability to move on and transform his identity stood out even more. The opposite nature of the protagonist and the antagonist shines a bright light on the importance of staying true to your identity, but at the same time not holding on too tight. The movie teaches us to remember and honor our past, but not to let it define us. Our identities hinge on “who we choose to be” in the end. Though it is a kids movie, the underlying messages and overall story are without a doubt enjoyable for people of all ages.
Hi Muhammed! I was instantly interested in reading your blog when I saw the topic was Kung Fu Panda. I was curious to see how you would analyze the aspects of the characters' identities. The comparison between Po and Shen made a lot of sense to me and it gave me a new perspective on the two characters. I never thought of Po and Shen as alike in this way; I wonder if Shen noticed how Po’s relationship with his parents was similarly tragic to his. Did he realize that he could have been like Po if he tried to “come to terms with his dark past” just like Po had? I think this was a very good idea that you brought up. I also agree that the depth of children’s media is great. A lot of children’s movies are also promoting better lives for many people by tackling topics such as racism, prejudice, and more. Although Kung Fu Panda 2 was released in 2011, it still feels relevant to the universal topics brought to light by the plot.
ReplyDeleteHi Muhammed! I was immediately drawn to read your blog because of the Kung Fu Panda title. It was interesting to read about the connection you made regarding Po’s identity. I had never truly analyzed the meaning of this movie, and your blog gave me a completely new perspective. I like the point you made about Po being distraught after finding out that he was adopted, since it was clear to the viewers, as you mentioned. This allows the viewers to feel what Po is feeling, the sensation that he actually does not know who he truly is. This movie was a great choice to discuss as it clearly reflects upon identity and the struggles of figuring out who we are as people. The blog was formatted very smoothly, as you recapped the movie and analyzed certain things as they came up. Furthermore, I completely agree with the point you made about the “underlying messages” in children’s movies. I had never really reflected upon kid’s movies like this, but your blog urges me to do so from now on!
ReplyDeleteHey Muhammed! When I was little, I would to watch Kung Fu Panda movies with my dad all the time, so seeing your deep analysis and views of the film is really interesting. Kids movies often have the best "underlying messages" and are great for wholehearted useful messages. I love how you were able to explain the movie without being overly brief or lengthy, prioritizing the parts relevant to your main points. After reading your summary, I felt as if I had just finished watching the movie. Po's revelations represents a relatable process that we all go through when discovering ourselves: the good and the bad. His story was the perfect choice to depict the importance of holding on to the true essence of our identity.
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ReplyDeleteHello Muhammad! I loved how every single article you have written so far has something I can relate to which I find great when trying to connect the audience to the central purpose, identity. This one especially caught my attention because it is about Kung Fu Panda, which I would definitely agree is an underrated movie as you mentioned. It was great starting off with a quick description of Po and his relationship to Shen, then going on to describe what exactly made him lose the first battle yet win the second, which was an inner peace relating to Po's identity. The last paragraph tied all the ends together of the article and made a nice conclusion stating how children's movies bring more to the table than most people realize. Great work and keep the articles going!
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