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| Kung Fu Panda | |
|---|---|
| File:Kung fu panda poster.jpg Kung Fu Panda teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Mark Osborne John Stevenson |
| Written by | Jonathan Aibel Glenn Berger |
| Produced by | Melissa Cobb |
| Starring | Jack Black Jackie Chan Dustin Hoffman Angelina Jolie Lucy Liu |
| Cinematography | Yong Duk Jhun |
| Music by | Hans Zimmer John Powell |
| Distributed by | DreamWorks Animation Paramount Pictures |
Release dates | June 6, 2008 |
| Language | English |
Kung Fu Panda is an animated film about a panda who learns martial arts and then uses this new ability to fight his enemies. Kung Fu Panda is being directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne and produced by Melissa Cobb. The idea for the film was conceived by Michael Lachance, a DreamWorks Animation executive. The film is due for release on June 6, 2008. It will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The film stars the voices of, among others, Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu.
Story
Po (Jack Black) is a panda who is a kung fu fanatic, but whose defining characteristic appears to be that he is the laziest animal in ancient China. Evil warrior Tai Lung (Ian McShane) has escaped from prison, and all hopes have been pinned on a prophecy naming Po as the "Chosen One" to save the day. He has a kung fu master, Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who "has trained five of the greatest warriors that the world has ever known", to help him.
Notably, all the original disciples of the main masters are animal stances or styles commonly used in the art of kung fu - Tigress (Tiger), Monkey, Snake, Crane and Mantis. Shen Lung Kung Fu uses those animals as a base for the whole system.
Cast
- Jack Black as Po - Giant Panda
- Jackie Chan as Master Monkey - Monkey
- Dustin Hoffman as Shifu - Red Panda
- Angelina Jolie as Master Tigress - South China Tiger
- Lucy Liu as Master Viper - Viper
- Ian McShane as Tai Lung - Snow Leopard
- David Cross as Master Crane - Japanese Crane
- Seth Rogen as Master Mantis - Praying Mantis
- Michael Clarke Duncan as Commander Vachir - Javan Rhino
- James Hong as Mr. Ping - Goose
- Dan Fogler as Zeng - Palace Goose
- Randall Duk Kim as Oogway - Tortoise
- 2 additional voices may be provided by winners of a Nickelodeon competition.[1]
Crew
| Crew Position/Opening titles | |
|---|---|
| Music by | Hans Zimmer & John Powell |
| Production designer | Raymond Zibach |
| Director of photography | Yong Duk Jhun |
| Co-produced by | Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger |
| Produced by | Melissa Cobb |
| Directed by | Mark Osborne and John Stevenson |
| Visual Effects Supervisor | Markus Manninen |
Rating
This film has been rated PG by the MPAA for sequences of martial arts action.
Soundtrack
Composer Hans Zimmer was originally announced to be scoring the film. Zimmer was said to be visiting China at some point in order to absorb the culture and get to know the Chinese National Symphony, all as part of his preparation to write music for Kung Fu Panda. "Even the title should tell you that we ain't in Kansas any more," Zimmer points out. "With Jack Black as the big kung fu-fighting panda, you know it's going to be something else."
During a test screening of the film however, Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG, announced that composer John Powell will also be contributing to the score. This marked the first collaboration in eight years by that time between these two composers, who worked together on Dreamworks' The Road to El Dorado and the action thriller Chill Factor. The news which was originally taken as a rumor by several movie music related websites was publicly confirmed by DreamWorks Animation on March 21, 2008.
Additionally, in an interview with GQ, record producer Timbaland confirmed that he will be contributing tracks to the soundtrack. It has also been announced that Korean singer Rain will sing the theme song of the film.
Video game
A video game adaptation of the film was developed and published by Activision.[1]
Technical specifications
This will be the first DreamWorks Animation CGI film to be made in 2.35:1 widescreen format.
- Sound: Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
- Color: Deluxe Color
- Prints: Technicolor
- Mix: THX Certified
- Kodak Motion Picture Film
- Avid