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Grab destiny by the dumplings.
―Tagline

Kung Fu Panda 3 is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated action martial arts comedy film, that is DreamWorks Animation's 32nd feature film, produced by DreamWorks Animation, Pacific Data Images and Oriental DreamWorks, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, with Alessandro Carloni serving as co-director. The film is written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, produced by Melissa Cobb, and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro. It is the second sequel to the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda and third installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. The film feature the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, and J. K. Simmons.

In January 2015, it was announced the release date was updated to March 18, 2016.[1] On April 14, 2015, DreamWorks moved the release date up to January 29, 2016.[2]

The film received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $521 million worldwide against its $145 million budget.

A sequel, titled Kung Fu Panda 4, was released on March 8, 2024.[3]

Synopsis[]

Living large and loving life, Po realizes that he has a lot to learn if he's going to fulfill the next challenge from his instructor. After reuniting with his long-lost father, Po must transition from student to teacher and train a group of fun-loving, clumsy pandas to become martial-arts fighters. Together, the kung-fu brethren unite to take on the evil Kai, a supernatural warrior who becomes stronger with each battle.

Plot[]

Oogway fights against his old bull adversary in the spirit realm, an undead warrior named Kai, who has defeated all the other kung fu masters in the realm and taken their chi. Oogway too is ensnared and has his chi stolen, but not before he warns Kai that the Dragon Warrior, Po, will stop him. Kai takes this as a challenge to steal the Dragon Warrior's chi and returns to the mortal realm.

Meanwhile, Master Shifu announces his retirement from teaching and passes the role of teacher to Po. An initially excited Po realizes that teaching kung fu is not as easy as anticipated, and the Furious Five are injured as a result. Po is demoralized because of his failure, but Shifu advises Po that instead of trying to be like Shifu, he should try to be himself. Po returns home where he meets a panda, Li Shan, whom they realize is his long-lost biological father. They quickly bond with each other, much to Po's adoptive father, Mr. Ping's jealousy.

After introducing Li to Shifu and his friends, Po and the Five defend the Valley of Peace from jade zombies that Kai has created from the chi of past kung fu masters. The team learns through research that Oogway and Kai were once brothers-in-arms and very close friends. After Oogway was injured in battle, Kai carried him to a village of pandas who healed him with their mastery of chi. The pandas then taught Oogway how to utilize chi to help others. However, Kai wanted the power for himself and tried to steal the pandas' chi, forcing Oogway to banish him to the spirit realm. To defeat Kai, Po must learn to master the use of chi himself. Li offers to teach him by taking him to his secret panda village. While Shifu and the Furious Five stay behind to deal with Kai, Po and Li travel to the village. Mr. Ping comes along as a stowaway, worried that he will lose Po's affections to Li. Although Po is eager to learn chi, Li tells him he must first learn the relaxed life of a panda in the village.

Kai takes the chi of nearly every kung fu master in China, including Shifu and the Furious Five, except Tigress, who escapes warning Po and the other pandas that Kai is coming. Afraid, Li and the pandas prepare to run away. When Po demands that Li teach him how to use chi immediately, Li confesses that he lied to him about chi mastery and that he only brought Po to their village because he was afraid of losing him again. Furious over his father's misdirection, Po isolates himself to train vigorously in preparation for fighting Kai. Mr. Ping, who realizes Po has become happier with Li in his life, tells Li that Po being mad at him is part of being a father, but Po will forgive him. So Li goes back to Po and says the pandas will help him fight Kai's army. Realizing what had previously made him fail as a teacher, Po agrees and teaches them to use their everyday activities as kung fu skills.

Kai arrives and sends his minions to capture Po, who sets the pandas, Ping, and Tigress upon them, distracting Kai. They defeat the jade zombie army, but when Po tries to use his signature Wuxi Finger Hold on Kai to send him back to the spirit realm, Kai reveals that it only works on mortals, not a spirit warrior like himself. Kai gains the upper hand in their fight, but Po uses the Wuxi Finger Hold on himself while gripping Kai around the neck, transporting them to the spirit realm. They fight again, and Kai subdues Po and begins to steal his chi. Using what they learned from Po, his friends and family use their chi to empower him. Po harnesses their chi to create a giant dragon figure with which he overpowers and defeats Kai, destroying him and restoring all fallen masters to normal.

In an ethereal golden pond, Oogway appears to Po and informs him that his journey as the Dragon Warrior has come full circle, declaring Po to be his successor. He reveals that he sent Li to find Po. Po chooses to return to the mortal world and brings with him a mystic jade yin-yang staff bestowed by Oogway. He and his extended family all return to the valley, continuing to practice kung fu and chi.

Voice Cast[]

See full cast at IMDB here

Sequel[]

Main article: Kung Fu Panda 4

On December 3, 2010, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg officially confirmed that the series could see three more sequels after Kung Fu Panda 3, bringing it to a six-film series. On January 13, 2016, Collider asked the filmmakers of Kung Fu Panda 3 about the possibility of a fourth film, with co-director Jennifer Yuh Nelson answering, "It's one at a time. We want to make this a perfect jewel, and then we'll see what happens after that," and co-director Alessandro Carloni replying, "With the sequels, we don't want to try to have them feel open-ended. We want it to feel like a completed journey, and we feel this movie does. And then, if a fantastic story presents itself, great." On August 2, 2018, when asked about any updates on Kung Fu Panda 4, Nelson replied that she did not know and had always seen the series as a trilogy, but that she was open to the idea of a fourth installment, as long as the focus remained on Po.

On August 12, 2022, DreamWorks Animation officially confirmed that Kung Fu Panda 4 was in production and is set to be released on March 8, 2024.

In April 2023, during CinemaCon, it was announced that The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Trolls and Shrek Forever After director Mike Mitchell will direct the film, with Stephanie Ma Stine as a co-director and Rebecca Huntley as a producer, while Black revealed the story, which follows Po trying to find a new Dragon Warrior in a fox named Zhen while facing a new villain, the Chameleon, who can bring back to life deceased villains like Tai Lung.

On December 12, 2023, it was announced that Awkwafina, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan would join the cast, playing Zhen, Chameleon, and Han respectively. It was also announced that Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Bryan Cranston, and James Hong would reprise their roles from the previous films.

Gallery[]

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v - e - d
Kung Fu Panda Logo
Media
Films: Kung Fu PandaKung Fu Panda 2Kung Fu Panda 3Kung Fu Panda 4

TV Specials: Kung Fu Panda HolidaySecrets of the Furious FiveSecrets of the MastersSecrets of the Scroll
TV Series: Legends of AwesomenessThe Paws of DestinyThe Dragon Knight

Characters
Warriors: PoShifuTigressCraneMonkeyViperMantis

Allies: OogwayMr. PingLi ShanZhenSoothsayerThundering RhinoStorming OxCrocGood PoPengSongHan
Villains: Tai LungLord ShenBoss WolfGorilla ArmyKaiFenghuangHundunKe-PaFenghuangHundunTaotieTemutaiWu SistersBad PoJu-LongScorpionThe ChameleonRabbit TrioGranny Boar
Others: ZengVachirBadger TwinsBaoBearGrandma PandaJombiesMei MeiPorcupineShen's Parents

Cast
Films: Dustin Hoffman (Shifu) • Angelina Jolie (Tigress) • David Cross (Crane) • Bryan Cranston (Li Shan) • Awkwafina (Zhen) • Dennis Haysbert (Storming Ox) • Dan Fogler (Zeng) • Edie Mirman (additional voices)

Shows: Alfred Molina (Ke-Pa) • André Sogliuzzo (Tai Lung) • Danny Cooksey (Peng) • Susanne Blakeslee (Mei Ling) • Steve Blum (Jindiao) • April Winchell (Mugan) • Jeff Bennett (Tong Fo) • David Cowgill (Flying Rhino) • R. Lee Ermey (General Tsin) • Stephanie Hsu (Zhen) • Cree Summer (additional voices) • Keith Ferguson (additional voices) • Elisa Gabrielli (additional voices)

See also
Locations: ChinaJade PalaceJade MountainValley of PeaceChorh-Gom PrisonThread of HopeGongmen CityGongmen JailPanda VillageSpirit RealmTraining Hall

Objects: AdversaryOogway's StaffShift Stones
Crew: Bill DamaschkeAlessandro CarloniChris SandersDuncan Marjoribanks
Miscellaneous: Kung Fu FightingKung Fu PandaFurious FiveLadies of the Shade


v - e - d
DreamWorks logo
Cinema
Feature Films: Antz (1998) • The Prince of Egypt (1998) • The Road to El Dorado (2000) • Joseph: King of Dreams (2000) • Shrek (2001) • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) • Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) • Shrek 2 (2004) • Shark Tale (2004) • Madagascar (2005) • Over the Hedge (2006) • Shrek the Third (2007) • Bee Movie (2007) • Kung Fu Panda (2008) • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) • Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) • How to Train Your Dragon (2010) • Shrek Forever After (2010) • Megamind (2010) • Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) • Puss in Boots (2011) • Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) • Rise of the Guardians (2012) • The Croods (2013) • Turbo (2013) • Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) • How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) • Penguins of Madagascar (2014) • Home (2015) • Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) • Trolls (2016) • The Boss Baby (2017) • Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) • Abominable (2019) • Trolls World Tour (2020) • The Croods: A New Age (2020) • Spirit Untamed (2021) • The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) • The Bad Guys (2022) • Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) • Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023) • Trolls Band Together (2023) • Orion and the Dark (2024) • Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) • The Wild Robot (2024)

Co-produced films: Chicken Run (2000) • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) • Flushed Away (2006) • Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (2025)
Upcoming films: Dog Man (2025) • The Bad Guys 2 (2025) • Shrek 5 (2026)
Feature films in development: Mice & MysticsRonan Boyle and the Bridge of RiddlesThe Wild Robot 2
Produced by DreamWorks Animation Television: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (2021) • Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate (2024)
Canceled films: TuskerThe WandererTortoise vs. HareTruckersMe and My ShadowMonkeys of MumbaiRumblewickB.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly OperationsGiants: Forces of NatureLarrikinsZodiacSpooky Jack

Television
TV Specials: Shrek the Halls (2007) • Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (2009) • Merry Madagascar (2009) • Scared Shrekless (2010) • Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010) • Gift of the Night Fury (2011) • Madly Madagascar (2013) • Trolls Holiday (2017) • How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming (2019) • Trolls: Holiday in Harmony (2021) • The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023) • The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist (2024)

Shorts: Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party! (2001) • Shrek 4-D (2003) • Sinbad and the Cyclops Island (2003) • Far Far Away Idol (2004) • Club Oscar (2005) • The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) • First Flight (2006) • Hammy's Boomerang Adventure (2006) • Secrets of the Furious Five (2008) • B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009) • Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010) • Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular (2010) • Megamind: The Button of Doom (2011) • Thriller Night (2011) • The Pig Who Cried Werewolf (2011) • Night of the Living Carrots (2011) Book of Dragons (2011) • Gift of the Night Fury (2011) • Secrets of the Masters (2011) • Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos (2012) • Almost Home (2014) • Rocky and Bullwinkle (2014) • Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014) • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016) • Bird Karma (2018) • Bilby (2018) • Marooned (2019) • To: Gerard (2020)
Shows: Toonsylvania (1998) • Invasion America (1998) • Alienators: Evolution Continues (2001–2002) • Father of the Pride (2004–2005) • The Penguins of Madagascar (2008–15) • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016) • DreamWorks Dragons (2012-2018) • Monsters vs. Aliens (2013-2014) • Turbo FAST (2013–2016) • VeggieTales in the House (2014-2016) • All Hail King Julien (2014-2017) • The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015-2018) • Dinotrux (2015-2018) • The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2015-2017) • Dawn of the Croods (2015-2017) • Noddy, Toyland Detective (2016-2020) • Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018) • Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh (2016-2018) • Trollhunters (2016-2018) • VeggieTales in the City (2017) • Spirit Riding Free (2017-2020) • Trolls: The Beat Goes On! (2018-2019) • The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018-2020) • The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (TV series) (2018-2019) • Harvey Street Kids (2018-2020) • The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (2018-2020) • She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020) • Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018-2019) • 3Below (2018-2019) • Where's Waldo? (2019-2020) • Archibald's Next Big Thing (2019-present) • Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019-2022) • Fast & Furious: Spy Racers (2019-2021) • Cleopatra in Space (2020-present) • Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) • Rhyme Time Town (2020-2021) • Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020-2022) • Wizards (2020) • Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022) • The Mighty Ones (2020-2022) • Doug Unplugs (2020-2022) • Trolls: TrollsTopia (2020-2022) • Gabby's Dollhouse (2021-present) • Go, Dog. Go! (2021-2022) • The Croods: Family Tree (2021-2023) • Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021-2023) • Team Zenko Go (2022) • Pinecone & Pony (2022-2023) • The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (2022-2023) • Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022-2023) • Abominable and the Invisible City (2022-2023) • Not Quite Narwhal (2023-present) • Dew Drop Diaries (2023-present) • Fright Krewe (2023-present) • Curses! (2023-present) • Megamind Rules! (2024-present) • Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024-present) • Mighty MonsterWheelies (2024-present)
Upcoming TV Series: Felix the Cat (TBA) • Bearbrick (TBA)

See also
Lists: List of DreamWorks Animation filmsList of DreamWorks references in other mediaList of Easter EggsList of Post-credits ScenesList of Villains' DefeatsMistakes found in films

Crew: Frank WelkerFred Tatasciore
Miscellaneous: Moon ChildAcademy AwardsAdult HumorDeleted PagesMistakes found in films

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