The sequence can be viewed in HD here ---> http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/10/03/kung-fu-panda/ , due to copyright issues, YouTube took my version down. Image from ArtOfTheTitle.com In my eyes, Dreamworks' attempts at 3D animated features could never rival those of Pixar, I felt the studios strengths lay with it's 2D features, such as the, in my opinion, highly under rated "Road to El Dorado". However, Kung Fu Panda was the film that would signify a change in my prejudices towards the studio, and cement their place as one of my favourite animation houses. I entered the cinema in the summer of 2008 expecting a standard, pop culture reference fuelled, lacklustre kids comedy, to fit in with the studios previous releases, pumped out to fill a void in the summer kid film market (Shark Tale anyone?). I couldn't have been more wrong. The film opens with a new, stylish, 2D animated logo and title sequence, which immediately got me excited. What soon followed was a sumptuously illustrated backdrop of ancient China, and a lone panda warrior, like something lifted straight from a graphic novel.
The highly graphic style, often compared to that of Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack" had me instantly hooked. With comic like pacing to match the visuals, an all out, bare knuckle, Kung Fu brawl explodes on screen. A high contrast palette of Red, Black and White mimics the ferocity of the panda warriors kicks. The warrior is soon joined by 5 more Kung Fu masters, the "Furious five", and an epic, butt kicking, tour de force ensues, against entire an entire demon army.
High contrast visuals reflect the action on screen
Hugely impressive shots of seemingly hundreds of characters make for an unforgettable show. And so the battle begins to play out, 6 heroes leap towards their destiny, straight into the mass of raging demons, when snap, both the panda warrior, and the audience, are thrown straight back into the real world. The 3D world.
The action is suddenly halted...
... And both Po and the audience are brought back down to earth. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the film, the 3D CG animated feature advertised, is a great film. I just feel the opening 2D sequence was so much more powerful, it's what sold the entire feature to me. The opening sequence was produced by, the now sadly no longer existing, James Baxter animation studios, the very same James Baxter who brought Disney favourites, Belle (Beauty and the Beast), and Rafiki (The Lion King) to life. The shot was directed by Dreamworks' head of story Jennifer Yuh Nelson. "It captures the energy and freneticism of anime," explains Nelson, "but it has it's own over the top style." Dreamworks Character Designer Nico Marlet provided Baxter with character model sheets, Nico's graphic, 2D styling lends itself perfectly to this sort of punchy, 2D animation. From watching this movie, I have become a great fan of Marlet's work, and he has since gone on to influence my own work. During Animex 2010, I was fortunate enough to meet face to face with not only James Baxter himself, but also Mark Osborne, the films director. Needless to say, this is one film that certainly has made a laying impression on me, and my work.
From Mark Osborne, in my Kung Fu Panda art book References: ArtOfTheTitle.com The Art of Kung Fu Panda - ISBN: 1-84576-926-0
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