Kung Fu Panda 2

The first “Kung Fu Panda” movie is amazing. It’s one of the few non-Pixar animated movies that is actually perfect in every way. The story is great. It’s funny. And the art and animation is absolutely beautiful. It’s really odd that sometimes Dreamworks can make amazing movies like this and “How to Train Your Dragon,” and also make really awful movies like “Shrek.” But hey, that’s showbiz for ya. Since the first film was so unexpectedly good, the chances of them being able to make a sequel that would live up to the first were pretty slim. Luckily, Dreamworks has some pretty talented story tellers working on this series.

When we last saw Po, the titular kung fu panda bear, he had realized his potential of becoming a kung fu warrior and had bested an equally awesome villain. This time around we find out a lot more of his back story. Now he faces a darker and more evil villain whose bitterness drove him to carry out genocide against all the panda bear’s in this feudal Chinese animal universe. This time the villain has a personal connection to Po. But the threat is not just against panda’s, but against an entire way of life as new technology begins to take hold.

For a kids movie this film is incredibly deep and powerful and moving. The art and animation is once again stunning. And they managed to pull of an impossible feat by creating a sequel worthy of the original. Hopefully they can do it again because there is undoubtedly a third movie in the works. But if you liked the first film even a little bit then this film will not let you down.