After two films, and a third one coming out in 2015, Kung Fu Panda has become an animated franchise of some interest. Taking the martial arts film in a more child friendly, more American manner, Panda has become to kung fu what Ice Age is to paleontology. It’s only fitting that the film would find its way into an animated children’s television show, of course, and Legends of Awesomeness has been a fairly solid ratings getter for Nickelodeon.
The show, which takes place between the first two films, follows Po (Jack Black in the films, Mick Wingert doing a dead on Jack Black impression for the show) and his band of kung fu fighting animals as they engage in various shenanigans. It’s a quick half hour and mainly exists to help push merchandise and boost the box office grosses of the films with children.
Legends is aimed at children and as such won’t resonate for adults who enjoyed the films because of their love of martial arts films. The show takes many of the easy to miss gentle prodding of the genre off the table, thus making it more of a slapstick comedy involving animals that know kung fu.
Like any television series that has been adapted for children it’s something to throw on to keep them occupied while you do something else. The show panders to children and that’s alright; the films have hidden layers and the show doesn’t. It’s not designed to and one imagines that if you have young children a show like this is a god send.
No extras beside a generic EPK piece are included.
Dreamworks Animation presents Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness. Featuring the voices of: Mick Wingert, Fred Tatasciore, Kari Wahlgren and James Hong. Running time: 154 minutes. Not Rated. Released: October 15, 2013.
