What does Kung Fu Panda 3 teach about the inevitability of relationship conflicts?

Animation movies are more than just a means of entertainment. Throughout the evolution of art in the previous century, animated films have conveyed the spectrum of human emotions with the then-available technologies and art forms.

The Kung Fu Panda series is a personal favorite on many levels. The messages it carries are profound, and I often wonder if people see the depth that goes into giving life to the characters, story, and every other aspect of filmmaking.

In Kung Fu Panda 3, Po faces his biggest challenge. Not only is he expected to master the power of Chi within days, but he was also set to fight the enemy set on his path nearly 500 years ago, an opponent in league with Master Oogway.

In similar stories, we know that the good side will win in the end; there is nothing for the audience to predict. However, it is the journey of the heroes that matters and the lessons that are relevant for audiences across age groups.

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Who is Po’s best friend?

When Po’s father (Master Panda) finally finds him, the duo visits the Jade Palace and ransacks the place by playing with the ancient artefacts. When Shifu and the rest find them, Po introduces the Furious Five as his best friends.

As the film progresses, we learn that Po carries only one action figure during his journey to the secret village of pandas. The action figure was lovingly addressed – the stripey baby.

Tigress and Po had a rocky start.

In the first part, Tigress blatantly tells Po that he doesn’t belong in the Jade Palace, indicating that Oogway’s whim of choosing him as the Dragon Warrior was probably a mistake. The Furious Five, Master Shifu, and the other members of the Jade Palace constantly make fun of him and force him to quit. Initially, Po’s relationship with everyone except Oogway is conflicted.

Po defends his title of the Dragon Warrior by defeating Tai Lung, a feat that earned him the respect of his peers and sealed the destiny that Oogway wished for him.

In Kung Fu Panda 2, the film invests significant time in narrowing and developing his relationship with Tigress. She notices Po’s restlessness as he questions his sense of identity. She encourages him to practice Kung Fu with her and release the stress. For the first time, the viewers see a softer side of her, which pops up consistently throughout the film.

The second part also shows the near fistfight between Po and Tigress as they take opposite stands on whether Po should face Shen.

By part 3, Tigress has taken the role of becoming Po’s voice of reason. Po also recognizes this when he debates Shifu on who should teach at the Jade Palace and take over Shifu’s role. Before Po’s final battle, she draws insights about Kai, which helps Po to defeat this one-of-a-kind enemy.

In the series, Po and Tigress’s relationship evolves from being at loggerheads to becoming true best friends. Their relationship is a testament to the fact that people often stumble into each other over a conflict. Acknowledging each other’s strengths and weaknesses and a shared value system dissolve conflict and foster healthy relationships.

“…problem, of course, that’s why I brought her” – Po.

The two dads

One of my favorite scenes in Kung Fu Panda 3 is the tiny altar at Master Panda’s house, where he keeps two candles alight with a picture of Mum and Baby Po.

Throughout Kung Fu Panda 3, Mr. Goose shows hostility towards Master Panda. His fear of losing his Po makes him leave his restaurant and join the journey to Panda Village.

On the other hand, Master Panda was learning to be a dad to his son after 20 years. His fear of not losing his son again makes him lie about knowing and teaching Chi so he can lure Po to his village, thinking that he can keep him safe there.

Both dads feared loss and lied.

When Po learns about the false pretext, he breaks the newly formed ties with his father and decides to stay and fight Kai. What follows is one of the most beautiful moments in the entire series of Kung Fu Panda.

Mr. Goose literally crosses the bridge to meet Master Panda. He sympathizes with him for the first time, knowing he was wrongfully snatched of his fatherhood duties. He shows vulnerability and shares his experience of accidental parenthood. He reminds Master Panda that Po needs both of his dads and places the first sketch of him, Po, and Master Panda on the same altar.

“But I realize having you in Po’s life doesn’t mean less for me. It means more for Po.”  – Mr. Goose.

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Standing against your friends

Kung Fu Panda 3 starts with Oogway, and for the first time, viewers have some insights into the life of this legendary warrior of unquestionable authority.

Kai’s descent into the mortal world had one purpose – destroy every memory that leads to Oogway. We learn about the duo’s history, friendship, and brotherhood. Kai saved Oogway’s life in the secret Panda Village, but that didn’t stop Oogway from stopping Kai from stealing Chi. He banishes Kai to the spirit realm and seals Po’s destiny.

In sketching Kai’s character, the artists have done a brilliant job representing Kai’s respect for Oogway. Since his banishment into the spirit world, he collected Chi for 500 years and wore them as totems around his waist. It’s only Oogway’s Chi that he wore around his neck.

Kai’s character sketch is a fine example of how to make anthropomorphized characters more emotive and humane. In contrast, we do not see any hints of Oogway’s past in his character sketch.

One of the biggest lessons from this conflict is that given a chance to choose between what is right and friends who are wrong, one must choose what is right, and it takes great courage to do so.

“When will you realize the more you take, the less you have?” – Master Oogway.

Xiao Po’s relationship with himself

The most significant relationship we have is with ourselves.

One of the brilliant bits of the entire Kung Fu Panda series is the constant evolution of Po’s identity.  From being ridiculed for his flabbiness and being an “unfit” Dragon Warrior to his turbulent past to mastering Chi, Po’s journey is an inspiration and a source of strength.

Every day, he is grateful to fight beside The Furious Five. He relishes being attacked by jaded zombies of old masters. He is the nerdiest in the group, and we know this from his knowledge about an ancient and forgotten warrior general – Kai, a fact that skipped even Shifu’s memory.

The true master of Chi is the one who has mastered self, and in Po’s continuous quest to improve, he becomes humbler and surpasses his teacher and his peers. In settling his conflict with himself and accepting all the pieces of the past that made him, Po becomes a true master of Chi and becomes a beacon for guiding others.

Final Thoughts

Kung Fu Panda 4 is set to release in the US in March 2024, and he is looking for someone to take the mantle of the Dragon Warrior.  I hope DreamWorks stops here; pandas don’t live as long as tortoises.

There are many takeaways and life lessons from animation films. I rewatched Kung Fu Panda 3 during a personal conflict, and the film has changed my perception of relationships. Many avoid conflicts to keep it “peaceful” at the surface level. We don’t express ourselves freely, fearing judgment, abandonment, and the risk of being misunderstood.

Conflicts are necessary for personal growth, setting boundaries, and fostering healthy relationships. It requires better communication because even someone as wise as Oogway cannot read people’s minds.

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