For the first time in nearly a decade, Kung Fu Panda is back on screen with the fourth installment of the series. Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is also back to reprise his role in the franchise as Po’s biological father, Li.
Cranston is one of the most versatile actors around, and his genius extends to voice acting as well. In addition to impressing the audience with his charisma on screen, he has also breathed life into characters through his voice alone.
Li is just one of the many characters that Cranston has voiced in his career. And yet, this role could not possibly be any farther from his Emmy Award-winning turn as Walter White in the AMC crime drama Breaking Bad. Unsurprisingly, between the two characters, Cranston certainly had a lot more fun as Po’s father.
Bryan Cranston opens up about his return to the Kung Fu Panda series
The fourth film in the Kung Fu Panda series boasts a star-studded cast. Jack Black is back as the clumsy but determined Dragon Warrior, as is Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu. Academy Award winner Viola Davis joins the cast as the Chameleon, a wily witch. Awkwafina is also the newest member to join this series as Zhen, a crafty thief.
The anticipation around the release of this film has been very high. Bryan Cranston himself was quite excited to return and work alongside Jack Black.
The Malcolm in the Middle actor is not new to voicing characters. He did it long before he found his breakthrough in Hollywood, and is a very talented artist to boot and quite in demand too.
During a recent interview, Cranston spoke candidly about the unique challenges that voice acting poses, but also how it can be just as gratifying. However, since he has been doing this for a long time, it comes to him naturally.
“Voicing an animated character is a uniquely creative challenge. Using only my voice to create a full character engages a different but equally gratifying creative muscle…and I can do it while wearing pajamas and slippers!”
How does Kung Fu Panda 4 compare to its predecessors?
In 2016, the trilogy ended with Po coming into his own as the Dragon Warrior. However, in the new film, Shifu feels it is time for Po to find a successor to whom he can pass on the mantle, as he is ready to become a spiritual leader.
The Chameleon throws a wrench into their plans, as she is on a path to summon the villains of the domain and use their powers to rule. Po has to team up with an unlikely partner, the thief Zhen, and together, they try to take down the evil witch.
The fourth film sheds light on how humility is as big a virtue as glory. Compared to its predecessors, Kung Fu Panda 4 is just as delightful, even though there is not much in the way of a plot. While there is more than plenty of humor in the new film, it is not up to the standard that the previous three films held the franchise to.
Regardless, it is still an entertaining watch, as the beloved characters return after eight years. It was released on March 8 and is currently playing in theatres.
