Introduction
As Father’s Day approaches, I look forward to my annual martial arts movie review with my children. As their teenage years fly by, each article we write together means more and more. This year, my children and I have chosen to review Kung Fu Panda (2008).
This film is of special importance to me because it came out the year before my first child was born. As I prepared to become a father, I looked forward to sharing with my future children this animated movie that captured so much of what is important to me. I hope you, the reader, enjoy our review of Kung Fu Panda (2008) as much as we did writing it and reminiscing.
Summary
Kung Fu Panda (2008) follows Po, an enthusiastic but clumsy panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master despite working in his father’s noodle shop. This is a story that will sound familiar to many of us with day jobs and training in the garage after work. When Po is unexpectedly chosen as the legendary Dragon Warrior, he is able train under Master Shifu alongside the Furious Five. The Furious Five are voiced by Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Lui, and one of my favorites, Jackie Chan. Po is dismissed at first because of his lack of skill and physical condition, but he gradually learns that determination, self-belief, and perseverance are more important than natural talent. When the Valley of Peace is threatened, Po learns to embrace his unique strengths and ultimately defeat the villain. Kung Fu Panda (2008) can be summarized with the idea that greatness comes not from secret techniques but from recognizing one’s own potential.
Analysis
Pros
The first set of pros for this film are written by me, Gary, the father. Everyone knows how much I love swords, and when Po reacts to the Sword of the Heroes, I knew this was the film for me. Who can resist a sword so sharp it can cut you from just looking at it? But this story is so much more than that. Ric Meyer, the kung fu consultant for Kung Fu Panda (2008), said in a 2025 interview with Martial Arts Radio that “a large portion of martial artists that I’ve got, I talked to a lot of martial artists, many of them have said, Kung Fu Panda is their favorite martial arts movie. They don’t say their favorite animated martial arts movie. They don’t make any kind of qualification. And when I drill into that, almost everybody says for the same reasons. It is the best representation of martial arts philosophy in their mind.” Despite my love for the Sword of Heroes, it is the presentation of philosophy that drives my positive review of this film. Kung Fu Panda (2008) is animated, so it kept the interests of my children when they were young. It also presented abstract concepts in a way that was easy for them to understand and emphasized the importance of learning from, and recognizing we are a part of, nature. As a dad, the character arc of Master Shifu was/is very important to me. Master Shifu was not perfect, but he did what he thought was right. When he realized that perhaps there was a better way, he (grudgingly) adapted his teaching methods and opened his heart. That is not easy to do, for a father or teacher. This film, masquerading as a funny cartoon for kids, contains important lessons for both children and adults. Add to that the fast-paced action and wuxia style, how could I not appreciate this film?
This section is written by me, Tomás, the son. The most impactful scene in Kung Fu Panda (2008), at least for me, is the reveal of the Dragon Warrior Scroll. The scroll is simply a reflection of yourself, the Dragon Warrior is just you. That has always stuck with me, especially as I’ve grown and changed. The movie came out a year before I was born, so it’s a lesson that has always been with me. Po spends the entire movie trying to become someone else. He idolizes Tigress and trains like her, he doesn’t believe a panda can be the Dragon Warrior, and he ultimately doesn’t really believe in himself. Po never believed that he could really be the Dragon Warrior. That’s why when he first sees the scroll, he doesn’t believe it. This magical scroll that’s supposed to show him how to become the Dragon Warrior, just shows him. However, when he’s trying to be all these different people, he keeps losing. He loses the connection with his father and he loses the fight to Tai Lung. Not until he realizes what the scroll actually meant, that to be the Dragon Warrior isn’t to be someone new or to change yourself into something you’re not, it’s to fully embrace yourself. The Po that began the movie is the same Po that ended the movie. All the training he did, everything he learned, never changed that, he was Po. That means that everything Po did at the end of the movie, even fighting Tai Lung, he was capable of doing from the very start. Tai Lung, in this sense, represents all of Po’s doubts and everything he dreamed to be. By defeating him, Po proved that it’s possible to be competent and a panda, that it’s possible to be both what you want to be and what you are. After all these years and rewatches, that’s the message that stuck with me.
This set of pros is written by me, Miranda, the daughter. Kung fu panda (2008) is an amazing movie for all ages with amazing life lessons in it. Po is a quirky panda, who no one believes in to be able to fight. In the movie he keeps going to the training even though his own trainer doesn’t support him, but he never quits and keeps showing up. When Po finally gets the Dragon Scroll he starts to doubt himself because seeing it blank, made him think that he wasn’t unique, he realized how far behind he was from the other five and he thinks that he can’t fight. Towards the end of the movie he realizes that instead of having to fit into the image of being perfect or the “secret ingredient” he just has to believe he is special. This movie has the great lessons of the fact we don’t control life. Even when no one wanted Po to be the Dagon Warrior, his destiny called for it and that’s what happened. Also the lesson of you have to believe in yourself is another main theme that was shown throughout the movie. The thing that got Po to be able to win and to be able to do all of these things was believing and being himself. This movie has taught me lessons that I use in real life. In soccer, being a goalkeeper I have never been the stereotypical keeper and it’s sometimes difficult to not compare myself to others who are taller and bigger. This movie has shown me that just like Po, I don’t have to fit into the box of how someone should look or act to succeed. I just have to believe that I can do whatever I put effort and discipline into. That is just one example of how this movie has shaped my mind, but these lessons have helped me in school with clubs and even making friends since one of the main lessons is being yourself. This movie shows amazing themes and ideas in a way that’s easy for any age to understand.
Cons
This film was well received in the United States, China, and the world. That does not mean, however, everyone liked it. Tom Charity of CNN said it was a “blur into a whirlwind of slapstick chaos”, and Peter Howell of The Toronto Star thought it had a “lack of story.” Other criticisms can be aimed at the sequels, which the review will not touch on. In general, there are not many cons associated with this film.
Conclusion
Kung Fu Panda (2008) is, as Ric Meyer stated, the best American kung fu movie ever made. It contains the philosophy behind kung fu that so many of us believe is important to pass on to the next generation. I wrote a chapter for Modern Dads of Martial Arts (check it out here – mine is chapter 4!), and my story combined with other dads to show the impact our children and our martial arts have on our lives. Looking back, I realize that I have shared the teachings of Master Oogway and Master Shifu with my children for almost eighteen years. Is Kung Fu Panda (2008) worth the watch? After almost two decades of it being part of my life, I can say yes,
- Kung Fu Panda (2008) – Worth the Watch? Special Father’s Day Edition - June 19, 2026
- The Paper Tigers (2020) – Worth the Watch? - May 24, 2026
- The Last Kumite (2024) – Worth the Watch? - April 30, 2026
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