The Corner Penthouse

Universal recently released the Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) 4K UHD + Blu-ray. Read on to find out more about it...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

After learning he must find a new hero to take over as Dragon Warrior so that he may fulfill his destiny as the next spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace, Po (Jack Black) decides to take one last adventurous mission. He teams up with a quick-witted thief named Zhen (Awkwafina), a corsac fox, to discover the truth about recent sightings of villains he's defeated in the past. In a journey that puts both to the test, it will take a wicked, powerful sorceress, The Chameleon (Viola Davis), to bring them together and remind Po that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

The movie is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio with a runtime of 1:33:31. The movie has been rated PG for martial arts action/mild violence, scary images and some mild rude humor. Audio languages include English, English Descriptive, French, and Spanish. Subtitle languages include English SDH, French, and Spanish.

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

All of the content listed below can be found on the 4K and Blu-ray discs. I should note that the press release included one extra item that is not found on either disc: "Bad Bunny Review", which was described as "The Bad Bunnies give their unedited opinion on some scenes from the film. Set up as a 'Screening Room' style piece, the Bad Bunnies add their own commentary."

• Audio Commentary - with director Mike Mitchell, co-director Stephanie Ma Stine, production designer Paul Duncan, head of story Calvin Tsang, and head of character animation Sean Sexton.
• Dueling Dumplings (3:13) – In this original short introduced by Jack Black and Awkwafina, Po and Zhen battle over whose dumplings reign supreme.
• Deleted Scenes (1:51) - Includes "Dads on the Trail" and "Mahjong".
• Kung Fu Talking (2:26) – Voicing an animated movie takes time, time spent in a small booth being spoken to through headphones as you try to inhibit a character that might not actually exist beyond a few simple sketches and under that pressure, crazy things often happen! And we've captured them, put them to music and serves them up for your pleasure in this hilarious montage of off mic moments!
• Meet the Cast (13:46) – From the Dragon Warrior himself to newcomer, Zhen, and a full cast of amazing characters in between, we get to know the voices behind some of our favorite roles in this series of short featurettes. Discover what attracted them to the role, what their motivation was and what parts of the character they took away with them after recording had finished. Includes "Po", "Zhen", "The Chameleon", and "The Dads".
• Kung Fu Panda 4 All!! (8:05) – Join us as we go behind the scenes to see how the fourth installment in the franchise was brought to life, what makes it different from the previous films and where we find Po and the gang in this new escapade. Featuring interviews with the filmmakers and cast as well as a plethora of concept art, storyboards, animation tests and ADR footage.
• Mastering the Dumpling (6:16) – Jack Black learns how to make dumplings with influencers Phil and Helen of WongFu Productions.
• How to Draw (25:03) – Enter our virtual dojo and join one of DreamWorks Animation's talented artists as they show fans of the film "How to Draw" some of the characters in the film, and then watch in amazement as they come to life before your very eyes in a Shadow Puppet Theater. Includes "Po", "Zhen", "The Chameleon", and "The Bad Bunnies".
• Shadow Puppet Theater (8:06) – Using the amazing illustrations from the "How to Draw," we will teach fans of the film how to create their very own Shadow Puppet Theater so they can bring Po and the gang to life and continue their many adventures.

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

A digital copy code voucher is included inside the standard two-disc black 4K UHD case. The first print run includes an embossed slipcover.

[ NOTES ]

Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) is available on 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray + DVD, and DVD. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. Jack Black and Awkwafina have great chemistry together, as mentor and mentee, and The Chameleon proves to be a formidable villain thanks to the vocal performance of Viola Davis. The story is a bit of a cliche, but it works, and that's all that matters.

Now, as for the previous three films and the television series... Only the first and fourth films are available on 4K UHD, which sucks if you want the full film set in 4K. The second (alternate) and third films are only available on Blu-ray, either individually (see previous links) or together in 3-movie and 4-movie sets (both of these sets includes the same bonus DVD with more extras). There is also the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness TV series, which ran from 2011–2016. I don't believe that any seasons or complete series releases exist for this show, though an episode or two may appear on some of the film releases.

This item has been provided by Universal for review on this site.