This year’s animated sequel,Kung Fu Panda 4, will take inspiration from a promising source – the Academy Award-winningSpider-Versemovies. As revealed in the new issue ofTotal Film, who have also unveiled a new image from the fourthKung Fu Pandaouting which finds Po battling a gargantuan monster, the sequel will utilize the same kinetic, bold, “inkbrush” style that has made theSpider-Versefranchise 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-Verseand its follow-upSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, this approach should imbueKung Fu Panda 4with striking visualsas Po once again fights to protect the Valley of Peace. TheSpider-Versemovies have had a huge impacton 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
Kung Fu Panda 4
Coming this spring, for the first time in almost a decade, comedy iconJack Blackreturns 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 Pandasequel 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 4is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on June 09, 2025. You can also check out the recently released trailer below:
