Po

Po
Physical attributes
Species	Giant panda
Gender	Male
Height	6'2"
Weight	260 lbs.
Eye color	Green
Fur color	Black, white, and brown
Clothing	Patched-up burlap shorts with Shaolin wraps around ankles
Age	20s
Biographical info
Also known as	•  Dragon Warrior  •  Master Po  •  Panda  •  Master Panda (by Shifu)  •  Xiao Po (young)  •  Little Lotus (Po's birth name; used by Li)  •  Master (by the Furious Five)  •  Po the Panda (in franchise)  •  Kung Fu Panda (in franchise)  •  "Po-Chews-With-His-Mouth-Open"  •  Panda-san
Status	Living
Residence	•  The old panda village (formerly)  •  The Valley of Peace (formerly the noodle shop, currently the Jade Palace)
Occupation	•  Noodle-maker (formerly)  •  Dragon Warrior  •  Kung fu master / instructor
Affiliation(s)	Shifu and the Furious Five
Family	•  Mr. Ping (adoptive father)  •  Li (biological father)  •  Po's mother (biological; deceased)  •  Mr. Ping's father (adoptive grandfather)  •  Mr. Ping's grandfather (adoptive great-grandfather)  •  Yang (adopted uncle)  •  Dim and Sum (cousins)
Combat style	Improvised style of kung fu; Panda Style
Master(s)	•  Shifu  •  Yijiro (short-term)
Student(s)	•  Bunny children (short-term)  •  Pong (short-term)  •  Hundun (short-term)  •  Lu Kang (short-term)  •  The Furious Five  •  The pandas of Panda Village
Media info
Films	Kung Fu Panda Kung Fu Panda 2 Kung Fu Panda 3
Shorts	Secrets of the Furious Five Kung Fu Panda Holiday Secrets of the Masters Secrets of the Scroll
Series	Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny
Games	Kung Fu Panda: The Game Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors Kung Fu Panda 2: The Game Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends
Books	Kung Fu Panda: Art of Balance Kung Fu Panda: Kung Fu Crew Kung Fu Panda: It's Elemental and Other Stories Add in
First seen in	Kung Fu Panda
Voiced by	•  Jack Black (films & shorts)  •  Mick Wingert (series & most video games)  •  Liam Knight (young)  •  Eric Loomis (Legendary Warriors)

“

Skadoosh!

—Po, Kung Fu Panda

Master Po Ping (known simply as Po, and originally named Little Lotus) is the main protagonist of the Kung Fu Panda franchise. He is the adopted son of Mr. Ping and the biological son of Li Shan and his wife, as well as one of Master Shifu's students at the Jade Palace. He is also the foretold Dragon Warrior of legend, and a master of the Panda Style of kung fu.

Originally born in a farming village to his birth parents, Po was separated from his family as a result of a massacre. He was eventually found by Mr. Ping, who adopted him, hoping for Po to inherit the family noodle shop some day. However, Po was drawn to kung fu, and his unwavering enthusiasm led him to be chosen as the Dragon Warrior, after which he began training under Master Shifu. Though clumsy and unaccepted at first, Po persevered and fulfilled the destiny of the Dragon Warrior by defeating Tai Lung and discerning the Dragon Scroll, proving himself as a hero to everyone, including himself.

Biography

Early years

Po's father protecting his baby son from the wolves

Po was born in a remote farming village populated entirely by pandas. There he grew up happily with his biological father Li Shan and his mother, until one day the village was invaded by an evil, power-hungry peacock named Shen, who sought to avert a prophecy by eliminating any threat to his rule.

As his wolf followers slaughtered the pandas and destroyed the village, Po's mother fled with her son, while Li stayed behind to try and fight them off. As the wolves quickly started to close in on her, Po's mother managed to temporarily elude the wolves and found a crate of radishes, which she hid her child in. Mother and son shared one final moment of farewell before his mother caught the wolves' attention and lead them away from him, sacrificing her life for her son.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Baby Po

Baby Po's arrival at the noodle shop

The crate Po was in was eventually shipped far away to a village in the Valley of Peace, where the owner of a noodle shop, Mr. Ping, found the baby panda. Though hesitant to get involved at first, the goose felt pity for the infant and brought him inside where he fed him and gave him a bath, and as he continued to care for him, he grew to love the cub. Eventually realizing that no one was looking for the child, Mr. Ping decided to adopt him, giving him the name "Po" and raising him as his own son.

A portrait of young Po and a younger Mr. Ping

Since then, Po had been happily raised in the noodle shop, learning all he knew as a noodle maker from his adoptive father. Until the events in the second film, Po never questioned Mr. Ping about whether he was adopted as both father and son shared a deep mutual love and respect. He did, however, carry doubts that they were related.

In Secrets of the Scroll

Po grew into his teenage years with a lack of focus and of his father's skill in cooking, which later led to Master Shifu getting food poisoning after Po prepared a meal for the Jade Palace while his father was away on business. Afterwards, Po began to consider other possible career paths, such as a cleaner, comedian, dancer, or doctor, and made a list of them on a scroll. This scroll later inadvertently ended up in the hands of Tigress, who mistook it for a list made by Shifu of four warriors she was to gather in order to face the villainous Boar. This led to her recruiting Crane, Monkey, Viper, and Mantis, who were quickly dismissed by Shifu who also ordered the evacuation of the valley.

During this time Po revealed to his father that he had caused Shifu's illness, which his father took as good publicity, and was then sent to gather ingredients for meals to be served to the fleeing villagers. From the hilltop his father had specified, Po then watched as the future Furious Five battled Boar, and quickly determined what he wanted to do with his life: practice Kung fu. He later made a set of Furious Five action figures which he treasured for years, only for his father to give them away to a customer. Po attempted to recover them, but after seeing the youngster developing his own love for Kung fu came to feel that they had come to the right place; it appears that at some point he later created a new set.

In Kung Fu Panda

Po had grown up into an adventurous dreamer who hoped to become a kung fu legend some day, on par with the Furious Five, whom he idolized. However, he didn't think he could pursue his dream, as he was an out-of-shape panda who worked at a noodle shop, which Mr. Ping enthusiastically expected him to some day run in his place. Though Po showed little interest in continuing this family tradition, he complied, not wanting to let his father down.

Po's dream with the Furious Five

At heart, Po was a huge fan of kung fu, as his room was decorated with posters and action figures of the Furious Five, and he would imagine himself as an unbeatable warrior who would fight alongside them. Po knew, in detail, many things about kung fu, from techniques to various weapons and legends. Although this encyclopedic knowledge showed Po as somewhat of an expert on kung fu, it was only in the form of a fan who fantasized he could be part of it, not as someone who had any real experience.

It was seemingly by mistake, then, that he was chosen to become the Dragon Warrior. Po was ecstatic when he heard of a tournament being held to determine which of the Furious Five would be chosen as the Dragon Warrior, something he declared would be the "greatest day in kung fu history". He abandoned his task of selling noodles in order to see the tournament, but couldn't make it in time, as the gates closed on him, shutting him out.

Po being selected by Master Oogway as the Dragon Warrior

After many failed, desperate attempts to get inside and watch the event, including strapping fireworks to a chair and lighting them in order to lift him up and into the arena, Po was about to give up and go back to work with his father—when the fireworks suddenly shot him into the sky, flying over the arena. Po abruptly landed inside the tournament grounds just as Oogway was about to choose who would be the Dragon Warrior, and Po fell in front of the Furious Five—with Oogway's claw pointed directly at him. Inspired by the panda's sudden appearance, Oogway took this as a sign that the universe had brought them all the Dragon Warrior. Everyone else, including Po, was surprised by this.

The Valley celebrated, and Po was carried (with difficulty) on a palanquin (which he broke through) to the Jade Palace. Po was dropped inside the palace, where he became distracted as he discovered the many legendary kung fu artifacts kept within. After awing at several displays, he was met by Shifu, who had objected that a "flabby panda" couldn't possibly be the Dragon Warrior, and the red panda tried to intimidate Po upon meeting him, insulting his portliness, hygiene, and threatening Po with potential use of the Wuxi Finger Hold, promising the panda that he would regret ever being chosen.

Po in the Training Hall

Shifu afterwards led Po to the challenging Training Hall, where the members of the Furious Five were training. Po, thrilled at being in the presence of the Five (who were all observing him), was nervous but eager to try some kung fu moves. But being an unwary beginner, he was hurtled, burnt, punched, and thrown through the various obstacles. The Furious Five later joked about his incompetence, which Po happened to overhear, making him feel inferior.

Po talking with Oogway under the peach tree

That night, after making accidental damages in the student barracks, Po had an awkward conversation with Crane (where Po himself revealed that he didn't think he belonged at the Jade Palace). He was then given a rebuke from Tigress, who told him stern and straightforward, that he didn't belong in the Jade Palace, was a disgrace to kung fu, and should leave by morning. Po, disheartened, retreated to the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, upset and overeating, cramming his mouth full with peaches. Oogway, upon finding him, listened to Po as the panda related how he had doubts about ever becoming a kung fu warrior. The tortoise gave him some kindly advice, telling Po that instead of being concerned about what was and what would be, he should focus on the opportunity he had at the moment.

The next morning, Po surprised Shifu and the Furious Five by not only staying, but by arriving first at the training courtyard to practice. Once again, Po was put through a kung fu thrashing, beat up by the Furious Five and Shifu long into the day, but Po showed no signs of pain or indignity, as he was so amazed by the skill he witnessed and only welcomed the privilege to spar with the kung fu masters. This optimism and sheer tenacity at such treatment frustrated Shifu, who, even after literally kicking Po out of the palace, was unsuccessful in making him quit.

The Furious Five, with the exception of Tigress, became impressed at Po's fortitude, and came to warm up to to him more in the evening. Mantis and Viper tried helping Po feel better with acupuncture, and Mantis assured him about his own small size as a warrior compared to Po's. After inadvertently confirming his suspicions that Shifu was indeed trying to get rid of him, Viper and Mantis explained to Po that the old master was not always so strict. Having overheard their conversation, Tigress shared the story of Shifu's past involving how he had raised Tai Lung, who became evil, and Po was rendered speechless. However, due to an unintentional mistake on his facial nerve by Mantis, he ended up making a spastic expression, which angered Tigress.

Po imitating Shifu for the Five during a meal

Po later made the Furious Five some noodle soup, which he was praised for, and made most of them laugh when he did an imitation of Shifu—only moments before the master himself appeared. He announced that Tai Lung had broken out of Chorh-Gom Prison, and that it was Po's destiny to defeat him, also relaying that Oogway had passed away. Startled and frightened, Po ran off in a panic, only to be stopped shortly by Shifu, who, despite his prior disapproval, declared that Po was the Dragon Warrior.

Po being stopped by Shifu from leaving the palace

Refusing to believe this, Po confronted Shifu on how he'd never believed in him, and had been trying to make him quit since his first day, while Shifu reminded Po that he had chosen to stay, despite all the harsh treatment. Po revealed that he had been hurt both inside and out, but had stayed because, to him, it was better than living every day just being himself, and wanted so badly for the kung fu master to change him into something better. When Po questioned Shifu on just how he planned to make him the Dragon Warrior capable of defeating the mighty Tai Lung, the red panda admitted he didn't know, and departed.

Discouraged, Po again fled to food for comfort, and had nearly ravaged the kitchen in the barracks, punching through cupboards and drawers, even doing a perfect split at one point, when Shifu discovered him the next morning. He stood amazed, seeing that the panda had inadvertently showed a knack for kung fu while merely trying to find food in his distressed state. Shifu decided to use this perceived weakness as a teaching tool to motivate and train Po.

Po and Master Shifu playing "keep-away"

Led through the Wu Dan Mountains to the Pool of Sacred Tears, Shifu told Po the origins of kung fu. Po agreed to learn from Shifu, astounded and emotional from finally getting a chance to live his dream. And so began his first serious step in kung fu training.

Po was put through various exercises, from push-ups to ten-mile hikes, to balancing soup bowls, defending his own meals from attack, and a game of keep away, using chopsticks and a dumpling as a reward. Through determination, and with Shifu's teaching, Po's senses grew sharper, he became more confident, and in time, had achieved tremendous improvements in body, mind and spirit.

But the Furious Five, led by Tigress, had left to fight Tai Lung on their own. Despite putting up a courageous fight on the Thread of Hope that morning, each of them was overwhelmed by Tai Lung's superior skill, but left alive as a warning. Crane weakly carried his comrades back to the Jade Palace, where Po and Shifu found the rest of the Five all paralyzed, struck by Tai Lung's nerve attack. Seeing his heroes wounded before him, Po was worried about facing Tai Lung himself, but Shifu assured him that he could beat Tai Lung—with the help of the Dragon Scroll.

Po being awarded the Dragon Scroll by Shifu

He retrieved it, giving it to Po and promising him extraordinary powers of sight and sound when he would read it. Po opened the scroll, only to find it was nothing but a golden, reflective surface that was completely blank. This confused and disappointed both him, Shifu, and the Five, leaving Po to believe that he really had been picked to be the Dragon Warrior by accident. With little options left, Shifu told the Furious Five to evacuate the Valley, saying that he would fight Tai Lung himself to buy them all time. They obeyed, Po reluctantly leaving with the others.

The Five split up to escort the villagers out, leaving a dispirited Po to seek out his father. Mr. Ping was glad to see him again, tying an apron around Po and talking to him about future plans for a new noodle shop as they fled with the rest of the Valley. Having come so close at becoming the kung fu warrior he'd aspired to be, and being pulled back into his former life as if nothing had happened, Po unhappily lingered for a moment, his hopes crushed. Mr. Ping tried to assure his son that he still had a destiny at the noodle restaurant. Not encouraged by this, Po remarked that he sometimes couldn't even believe he was the goose's son.

Po realizing the secret of the Dragon Scroll

Mr. Ping, taken aback, tried to comfort Po by finally telling him the truth: the secret ingredient of the noodle shop's secret ingredient soup—was nothing. He explained that he never needed to add anything more to ordinary noodle soup. By simply believing it to be special, it became special on its own. Astounded, Po took out the Dragon Scroll, and found himself looking into his own reflection. Mr. Ping's words made the connection, and at last Po understood the meaning of the Dragon Scroll, the secret to "limitless power".

Po challenging Tai Lung with the Dragon Scroll

He made his way back to the Jade Palace, climbing the stairs (which exhausted him), and arrived just in time to distract Tai Lung and save Shifu, who was nearly unconscious as a result of his battle with the snow leopard. Facing Tai Lung, Po proclaimed that he was the true Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung laughed at the claim, and Po smugly revealed that he the Dragon Scroll in his possession. This lead to a back-and-forth struggle for the scroll which soon turned into a battle that spread down into the Valley, both Po and Tai Lung trying to get the Dragon Scroll as it fell from place to place.

Po used his creative cunning to keep the scroll away from Tai Lung, even using noodles and a cart propelled by fireworks in the battle, as well as the same maneuvers in his game of "keep-away" with Shifu. Despite his ongoing success, Po finally collapsed when Tai Lung met him with a powerful punch, pummeling the panda to the ground. When Tai Lung finally had the scroll, he was disappointed and stunned when he discovered it was blank. Po, as he was getting up, told him that he hadn't got the scroll's meaning the first time either, and explained that "There is no secret ingredient; it's just you." Infuriated, Tai Lung threw down the Dragon Scroll and struck Po, but his deadly nerve attacks only served to have a ticklish effect on Po, making him laugh.

Po using the Wuxi Finger Hold on Tai Lung

Again, the two fought, Po besting and outsmarting Tai Lung again and again, developing his own improvised style in the process. Eventually, Po caught Tai Lung in the Wuxi Finger Hold, declaring to have figured out the secret to the mysterious technique on his own, and with the word "Skadoosh" and the flexing of his pinky, Po performed the move, sending a massive golden shock wave throughout the Valley of Peace and beyond and defeating Tai Lung.

When the Furious Five and villagers returned, they watched Po emerge from the haze in silence, and became elated, the villagers cheering for his triumph. Mr. Ping raced to his son, overjoyed and proud of his victory as a kung fu warrior. Tigress stepped forward and bowed to Po in respect, smiling and calling him "Master," and the rest of the Furious Five and the Valley followed suit. Po was modestly pleased, but quickly remembered that Shifu was hurt back at the palace. He rushed back and found Shifu still injured, and told him he had defeated Tai Lung.

Po and Shifu eating a meal by the peach tree

Shifu weakly thanked Po for bringing peace both to the Valley and to him, afterwards trailing off and closing his eyes, leaving Po to momentarily mistake him as dying, to which Shifu exclaimed he wasn't. After a quiet, meditative moment, Po asked him if he wanted to get something to eat. He and Shifu later enjoyed a meal of dumplings by the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, overlooking a new day in the Valley of Peace.

In Secrets of the Furious Five

Po and his kung fu class

Po was instructed by Shifu to teach a class of new kung fu students, made up of rambunctious rabbit children. Shifu told Po that it may very well be the toughest challenge he's ever faced, and left a dubious Po to teach the class himself. After calming down the excited group, Po told them stories of how each of the Furious Five learned the secrets of kung fu. When Shifu returned to check on Po's progress, he first thought that Po had taught the rowdy students that kung fu is all about fighting; but after hearing the children point out the lessons of having patience, courage, discipline, compassion, and confidence, Shifu found that Po had taught them well, and allowed him to keep teaching the class.

In Kung Fu Panda Holiday

Wo Hop attacking Po with a wooden spoon

It was the time of the Winter Festival, and Po was informed by Master Shifu in noodle shop that he was to host the Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. The Furious Five were surprised when Po told them this news, and offered to help him prepare for the sophisticated dinner. However, Po was confident that he could do it himself, and was excited about the chance to host the formal gathering. But soon enough, he became overwhelmed by the many tasks of preparing for the Feast, and was burdened further by not being able to have his father come to the event.

After accidentally rejecting and disgracing a rabbit chef named Wo Hop with the "Hun-Shu Wave of Dismissal", Po decided to intentionally dismiss the other chefs trying out for the Feast by tasting and saying their dishes were awful and he later offered the job to his father, along with the Golden Ladle, in hopes that the two of them could spend the holiday together. However, Mr. Ping refused, stating he couldn't be away from the restaurant and let his customers down. After Po told him he couldn't be home during the holiday, Mr. Ping grudgingly told him to to the palace feast, resulting in Po feeling guilty.

Po struggling with a decision of loyalty

Afterwards in the palace kitchen, Po was challenged by Wo Hop to a fight to the death in order to restore his honor, and the rabbit chef made several attempts to attack Po and end his own life, the panda preventing him from doing so again and again. After several disasters (including the kitchen being set of fire and an ice dragon sculpture being beheaded), Po fell into despair, believing that he had disappointed everyone. After a comment from Wo Hop about kung fu being unable to solve everything, Po decided to call on the Furious Five and Wo Hop to help him in his preparations for the Feast. With their extra efforts, everything came together just in time. Tending to a last-minute detail, Po left to fetch some ground jasmine and saw the village houses decorated with colorful lanterns, and was sullen at seeing families together for their own feasts.

Later, when seated with Shifu, the Five, and the visiting kung fu masters at the Jade Palace, Po was complimented by Shifu for creating the perfect feast. However, Po himself was unhappy as he sat with his fellow masters, and found that he could not enjoy the ceremony, as much as he admired the kung fu heroes present. He explained to them his own traditions of having fun with his family, friends, and neighbors during the holiday. He then politely excused himself (much to Shifu's dismay), and then ran off to join his father at the noodle shop.

Po, Shifu, the Furious Five, Mr. Ping, and Wo Hop posing for a portrait

At the shop, Mr. Ping was pleased to see him, and apologized to Po for making him feel guilty, and Po offered to help him cook. They then worked together to make several bowls of holiday-themed noodle soup for the customers, who cheered for them. The Furious Five and the visiting masters later showed up at the restaurant and took part in the festivities as well. Po also presented the Golden Ladle to Wo Hop (whom had shown up to try and attack Po again), restoring honor to him and his home village.

Shifu also came to the noodle shop, still upset that Po had "ruined" the palace feast, but upon seeing the happy celebration taking place inside, Shifu came to appreciate Po's decision. When spotted by the panda, the master was invited inside, and though reluctant to join in the feast, Po insisted, telling him that he was part of his family as well. They joined the others, posing for a group portrait, and Po was able to appease everyone, thanks of his unorthodox, yet sincere actions.

In comics

For biographical information about Po in comics, see this page.

In Legends of Awesomeness

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Po's dreams of kung fu adventure came true the day that Master Oogway named him the legendary Dragon Warrior. Now a master himself, Po gets to live out his dream everyday at the Jade Palace as he sharpens his kung fu skills with Master Shifu, battles bad guys with the Furious Five and of course, takes a snack break every now and then. With the Furious Five by his side, Po will stop at nothing to keep evil out of the Valley of Peace.

In Kung Fu Panda 2

Po stuffing forty bean buns in his mouth

Some time after defeating Tai Lung, Po, cheered on by the Furious Five in the Training Hall, attempted to see how many bean buns he could stuff into his mouth. After reaching forty, he was soon summoned to the Dragon Grotto where he witnessed Shifu meditating. The master then performed a technique that allowed him to catch and guide a falling water droplet upon his paws without breaking it, much to Po's fascination. Shifu specified that he could do this because he'd found inner peace, and that it was the next step in Po's training. Before they could proceed with the lesson, however, Tigress arrived and told Po that the Musicians' Village was under attack by bandits. Po immediately rose to the challenge and left with the Five.

Po facing Boss Wolf in battle

As Po and the Five fought the invading pack of wolves, they worked together in battle and managed to save most of the metal the wolves were attempting to steal. Though the pack had been chased off, another wolf was still present, and Po prepared to fight him off. But before he could do so, he noticed the symbol on the wolf's armor and received a vision of his mother, which temporarily dazed him long enough to take the wolf's hammer to the face, knocking him down and allowing the wolf to escape.

Po questioning Mr. Ping about his origins

Not knowing what to make of his vision, Po went to the noodle shop to seek answers from Mr. Ping. After explaining what he'd seen, he nervously asked him where he came from. Mr. Ping hesitantly admitted the truth that he had adopted him, and then showed him an empty radish crate, telling him the story of how he had found him in it as a baby, and had taken care of him, growing to love him and raise him as his son. Wishing to know more, Po was dissatisfied with what little information he'd gained. Though his father tried to comfort him, reminding him that he had a good life regardless of how his story began, Po remained troubled with lingering questions about his past.

Shifu telling Po and the Five about Lord Shen

Some time later, Shifu received a message that Master Thundering Rhino of Gongmen City had been killed by a powerful weapon crafted by Lord Shen, which was capable of making kung fu obsolete. Shifu then told Po and the Furious Five to go to Gongmen City, destroy the weapon, and defeat Shen, though Po was concerned about how they would be able to "stop something that stops kung fu," to which Shifu advised him that anything was possible—if he had inner peace.

Mr. Ping watching Po depart the Valley

Before Po and the Five could leave the Valley, they were stopped by Mr. Ping, who gave Po a backpack full of his favorite foods, paintings of their moments together, and Po's action figures. Fearing for his son, Mr. Ping pleaded with him not to go, but Po remarked that he had to fulfill his duty as the Dragon Warrior, asking rhetorically what he would be if he did not go to save kung fu. Mr. Ping supplied that he was his son, to which Po merely stared at him, not answering when the goose questioned whether he agreed. Pressed to leave with the others by Tigress, Po said goodbye to the goose and set off on his journey as Mr. Ping sadly watched him go.

Po and the Furious Five traveling on a sampan boat to Gongmen City

They spent several days traveling across China, crossing snowy mountains and huge deserts. One night while sleeping on a river in a small boat, Po had a dream about his parents replacing him with a radish, and woke in distress. He went outside the boat to try and do the technique Shifu had showed him. However, droplets of water kept falling on him, eventually causing him to yell in frustration. Po was then confronted by Tigress, who started to spar with him. Po shared how he had found out that Mr. Ping had adopted him, though tried to shrug off that this bothered him, and complimented Tigress' "hardcore" ability to not feel anything, his comment making Tigress pause in thought.

Po trying to get Storming Ox to leave his cell

When they arrived at Gongmen City, they found that the wolves that had raided the Musicians' Village had taken over the city, harassing the citizens. Po soon separated from the Five and snuck in with a dragon costume, the Five eventually joining him in his disguise. He eventually found a sheep, who told him that Master Storming Ox and Croc were being kept inside Gongmen Jail. Upon arriving at the jail, Po and the Five burst the masters' prison cell door open. However, the two masters refused to come with them and instead were resilient to stay in their cell, stating that kung fu was dead.

Po in a rickshaw chase in Gongmen City

Taken aback by this, Po tried again and again to force them out of their cells, but was unsuccessful, though remained convinced that kung fu still lived. However, before he and others turned to depart, Boss Wolf and two of his wolves found them. Although the two wolves were quickly taken down by the Five, Boss Wolf fled and Po tried to catch him, their battle becoming a frantic chase that led out into the streets, until eventually they ended up in front of Shen's palace, where all of Shen's wolves surrounded them. Po then surrendered and they were subsequently arrested and cuffed, though he stated that he had a plan.

Po and the Five facing Lord Shen

After they were taken up to Shen, Po found a small figurine of the weapon and destroyed it, but his triumph turned to horror when he saw the actual, larger weapon. He met Lord Shen, who laughed at the sight of him in chains, and conversed with the Soothsayer about the panda having had "a lifetime to plot his revenge." Po began to sense that Shen and the Soothsayer knew something that he didn't, but Shen gave no answers, and ordered Boss Wolf to fire the cannon at him and the Five. When he tried to light the fuse, however, Mantis (who had actually been replaced by Po's action figure of him in a cage when they were captured) was quick to put it out, and attacked Boss Wolf.

Po and the Five battling Shen and his minions

Meanwhile, Viper had successfully picked and unlocked Tigress' cuffs, freeing her and the others. Po and the Five then rose to fight, with the Five proceeding to destroy the weapon and Po taking on Shen himself. When Po had the chance to fight the peacock, however, he received another vision, this time of Shen, and realized that he had some connection to his past. With Po frozen before the peacock, Shen escaped and the panda and the Five soon found to their horror that more cannons had been produced. Seeing that they were trapped inside, they made their way up to escape and reached the top of the palace, where they jumped and evaded the fire arrows being shot at them.

Tigress telling Po to stay behind

They returned to Gongmen Jail and Tigress confronted Po as to why he had let Shen escape, telling him to stay while they went to stop Shen after he didn't answer. After Po made many efforts to leave, only to be stopped by Tigress, he finally told her that Shen knew what had happened to his parents, and that had to know the truth about his past, adding, "The hardcore can't understand." He was then surprised when Tigress unexpectedly hugged him, telling him that she did understand, but didn't want to see her friend die. She then left with the rest of the Five as Po stayed behind.

Po facing Shen

However, Po later found his own way into the cannon foundry, and eventually found the peacock. They ensued in a battle, the Five struggling against Shen's minions to reach Po while the panda demanded Shen to tell what had happened. The peacock told him with satisfaction that he'd seen his parents abandoned him and that they didn't love him. Taking advantage of Po's shock at hearing this, he revealed one of his largest cannons and fired at Po. Although Po had shielded himself with a wok pan, the force still shot him out of the factory and into a nearby river, where he drifted unconscious and badly injured.

After floating down the river, Po was eventually rescued by the Soothsayer, who brought him to a derelict village and healed him. The Soothsayer brought up his troubling visions, and told him how she had long ago foreseen that Shen would be defeated by a warrior of black and white. As Po looked around the village, he saw more flashes in his mind from his past, and even recognized an old burnt panda doll. At the advice of the Soothsayer, Po allowed the visions to come freely instead of fighting them until his full memory finally came back and he remembered what had happened.

Po in a meditative state as he remembers his past

In his memory, he saw his parents happily living with him in the village when he was a baby, and saw Shen and his wolves attacking pandas in the village. While raindrops fell as the story flowed through his mind, Po managed to perform the same water drop technique Shifu had demonstrated. He saw that his parents had not abandoned him as Shen claimed, but had both risked their lives to save him, and his mother had hidden him in a crate of radishes before distracting Shen and the wolves to follow her alone. Though saddened at discovering this, Po then recalled all the good memories of his past, as well as the happiness he had in the present. He realized that he had led a fulfilling life since being adopted by Mr. Ping, and, finally knowing who he really was, found inner peace.

Po then returned to Gongmen City, and saw the Furious Five tied up in chains above Shen's fleet, which was just about to leave the city to begin his conquest of China. Shen noticed the panda and ordered his wolves to fire at him. Po made it on the boat and attacked the wolves, freeing the Five and fighting alongside them. Later in the battle, Storming Ox and Croc joined in, along with Shifu, who had traveled to the city after sensing Po's near-death experience. As the battle raged on, Shen managed to take control of a cannon and aimed it Po. Before he fired, however, Tigress pushed Po out of the way, taking most of the impact of the cannon, and she and the other kung fu warriors were blasted into the water.

Po facing Lord Shen's fleet in the city harbor

After surveying the rest of his friends, who were weak and exhausted as they hung on to the wreckage, Po saw to the injured Tigress, and held her paw in concern. Angered at Shen, Po swam to an overturned boat and stood before the entire fleet as the others watched. Shen fired at him once more, and Po, concentrating on inner peace, evaded the cannonball, redirecting it with ease similarly to the water droplet technique. Shen ordered to fire at him again and again, but Po continued to evade and throw the blasts elsewhere, until he caught one of the cannonballs and struggled with its force. Before releasing the cannonball, he said "Skadoosh," then threw it at Shen, and it collided with his cannon, destroying it and his entire fleet.

Po later found Shen among the remains, and the peacock asked him how he managed to find peace after all he had done to him. Po told him that he had simply left his past behind, and urged Shen to do the same. Shen instead started to attack Po in a rage, with Po evading most of his strikes until Shen had inadvertently cut loose his destroyed cannon, which then fell on top of him and exploded as Po dived out of range and into the water. Po surfaced near the dock and was greeted by Tigress, who then helped him out of the water and complimented his actions as "pretty hardcore". Po then hugged her, shocking her and the rest of the warriors who were watching nearby. Shifu then came and and congratulated Po on achieving inner peace. All of the villagers then cheered as Po and the other masters watched the fireworks display above the city.

Po reuniting with his father

Bringing with him two crates of radishes as well as his old panda doll, Po returned home to Mr. Ping, who was dealing with a unsatisfied customer and her son, and was beset with worry for Po. Relieved to see him, he hugged Po happily and asked him if he saved China, to which Po confirmed he had. Po then told him that he had found out about his origins and how he had ended up in the radish basket as a baby. Po declared to Mr. Ping that he knew who he was: "I'm your son." The two shared a long, tearful hug before they went into the noodle shop's kitchen, both insisting to cook for each other.

In Secrets of the Masters

Po admiring the artifacts in the exhibit

Po went to explore the Masters' Council exhibit with Tigress and Mantis, whom he had told there was an "emergency". After crashing through the ceiling, Po started studying the exhibit in awe, and told Tigress and Mantis the story of how Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox, and Croc were brought together.

Later, Shifu arrived and dismissed Tigress and Mantis, and tasked Po with fixing the roof of the exhibit. Before he could start, Po slipped on the floor and fell into the Sarcophagus of Su Wu, which he was trapped in for a presumably long period of time.

In Kung Fu Panda 3

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Po meeting his biological father Li at the noodle shop

In the third film, Po "must face two hugely epic, but very different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to home." He will additionally reunite with his biological father and travel to a hidden village filled with other pandas, and have the difficult task of training his fellow pandas to fight a new, supernatural threat."

Greatly enjoying his status as Dragon Warrior, Po is stunned when Shifu announces that he is leaving the training of the Furious Five to Po in order to pursue his own studies in the art of controlling Chi. After a miserable first day, Po learns that Shifu knew that such would be the case, but that he knows that new challenges are the only way for Po to reach his full potential. He tells Po there is more to being the Dragon Warrior than fighting and running through town giving high-fives. Shifu's words plant the seeds of doubt in Po about his own identity.

When he returned to the noodle shop to play with his action figures while bathing, Po is caught in the act by Mr. Ping, who could tell that something was bothering him. Po soon opened up about his insecurities about being a teacher and whether he was still the Dragon Warrior. Mr. Ping only caught the first half and became excited, knowing that it puts Po in a higher position to expand their franchise.

Then suddenly, a pig burst in, announcing that a stranger was beating Po's dumpling eating record. Po went to the restaurant to investigate and was surprised to see the challenger to be another panda. The panda introduced himself as Li Shan and stated he was looking for his son. Both pandas were slow on the uptake until the assembled crowd groaned and Po and Li warmly embrace each other. Though a jealous Mr. Ping attempts to dispute whether Li was actually Po's biological father, the pandas ignored him as Po learned how to belly gong. Li then shared with Po that learned of his survival via "a message from the universe", and that there was a secret village of pandas.

The pair spend some time goofing off in the Jade Palace, before being discovered by Shifu and the Five. After they identified Li as his father, Shifu suggested that Li observe Po teach a class. Thankfully for Po, they then heard a bell signalling that the valley was under attack by strange monsters made out of jade, whom Po and Monkey quickly dub jombies. Po then recognized their attackers as Masters Badger Twins and Porcupine, who were supposed to be deceased. As the fight moved to the floor of the noodle shop, Po used his "Dumplings of Doom" technique so he and his friends could subdue the jombies. An ominous voice then spoke from the creatures, identifying himself as Kai, vowing to take their chi, before the jombies turn into jade statuettes and flew off.

Returning to the Jade Palace, Shifu found an obscure scroll, revealing Kai was once a comrade of Oogway's five hundred years. Po became deeply interested in the tale when it mentioned that pandas were once great practitioners of chi, who taught Oogway the art, but Kai abused the power to take chi from others, leading to Oogway banishing him to the Spirit Realm. The tale ended stating that only a true master of chi could defeat Kai, which Po assumed Shifu qualified, but was told otherwise. Li then stated that he could teach him, but to do so, Po had to come with him to the secret village to rediscover the true meaning of being a panda. Believing his father's arrival was a sign from the universe, Po agreed to accompany him.

Journeying to the panda village with Li Shan - and being accompanied by Mr. Ping - Po meets other pandas, including his cousins Dim and Sum and the ribbon dancer Mei Mei, and learns more about his mother. However, when Tigress arrives with word that the other masters have all been defeated and turned into jombies by Kai, Po is dealt a second unpleasant surprise: his father has been lying to him about knowing how to control Chi out the misguided belief he was protecting his son. Angered, Po resolves to take Kai head on, but Tigress insisted Kai couldn't be beaten in a head-on fight, so Po insisted on using the Wuxi Finger Hold instead. However, Tigress poked the holes in his plans by reminding that Kai sees through the eyes of his jombies, making it impossible to sneak up on him. They are then approached by Li, Mr. Ping, and the other pandas, who volunteer to stand with him and learn kung fu to battle Kai. Po is initially hesitant, but when Li claimed that they could learn to be like Po, he then realizes what Shifu tried to help him learn: that in teaching others he needs to help them become their best selves, not duplicates of their teachers. He thus set about helping the pandas become kung fu warriors in their own way, and soon his "army" faced off with Kai's force of jombies.

Po's plan worked to perfection, until he learned the unfortunate truth: the Wuxi Finger Hold was ineffective against Spirit Warriors like Kai. However, Po then hit upon an alternative strategy, and used the hold on himself while grabbing Kai in order to send them both to the Spirit Realm. Furious, Kai began to steal Po's Chi as he had the other masters', but Po then received unexpected aid: the villagers and Tigress unlocked the power of their chi and in so doing helped Po master his own. With his new power, Po manifests his chi in the form of a dragon while acknowledging that as the son of a panda, the son of a goose, a student, and a teacher, is what makes him the Dragon Warrior, and fought Kai again. After destroying his two jade swords, Kai swore to take Po's chi even if it took him another five hundred years, to which Po only mocked him, provoking him into attacking. Po then willing gave his chi to Kai, overloading him with power, destroying him and freeing the masters he had captured, including Oogway.

The battle having knocked him out, Po was roused by Oogway, who was pleased with how much Po had matured. He revealed that he was the one who sent Li the "universe mail". He also revealed that reason why he chose Po as Dragon Warrior was because when he first laid eyes on him, he saw the future of kung fu in Po, as well as the pandas who taught Oogway chi in the past, making Po the perfect embodiment of the yin-yang and Oogway's true successor. Oogway then presented Po with a Yin-Yang staff. Though Po was hesitant to take it, he accepted after Oogway mentioned he possessed a bigger staff. After fencing with his new staff, Po asked Oogway what was going to happen next. The tortoise then seemed to vanish in a cloud of petals, making Po panic, only to discover that Oogway wasn't going anywhere, as he was already home. After being told that he could decide whether or not to return, Po was able to use his chi to return to the Physical Realm. Having emerged triumphant, Po was happily embraced by his fathers and fellow masters. As he greeted Shifu, the latter expressed his pride that the student had finally become the teacher, but got caught off after noticing Po's new staff. Po explained that it was a gift from Oogway, to Shifu's annoyance, before asking if Po could teach him.

Po and his extended family all return to the Valley of Peace, where they continue practicing their chi, as Po proudly gazes upon his legacy in the spot where his journey began.

In The Paws of Destiny

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In "Enter the Dragon Master", the panda children Nu Hai, Bao, Jing, and Fan Tong get into an agrument after all four of them want to play Po in one of their pretend games. Po himself later arrives in the village to bless a Sacred Peach Statue at the invitation of his father Li, only to find the village wrecked by the children's antics. After gaining the chi of the Four Constellations, the children ask Po to train them, but he initially refuses. However, he is then summoned to the Spirit Realm by Oogway, who informs him that it is his destiny to be the master of the new Constellations. After seeing them in action in battle with Jade Tusk and her warriors, Po eagerly embraces his unepxected new role.

Personality

“

There is no secret ingredient. It's just you.

—Po, Kung Fu Panda

Po posing in front of his Furious Five action figures

Po is usually easygoing, playful, and cocky like a big kid, as well as rather "fanboyish" when expressing his love for kung fu. In the first film, he is seen as a huge kung fu fan, owning posters and action figures of his favorite warriors, but is himself clumsy, portly, and having low self-confidence, only dreaming he could be a great warrior while feeling stuck in his unfulfilling life at his father's noodle shop. But when given the chance, he is all too eager to learn kung fu the hard way, enduring physical beatings and insults in hopes of changing who he is. After learning that "there is no secret ingredient", Po shows the inner strength to save the Valley of Peace by using his own skills and ingenuity and in the end becomes his own hero.

Po being motivated with a bowl of dumplings during training

Po possesses a kind and selfless nature, and is generally friendly and laid back. He also has a strong sense of justice, and is willing to risk his life to protect others. Though immature and oblivious in some situations, Po is able to take things seriously when it is called for, and is not hesitant to accept heavy responsibility—at times taking on more than he can handle. He is also capable of learning things very quickly with the right motivation, as shown in the first film, and has memorized a vast amount of knowledge about kung fu, even being reliable enough to teach a class on his own.

Po also displays an action-craving attitude along with a natural affinity for humor, and isn't below acting clownish and dishing out quips, even making fun of himself, in order to entertain others. Imaginative and adventurous, he continues to act excitable and marvel over his heroes even after he has become the Dragon Warrior, at times leaving them embarrassed by his behavior. As Po tends to be less serious and disciplined than other masters, he also tends to think more outside the box, and will find different, creative ways to solve a problem if need be. Po has also broken some rules and traditions (as well as still having a habit of breaking physical things), though this is often unintentional. Po's lack of discipline and flippant personality often give him an unintentional advantage over his enemies, since, combined with his appearance, it causes them to disregard him or struggle to take him seriously, so they are often shocked when he proves to be a tenacious and incredibly skilled warrior.

Po at his father's noodle shop

Though Po tries to balance both sides of his busy life—that of his family with Mr. Ping, and his duties as the Dragon Warrior—this is at times difficult for him. Po tries to live up to the expectations of others, even agreeing with them half-heartedly in some matters, as shown in the first film by his deference to work in a noodle shop, being unwilling to disappoint his father. However, this desire to please does not prevent Po from eventually being honest about his own wishes. And despite his deep reverence for kung fu and his fellow warriors, Po is willing to put family ahead of his responsibilities as Dragon Warrior, even if it means passing on prestigious events and disappointing those who count on him, as shown in Kung Fu Panda Holiday.

One of the recurring plot lines in the television series is Po's struggle to not let his title affect his ego. Throughout the series, he is shown to have many adoring fans and he welcomes the attention, occasionally to the point that it begins to negatively impact his duties or those around him. Despite this, he also possesses the self-awareness to realize when he has made a mistake, and is willing to accept responsibility for his actions.

Though having grown more confident since becoming the Dragon Warrior, Po nevertheless has moments of intimidation and self-doubt. Even as he tries to talk tough, this boisterous behavior tends to become more comical than threatening, and is perhaps a front for the panda's insecurities. Despite this, Po does have a sense of dignity and defiance, as shown in the first film when he argued with Master Shifu as he tried to leave the palace, and in the second film when he argued with Tigress in order to seek out Shen.

Additionally in the second film, Po was revealed to be rather stubborn when it comes to admitting his problems, even to his friends, as he developed confusion about his own identity after learning he was adopted by Mr. Ping, and seeing visions of his biological parents. This inner struggle showed that Po tries to stay true to his idea of a strong "hardcore" warrior who is unaffected by emotions. He was also persistent enough to not heed the warning of his friends and endanger himself in order to find answers about his past. However, after finding the truth about what happened to his parents, the panda was able to let go of this dilemma by retaining an appreciation for the life he had led, and achieved inner peace by not letting tragedy define who he was.

Po and Shifu returning from a day of training

Po has hardly changed since his days before learning kung fu, but his unlikely triumph as the Dragon Warrior has changed those around him. Simple, good-natured, and fueled by determination, Po doesn't seem to hold grudges, not even against those who doubt him or treat him with contempt, and is selfless when it comes to protecting those in need, even being able to show compassion for his enemies. Po is much like the opposite of the foes he faces, such as Tai Lung, Shen, and Kai, in that he shows light-heartedness and humility instead of arrogance and desire for more power. It is these qualities, as well as his great respect for kung fu and his loving heart, that mark Po as the Dragon Warrior, able to defeat such villains when no one else could.

Fighting style and abilities

“

My fist hungers for justice! [stomach belches] That was my... fist.

—Po, Kung Fu Panda 2

Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy and study kung fu alongside the Furious Five, Po began training under Master Shifu. But it was soon apparent that the traditional styles of kung fu aren't a good fit for a six-foot-two-inch, 260-pound panda. Shifu discovers that for Po to become the Dragon Warrior, he must embrace Po's inherent panda nature and exploit his physical attributes... including his generous belly and rear end. In the end, Po created his own style that uses his perceived weaknesses as his strengths.

Po often uses an improvised style when he fights and is a master (and the creator) of Panda Style. In his battle with Tai Lung in the first film, Po's bulky physique made him naturally immune to Tai Lung's nerve attacks (which were blunted so much that to Po it felt like he was being intensely tickled), and his portliness making him incredibly resistant to severe physical hits, allowing Po to take Tai Lung's strength and use it against him. Additionally in the second film, Po took a near-direct hit from one of Shen's largest cannons (using only a wok to shield him) and still managed to survive.

Po attacking a wolf henchman with a liuqin

Po will also use anything in the surrounding area to his advantage, such as when he confused Tai Lung by using makeshift stilts to mix up pots and pans which hid the Dragon Scroll, and when he used fireworks to allow him to reach the scroll before his opponent. Po has also demonstrated some skill in the use of various weapons. In Kung Fu Panda 2, Po was shown using a sword against Shen's wolves by using metal musical instruments; combined with his recently-acquired acrobatic skills, he held his own and overwhelmed them by use of an apparent technique of spinning on top of his head. Similarly, Po managed to throw a tuning fork at Shen and nail him to the wall without injuring him.

Despite his size, Po has shown to be extremely agile, able to hold his own against a master as swift as Shifu during training. Furthermore, once he achieved "inner peace", Po was able use the same water drop catching technique as Shifu demonstrated in order to redirect Shen's cannon fire against his armada and was later able to dodge Shen's strikes in a one-on-one confrontation.

In battling alongside the Furious Five, Po has come up with a few techniques of his own. He demonstrated a "Feet of Fury" technique, at which he rapidly kicked at his opponents. He has also learned to work with the members of the Five and perform attacks with them, such as when he and Tigress did a "Double Death Strike" against their opponents.

One of Po's most astounding skills is his quick learning speed; he grasps various kung fu techniques over an incredibly short span of time, whereas others would spend years perfecting such skills. This has amazed his friends and foes alike. In just a manner of days with the right motivation, Po was able to grow proficient enough to match kung fu masters like Shifu and Tai Lung, and achieved inner peace at a very young age. Throughout Legends of Awesomeness, Po has also been shown performing powerful kung fu techniques after seeing them only once or simply reading about them. He also invented a few types of fighting styles by himself.

Despite Po's physiological limitations, he is extremely quick and agile, able to overpower and go toe-to-toe with some of the greatest threats he has ever faced, such as Tai Lung or Shen or even the supernatural entity, Kai. Like any panda, Po's physiology is also extremely durable, being able to take a powerful blows from Tai Lung, with only minor injuries. He even withstood a hit from Lord Shen's biggest Cannon, with only some injuries and went into a temporary comatose state for a short time. His greatest showcase of durability was when he managed to take a focused strike from Kai, a being who has supernatural strength with only some bruises. His physiology is also immune to any stun-based attacks, making Tai Lung's special attacks pointless against him.

In Kung Fu Panda 3, Po was shown the power of chi by Master Shifu, who was able to use it to make a flower bloom. Eventually, Po confronted the supernatural warrior Kai, who was stealing chi from kung fu masters and turning them into jade zombies that would become his henchmen. Po eventually ended up bringing the both of them into the Spirit Realm, where he was able to use the power of chi himself, so proficiently that he was able to form a dragon-shaped embodiment of light around himself. Aided by his best friends and family, Po was able to gather enough chi to overpower and destroy Kai and return to the mortal realm, having once again demonstrated how swiftly he can learn a new skill.

Like Kai, Po is now technically a "Spirit Warrior" himself, having been sent to the Spirit Realm and made his way back to the physical world. And similarly to Kai, this could mean that Po is now impervious to certain kung fu techniques, such as the Wuxi Finger Hold.

Raised as a son from a long line of noodle makers by Mr. Ping, Po is a talented noodle maker and an excellent chef, having worked in his father's restaurant for years. He knows how to chop up items rapidly and with precision. In Kung Fu Panda Holiday, he ends up attempting to cook the entire Winter Feast for the Jade Palace by himself, only really failing because he didn't have enough time to do so alongside all his other responsibilities. At no time did he demonstrate that he didn't know how to cook something in the kitchen.

Relationships

Family

Mr. Ping

“

That's my boy! That big lovely kung fu warrior is my son!

—Mr. Ping cheering for Po's victory, Kung Fu Panda

Mr. Ping tying a cooking apron around Po

Po has a close relationship with his adoptive goose father. Presumably up until the first film, he had been pretending to share his father's interest in noodles and inheriting his noodle shop. Mr. Ping was delighted at the idea of Po following the family business, though seemed oblivious to the fact that Po was actually a big fan of kung fu. Despite his dream to become a kung fu warrior, Po complied to work in the noodle shop half-heartedly, not wanting to disappoint his father.

When Po confessed his true interest was in kung fu, Mr. Ping was flabbergasted, and even more so after Po was declared the Dragon Warrior. However, the goose seemed to think little would come of it as he only carried on absentmindedly after Po returned home after seemingly failing in becoming a kung fu warrior, merely bringing Po back into the noodle business while they evacuated the Valley. But when he noticed Po was despairing, he expressed he was sorry things hadn't worked out, but added that he still had a future to look forward to as they were "noodle folk".

When this didn't cheer him up, Po revealed that he sometimes thought it was hard to believe he was the goose's son. Mr. Ping was taken aback, but again tried to comfort his son by telling him the secret of his "secret ingredient soup", which helped Po to understand the meaning of the Dragon Scroll and eventually succeed in his dreams. At the end of the film, Mr. Ping was proud and overjoyed in his son's heroics, and the two embraced in a hug.

Po and his father cooking together in Kung Fu Panda Holiday

In Kung Fu Panda Holiday, Po had the difficult choice of deciding whether to be with his father during the holiday, or to follow his duties as the Dragon Warrior and attend the feast at the Jade Palace. This led to a mild argument between the two as Po tried to fix things so his father could come while Mr. Ping insisted he had to stay at his restaurant, begrudgingly telling Po to "do the right thing." In the end, Po dismissed himself from the banquet at the palace, unable to enjoy it, and spent the holiday cooking with Mr. Ping, who apologized to Po for making him feel guilty.

Po greeting his father in Kung Fu Panda 2

Their bond was tested even further in the second film, when Mr. Ping finally told Po that he adopted him as a cub. An awkwardness grew between them as a result, with Mr. Ping fearful for his son as he left to stop a new threat, and Po unable to answer Mr. Ping when he asked him if he was still his son. However, Po discovered his horrific past and realized that he had led a happy life with Mr. Ping. When he returned to the Valley of Peace, he saw Mr. Ping had been deeply worried for him and was overjoyed to see him again, though was apprehensive when Po stated that he had found where he was born, and now knew who he was. Po declared that he was his son. The two heartily embraced, and then insisted on cooking for one another, reunited again as a family.

In the third film, Po's biological father is to appear and Po will apparently have a hard time trying to please both him and Mr. Ping, who "feels very protective", according to Po's voice actor Jack Black. When Mr. Ping heard Po was going to become a teacher, Mr. Ping thought it was a promotion and that Po should go for it since it would mean one day Mr. Ping could serve noodles in the jade palace. He also became upset when Li showed up and declared himself Po's father. While when he first saw Li and heard his story, he recognized he was Po's father but denied it and tried to separate the two. He even followed them when they went to the Secret Panda village. He tried to be there for Po and prevent him from bonding with his biological father too much. He even tried feeding him buns and tried finding him around the village. When Kai is coming, he decides to stay and be there for his son. He even declared to Li he was scared Li would steal Po from him, but realized that Li being in Po's life didn't mean less for Mr.Ping but more for Po. He joined the fight against Kai and when his son was sent to the Spirit Realm, he was extremely worried and sent some of his chi to Po, saying Po gave him a family. He was happy when Po came back and told him never to do that again. By the end of the film, the bond between Po and Mr. Ping remains strong as the two still acknowledge each other as family even when Li is reintroduced into Po's life.

Li

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Po reunited with his biological father

Like Po, Li is shown to enjoy eating and having a good time. when they first meet, Li is shown stuffing dumplings in a similar manner to Po and the two were both fairly oblivious that the other is their family until they belatedly realize it and embrace. They enjoy bonding and even played with the weapons of the Hall of Warriors. Po showed off the hall of heroes and his fighting abilities to make Li proud, though this only made Li worry for his safety. Po followed his father to the village when his father claimed to be able to teach Po how to use Chi to stop Kai. His father took him to the village, along with Mr. Ping who sneaked in and was introduced to the many relatives and pandas there. His father also began teaching him how to be a true panda, such as sleeping in and eating more than one dumpling at a time and yawning and other panda activities.

After some bonding time, Li then took Po to the altar with his wife's picture, explaining the grief he felt over not protecting his family. Po promised he would not leave him but after learning his father lied about being able to teach him chi, he felt betrayed since his lie cost him his friends and Po couldn't protect them or the valley as he left to learn chi in the village. He then declared that Li lost him as his son and decides to stay in the village rather than evacuate to train and battle against Kai. Li just wants to protect Po, haunted by the events of the past that separated him from his family which was why he lied, but Mr. Ping teaches him that no matter what Po would be his son and forgive him and what was important was that both of them be there for Po. Po's faith in his father is restored when he becomes the first alongside Mr. Ping to volunteer to help, persuading the village to as well. He even aided him against the fight with Kai and his jade zombies. When Po sent himself and Kai to the spirit realm, he watched in horror and was the first to mimic the chi technique he saw in the scroll and gathering the others to follow so he could lend his chi to his son to fight Kai. He and Mr. Ping were overjoyed upon seeing Po alive and he began training under his son alongside the citizens of the valley of peace and the other pandas, proud of Po and the two reunited as family.

His mother

Po initially had no memories of his mother. When his memories started to resurface, he could only remember her leaving him and he began to think she and his father abandoned him, even having a dream where they replaced him with a radish that knows kung fu. However, with some encouragement from the Soothsayer, he remembered she in fact sacrificed herself in order to save him from Lord Shen and his army and realized how loving and caring she truly was.

When Po went with his father to his hut, Li showed him a painting of his mother with Po as a cub, and talked fondly about her and how much he'd loved her. Though recalling their loss was saddening, Po was still pleased to hear more about her.

Dim and Sum

Po's cousins were introduced to Po by Li after arriving at the Panda Village. Po was very excited after learning he had cousins, as that meant he had more relatives besides his father. They get along very well, as they have similar likes and personalities.

Masters of the Jade Palace

Shifu

Shifu threatening Po with the Wuxi Finger Hold

Though Po had merely been trying to see which of the Furious Five would be chosen as the Dragon Warrior, he himself ended up being selected by Oogway instead of any of Shifu's students. Though Oogway had foretold that whoever he'd choose would bring peace to the Valley and to Shifu himself, Shifu refused to accept that a "flabby panda" could be the true Dragon Warrior. Outraged at this turn of events, he immediately determined that he would make the unwitting panda quit his training by morning, and later met Po in the Jade Palace, quickly showing his disapproval for the panda by mocking his pudgy appearance. Though Po tried to talk back, he was quickly caught in the Wuxi Finger Hold by the master, who threatened that he would regret ever being chosen.

Daunted, Po was then shown into the Training Hall, but being a big fan of kung fu, he showed a willingness to do some moves himself. However, he clumsily came upon several training mechanisms, Shifu and the Five merely watching him in his struggle, and Shifu only pleased to see the panda having a hard time. Though Po was discouraged that Shifu could ever make him into the Dragon Warrior, he received some advice from Oogway to concentrate on the moment instead of doubting his abilities.

That next morning the red panda was convinced Po had quit as his quarters were empty, but he saw that Po had instead arrived at early the training courtyard to "warm up". Annoyed, Shifu later set him up with many brutal sparring matches with the Five and himself, again hoping it would drive the panda to quit. However, Po only demonstrated an eager fearlessness to continue despite failing and getting pummeled every time. Infuriated, Shifu kicked the panda out of the training grounds and down the palace stairs himself.

However, Po still didn't quit, and was later seen with the Five, mimicking Shifu's stern personality much to their amusement, until Shifu himself appeared a moment later and shared the grim news that Tai Lung had escaped prison and was returning, and that Po was the only one who could stop him. Po was alarmed and fled, but was stopped by Shifu outside the palace stairs. Po then confronted the master about how he'd been trying to get rid of him, and that neither of them really thought he was the Dragon Warrior. Shifu asked him why he hadn't quit in spite of everything, and was taken aback when Po admitted that being beat and humiliated was still better than living every day being himself, and hoped that by staying, the kung fu master could change him. When Po demanded just how Shifu could actually help him to win against Tai Lung, Shifu was at a loss and quietly retreated without an answer.

Po and Shifu bowing to each other

The next morning, Po was discovered raiding the barracks' kitchen, eating everything he could find in his distraught state. Shifu was astounded to see that Po displayed an unintentional talent in kung fu while trying to rummage the place for more food, even making a perfect split while doing so. Shifu understood that the best way to teach him was to use food as motivation, and with that, he took the panda to the Wu Dan Mountains. He proclaimed that he would be Po's master and would teach him kung fu, much to Po's elation. During an intense period of training, the two formed a bond of friendship and trust, and Shifu saw Po's mastery and humility in a final test of "keep away" using a dumpling as the prize. Though Po won, he gave back the dumpling, declaring with confidence that he wasn't hungry, and ended bowing respectfully to his master, with Shifu bowing to him in return.

By the time they returned to the Jade Palace, Shifu believed that Po was ready to receive the Dragon Scroll, and used his name instead of calling him "panda" when addressing him. But when the scroll turned out to be blank, both Po and Shifu were confused, neither seeing how Po could defeat the snow leopard on his own. With Tai Lung approaching, the Five were ordered to to evacuate the Valley, while Shifu declared he would fight Tai Lung himself. Po was reluctant to let Shifu fight alone, afraid he would be killed, but he obeyed and left with the Five. Once he reunited with his father and realized the true secret of the Dragon Scroll, Po returned to the palace just in time to save an injured Shifu from Tai Lung's attack.

Po speaking to a weakened Shifu

After Po defeated Tai Lung, he again returned to the palace and found Shifu, who weakly thanked him for saving the Valley and bringing him peace, seeing that Oogway had indeed been right, and that Po was the Dragon Warrior foretold of in legend. After the master trailed off and closed his eyes, the panda pleaded with him not to die, only for Shifu to yell back that he wasn't dying, he was only at peace, and master and student shared a long meditative moment side by side, until Po interrupted, asking if Shifu wanted to get something to eat, which the red panda agreed to after a sigh. Po and Shifu then shared a meal of dumplings at the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, together as two friends.

Although Shifu has accepted Po, he continues to show some impatience with the panda, and later stated that the day Po was chosen as Dragon Warrior was the worst day of his life, though also noted that Po had not been the real cause of his turmoil, but rather it was his own expectations and presumptions. He also appeared to be slightly jealous that Po had mastered inner peace at such a young age, though he was deeply impressed at Po's incredibly swift mastery and how he used it to defeat Lord Shen. The two now continue to sustain a good friendship, with only the occasional quarrel, and Po has also come to consider Shifu as being part of his family.

The Furious Five

Po flying into battle with the Furious Five in Kung Fu Panda 2

As a big fan of the Furious Five, Po's admiration for them is great, so much that his bedroom is covered in posters and he owns an action figure set he had carved himself. He was willing to make several comedic and potentially dangerous attempts to get into the palace arena, just to see the Furious Five perform in the Dragon Warrior Tournament. Po was disheartened when the Five were disdainful of him after being chosen as the Dragon Warrior, though he was eventually able to win them over with his cooking skills and his tenacity.

In the second film, Po has joined forces with the Furious Five and now stands as good friends with them. However, he has a tendency to embarrass them from time to time; for example, when he indiscreetly sneaked into Gongmen City donning a Dragon Costume, and when he later destroyed a model of Shen's cannon, mistaking it for the real one, with the Five staring at him in shock and embarrassment. However, the Five deeply care for Po, evidenced by their despair when Po was seemingly killed, and their ecstasy when he returned alive.

In Kung Fu Panda 3, the Furious Five continue to respect Po and were confident, albeit skeptical when Shifu appointed him their new teacher. Although, Po failed miserably and his attempts at teaching resulted in them sustaining injuries. They were also very excited at the discovery of Po’s Father being alive and happily greeted him.

At the end of the film, they all share a hug with Po, after he resurrected their chi. Po accepts his new duties as teacher and the Five continue to stand by his side.

Tigress

Tigress telling Po to leave

After being chosen as the Dragon Warrior, presumably before it seemed Tigress was about to be chosen, Po was treated with contempt by her, as shown during his first night in the Palace's barracks, and he was upset when Tigress blatantly told him he was a disgrace to kung fu and should leave. Although Tigress continued to display resentment towards Po for the majority of the film, he never held a grudge against her. It wasn't until the film's end that Tigress finally accepted Po as the Dragon Warrior, and Po seemed appreciative of it.

In the events depicted in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Po and Tigress are shown as friends as allies. Po makes frequent attempts to bond with her throughout the series, though he often gets in his own way, even getting jealous when others get along with her better. Though Po's many flaws and antics frequently annoy Tigress, she realizes that he is a resourceful warrior who truly deserves to be the Dragon Warrior.

In the sequel, Po and Tigress seemed to have developed a closer friendship with each other since the events of the first film. This was first seen when Po stuffed forty bean buns in his mouth and Tigress encouraged him, joining in on the fun with he rest of the Five. Furthermore, like the rest of the Five, Tigress has learned to work in unison with Po in combat, as shown when they fought off the wolf bandits in the Musician Village.

Tigress telling Po to stay behind

When Po became afflicted with an identity crisis when he learned the truth about his adoption, Tigress alone persuaded him to talk about his emotional problems, but during their conversation Po unknowingly made Tigress feel uncomfortable when he claimed that she couldn't feel anything.

Despite their close friendship, Po was extremely reluctant to tell Tigress about his discovery of Shen's involvement in his past when she interrogated him in Gongmen Jail. When Tigress ordered Po to stay behind in the prison after he had allowed Shen to escape, he insisted on leaving, leading to a minor one-sided duel between them. Po eventually revealed his wish to learn the truth about his parents, and stated that the "hardcore" wouldn't understand. He received a shock when she hugged him instead of lunging at him. She told Po she did understand, but wouldn't allow her friend to be killed, showing him that she wasn't as unfeeling as Po thought she was.

Po hugging Tigress

Near the end of the movie, during the battle in the canal, Tigress shoved Po out of the line of fire a second before Shen fired his cannon and sent the kung fu warriors flying into the harbor. After the explosion, Po swam for Tigress after spotting her lying motionless on a piece of driftwood, and gently took her paw. Seeing how badly injured she was, Po locked eyes with Shen, giving him a long burning glare. He then pushed Tigress out of firing range before swimming away to face Shen's armada for the last time.

After Shen was defeated, Po hugged Tigress after she had complimented his heroic actions as "pretty hardcore". Tigress was bewildered and didn't hug back, but stood alongside Po and the others and happily watched the fireworks above Gongmen City in wake of Po's victory.

In the third film, it is shown that Po and Tigress’ relationship remains strong. Although Tigress continues to be annoyed by Po’s ridiculous statements, such as when he said that she should be teacher instead since she was very instructive. She was still more than willing to accept Po as her new teacher and was confident that he will do well. Po’s teachings resulted in Tigress being shot with an arrow and her ear lit on a tiny flame. Tigress was also very glad to see Po’s father alive and happily greeted him.

After Shifu and the rest of Five were captured by Kai, she retreated to the Panda Village, to inform Po that he had to master chi quickly to await a battle with Kai. Tigress tells Po that without chi, he doesn’t stand a chance against Kai. Po angrily admits that he is no master of chi and is uncertain of who he is and Tigress watches sympathetically.

When Po gets the idea to train the Pandas of the village, Tigress remains baffled over what Po decided to do. Later in the film, Tigress masters chi, along with the other pandas to infuse Po in the Spirit Realm with chi, for him to defeat Kai. Po succeeds and returns to the Mortal Realm. Po, Tigress and everyone else share a big hug. Tigress respects Po as her new teacher and continues to stand by his side.

Monkey

Like others of the Furious Five, Monkey expressed doubts about Po being the true Dragon Warrior, but also took it humorously. Though Monkey joked and laughed at the panda, he also laughed the loudest at Po's own jokes, such as his impersonation of Shifu. Po's perseverance in training moved Monkey to respect Po's determination, and he eventually accepted him as the Dragon Warrior and a fellow kung fu master with the rest of the Five.

It is seen in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness that Po and Monkey often laugh and joke with each other, sometimes at the expense of the rest of the Five. They both also have a bit of a competitive streak with each other, shown in "Scorpion's Sting" when they tried to gain points over each other in their feats. However, their friendship was strong enough to break Scorpion's control over Monkey, and allowed them to work together to overcome defeat her.

In the series, Po has referred to Monkey as his best friend, even protecting him when a mob of villagers suspected he was behind a number of robberies in the Valley (which Monkey's brother committed), and he stopped Monkey from fleeing the Valley because of it, eventually helping to clear his name, with Monkey thanking him and calling him "bro".

Mantis

Like the rest of the Five, Mantis didn't believe Po was the real Dragon Warrior at first, and exkpressed mild, humorous disrespect towards him. He once joked that whenever Po walked, the very ground shook (unaware that at the time, Po was listening in). However, as Mantis gradually warmed up to him along with the others, he rather unsuccessfully tried to treat Po using acupuncture after a painful first day of training, claiming it would help him feel better, and noted that he himself had no right to discount someone based on their size. He was also the first to note Po's excellence in cooking.

While Monkey is stated to be Po's best friend, in many ways Mantis is also shown to get along well with Po, hanging out with Po more often than most of the Furious Five and acting as an older brother figure to Po to ensure he doesn't put himself in danger. Po in turn looks up to Mantis and enjoys his company, often hanging out with him and trying to help him. There have been a number of episodes that focused on or showed their close relationship, including "Sticky Situation", "Hometown Hero", "Kung fu Shoes", "Maltese Mantis", "Huge", and "Mouth Off".

In the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness episode "Hometown Hero", Po was shocked when he discovered that Mantis had told everyone in his hometown that he was the Dragon Warrior to get back at his ex-fiancee, Hao Ming. Despite this, he displayed his great loyalty by allowing Mantis to continue to facade and rub Hao's nose in it, while Po would disguise himself as his sidekick. However, this led to a brief rift in their friendship when Mantis began to frequently let Po down, choosing to spend time with Hao rather than help Po in a duel with Hao's ex-boyfriend, Dosu. The friendship was mended when Mantis eventually realized that Hao only wanted to marry him for his title, and rescued Po when he received another pummeling from Dosu.

In "Sticky Situation", Mantis was depressed about his girlfriend dumping him because she turned from a catepillar into a butterfly and Po tried to comfort him throughout the episode (as a subplot of the episode).

In "Kung Fu Shoes", he asked Mantis to watch him and make sure if he came close to achieving the status of Celestial Phoenix by performing the three needles test and when Mantis accidentally told him about an illegal market that sold black market which Po went to in order to get kung fu shoes that would allow him to become the celestial phoenix and get out of training, Mantis frequently advised him it was a bad idea.

In "Maltese Mantis", Po insisted that Mantis go to the fest since he wanted to share with Mantis the experience, where enthusiasts came to trade action figures, play games, and reenact famous battle scenes despite Mantis being reluctant due to the fact he heard it was filled with geeks.

In "Huge", when Mantis showed insecurity about his small size after losing to Lidong who is bigger than most, Po tried to comfort him to no success. After Mantis took a Gung-Tao potion to become bigger, Po supported him and said how awesome he was but when things got out of hand after Mantis took more of the potion to deal with Fung and Lidong, Po was the one to go get the antidote to fix Mantis.

In "Mouth Off" he supported Po in his desire to stop his talking habit to improve his kung fu skills.

Viper

Of the Five, Viper was the only one who showed a more kind and compassionate disbelief that Po was the Dragon Warrior as she feared that Po would just wind up getting hurt or worse. Shown in their brief spar (where she apologized after beating him to the ground), Viper was more friendly towards the panda, and was the first to notice his determination to not quit his training. Like the rest of the Five (sans Tigress), she warmed up to Po more after she was treated to his good cooking and sense of humor.

Crane

Like the rest of the Five, Crane showed disbelief that Po was the true Dragon Warrior, sarcastically and dramatically proclaiming, "He is so mighty - the Dragon Warrior fell out of the sky in a ball of fire!" Additionally, he had no problem mocking Po behind his back, but was more awkward when speaking to him directly, as shown in their first conversation together.

Throughout the first film, Crane mellowed out towards Po, who had eventually won most of the others over with his cooking and sense of humor. When Shifu ordered them all to evacuate the Valley, Crane led Po out of the palace, understanding his loyalty to their master. Shown in the second film, Crane has come to work with Po very well, usually helping Po land safely from high altitudes or helping him with aerial maneuvers and techniques.

Oogway

Oogway talking with Po in Kung Fu Panda

Oogway was the main reason that Po became the Dragon Warrior in the first film. He was the one that was first inspired and told the world of Po's destined calling, much to everyone's disbelief.

When Oogway had found Po sitting under the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom one night, Oogway sensed the panda's pain and asked why he was upset. Po explained his position with Shifu, the Furious Five, and his previous life at the noodle shop with his father, to which the old tortoise kindly gave him advice about concentrating on the present instead of worrying about the past or the future. This comforted Po and encouraged him to keep trying to achieve his dreams and fulfill his destined calling as the Dragon Warrior.

Though Po respected Oogway, he possibly thought he was a bit senile as well, as he commented that Oogway was a "crazy old turtle after all" when the Dragon Scroll that was meant to be the secret to limitless power was revealed to be blank. But Po still considered him an important figure to him, and even apologized to Oogway's statue for failing to follow in his footsteps.

At the end of the third film, after he defeated Kai, Po remained in the Spirit Realm, where he encountered Oogway. Oogway admired how much Po has grown and reveals to him that he was the one who sent the universal message to his father to inform him that his son was still alive, which Po thanks him for. Oogway reveals that on the day he chose Po as Dragon Warrior, he saw the future of Kung Fu and the past of when pandas once knew chi. By teaching the pandas chi, Po united the future with the past. Oogway calls Po his true successor and passes down his Yin Yang staff. With it, Po returns to the Mortal Realm and continues to spread Oogway's teachings.

Masters of Gongmen City

Storming Ox and Croc

Po trying to get Storming Ox to leave his cell in Kung Fu Panda 2

Po first met Masters Storming Ox and Croc in Gongmen Jail during the events of Kung Fu Panda 2. Po was first under the impression that both Ox and Croc were actually in need of rescuing. When they revealed their decision to stay in prison, Po tried to convince the two that Lord Shen needed to be stopped. Masters Ox and Croc were both adamant that any attempt to stop the peacock would merely result in Shen's cannon being turned against the citizens of Gongmen City, and refused time and again to leave their cell. Po was beside himself to see the prestigious kung fu masters seem so easily defeated, and was even more dismayed at Storming Ox's proclamation that kung fu was dead. Having lost patience with the hopeless duo, Po told them to remain in their cell to wallow in their shame.

His belief in them was restored during the Battle of Gongmen City, when Ox and Croc unexpectedly joined in the battle after all, having been persuaded by Master Shifu.

Villains

Tai Lung

Po about to use the Wuxi Finger Hold on Tai Lung in Kung Fu Panda

Po already knew some things about Tai Lung (specifically the leopard's mastery of all one thousand scrolls of kung fu and his eventual incarceration), but he had never actually met him. But when Shifu told Po one night that Tai Lung was returning to the Valley of Peace and he was the only one who could stop him, Po instantly became baffled and fear-stricken. Similarly, when Tai Lung had escaped prison, his only thought was to battle the Dragon Warrior and claim the Dragon Scroll, which he thought was rightfully his.

When they finally met, Tai Lung was taken aback, as he had never dreamed that the legendary Dragon Warrior would be a panda. As they fought each other, their determination and rivalry were constantly tested when they tried to outdo each other. Even after Tai Lung had victoriously retrieved the scroll and Po explained the truth about its message, in that it's blank, reflective surface symbolized that the power was only to believe in oneself. Enraged, the snow leopard continued to fight him to the point of exhaustion. As Po gained the upper hand, he finally performed the Wuxi Finger Hold, which served to defeat the snow leopard and prove to all that he was indeed the true Dragon Warrior.

Shen

Po facing Shen in Kung Fu Panda 2

Until the events of the second film, Po had only heard of the peacock's name days before confronting him in Gongmen City, and was unaware of what Shen had done to his family and birth village. Before finding out the truth, he had treated Shen like any other ruthless villain; but when he saw a vision of Shen and what had happened to his village, Po tried numerous times to get information from him about what exactly happened the night that the pandas were massacred.

Shen merely saw this as an opportunity to be cruel. He told Po numerous lies, stating that he had been abandoned by his mother and father, and even stating that Po's parents never truly loved him in the first place. After finding inner peace and discovering that Shen had lied, Po bravely stood up to the peacock before his fleet could leave the city and spread destruction across the country. And after defeating him and his army, Po boldly confronted Shen, and tried to talk him into letting go of his past, commenting that "The only thing that matters is what you choose now". Shen responded by choosing to attack him, and Po stayed on the defensive until Shen's strikes inadvertently led to the peacock's own death.

Boss Wolf

Po fighting Boss Wolf in Gongmen City

Ever since Boss Wolf whacked Po in the face with a hammer during their encounter at the Artisan Village, Po took an intense dislike to the wolf and attempted to pay him back when Crane pointed him out in Gongmen City. As enemies, Po struggled against Boss Wolf, and Boss Wolf taunted and insulted the panda at every opportunity, but unlike Shen, he did not underestimate him, having witnessed his kung fu skill first hand.

It was later revealed that Boss Wolf and Po had met before: When Shen and his army attacked a panda village years ago, Boss Wolf had attacked Po when he was an infant, but Po's father intervened and struck him in the face with a farming tool before he could harm the child. This incident scarred Boss Wolf's left eye. While Po was eventually able to remember this encounter, Boss Wolf most likely never knew that Po was the same panda he had tried to murder as a baby.

Kai

Po confronting Kai

In the third film, Po is to face Kai, a a villain who can "steal the powers from every kung fu master he defeats", and who has "his sights set on Po." Po, along with most others, had never heard of Kai, much to his annoyance. When he sent his jade warriors to fight the Furious Five and Po, he was happy to have found Po and set his sights on eliminating him. Po went to the Secret Panda Village to learn chi to defeat Kai and when he learned his father had lied about teaching him chi, he decided to stay in the village to confront Kai. Tigress warned him that Kai was too powerful, with Po denying the claim and telling her he would use the Wu Xi finger hold on Kai, but Tigress warned him he wouldn't even be able to get close to him. Po then agreed and trained the villagers to fight Kai to distract him long enough to get a hold of Kai and use the Wu Xi finger hold on him. When he realized that didn't work, he decided to use it on himself and send Kai with him. Kai, angered that Po had sent him back, engaged in a fight with him, which Po ultimately won.

The two did not spend much time together but it is clear they hate each other. Po hates him for destroying the Valley of Peace and turning his friends and the other masters into jombies while Kai saw him merely as an obstacle to defeat. Unlike the previous two villains, Kai did have some respect for Po since the very beginning, having understood Po was a formidable opponent he needed to defeat to accomplish his goals. Moreover, Po was also the only one that remembered Kai's various titles ( i.e; "beast of vengeance" and "maker of widows") and history, making Kai thankful to the point of mentioning that it almost made him want to spare Po's life. However, he stil underestimated him which led to his downfall. Po also respected Kai's amount of skill, understanding he would need help to get close enough to defeat Kai and thinking his jombies were cool. He also showed his respect when he called Kai by his long self proclaimed titles such as maker of widowers, which made Kai happy enough to almost not want to kill him. However, Po did taunt him at times, calling Kai chatty and using sarcastic gestures. Kai was annoyed when Po sent him back and promised he would defeat him but ultimately lost.

Others

In Legends of Awesomeness

See Po/Relationships.

The Soothsayer

Po and the Soothsayer in Kung Fu Panda 2

Po's relationship with the Soothsayer started out as a bit unexpected and non-existent, as Po had never seen her before. Po had thought she was sided with Shen, which made the Soothsayer realize that he didn't know what had happened in his past.

They were soon caught up in matters that delayed their relationship to develop any further, but after Po was blasted from the Fireworks Factory and knocked unconscious in the river, she took him in and nursed him back to heath. Po, at first, thought she was still working for Shen and tried to escape, but then she told him that she only wanted to help him. Po then asked why she saved him, and she replied that he needed to fulfill his destiny. She aided Po in recovering the long-lost memories of his past and helped him see his true calling of the warrior he was born to be. This left Po more sure and more aware of himself than he ever was.

Po most likely never held a grudge towards the Soothsayer for making the prophecy that led to his village's destruction.

Mei Mei

Po met Mei Mei after reuniting with his biological father and finding the other pandas. Upon meeting the ribbon-dancer, Po was extremely nervous to her outgoing, flirtatious behavior, but he started to mellow out with her overtime.

Clothing

Po in his regular clothes

Po wears nothing from the top, but does wear burlap pants that consist of patches stitched in, with a variety of different colors and hues. He also wears a red and yellow striped portion of his pants above, and wears gauze wraps around his ankles, and shoes that look like panda toes, and panda paws on the bottom.

Po's formal Winter Feast outfit

In Kung Fu Panda Holiday, Po's casual winter clothes consisted of a red snow hat with yellow-dotted black stripes and a yellow scarf. At the Jade Palace's formal Winter Feast dinner, Po wore his same pants, but with a tall dark coronet-like hat on his head and a large dark cape around his neck.

At one point in Kung Fu Panda 2, he also wore a small straw hat for a short time when he went to confront Shen's fleet in Gongmen City.

Po's new outfit in a sequence from Kung Fu Panda 3

In Kung Fu Panda 3, Po is shown in a new outfit that appears to match his fur, with a white robe that has black trimming, and long, black sleeves trimmed with gold. With this he wears a long gold cape, a red sash across his waist, and a straw hat. This appearance greatly resembles that of the dream Po from the first film, and only appears when Po is in the Spirit Realm. While there, Po was also eventually given a special staff by Oogway himself.

Trivia

General

• Po's full name, Po Ping (simplified Chinese: 宝平; traditional Chinese: 寶平; pinyin: "bǎo píng"), translates to "precious peace" in Chinese.
• Po has a special "fighting fist" control that he only uses when he's engaging in kung fu.
• When the real Po is first seen in Kung Fu Panda, he is shown upside down. This was meant as a visual motif, as Po is also shown upside down in the final scene of the film.
• According to Jack Black, Po is technically the "leader" of the Furious Five, but not a member of the quintet.
• Po's favorite Furious Five member is Tigress, despite the fact that she showed considerable disrespect and disgust at him throughout most of the first film.
• In the first film, Po mentions that he has "no claws", but he does appear to have them, albeit stubby ones.
• According to Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Po never went to school as a cub. However, during the credits of Kung Fu Panda 2, young Po is seen in a schoolhouse.
• Po is allergic to feathers, dust, flowers, and pollen.^[source?]
• In an interview with "Po" for Scholastic News Online, Po shares how Crane told him the giant panda is called a "large bear-cat" in China. This actually comes from the literal translation for "giant panda" in Chinese (traditional and simplified Chinese: 大熊貓; pinyin: dà xióng māo).
• In the opening sequences of the first film (during Po's dream), he rapidly kicked his enemies in mid-air. This move was used for real by Po during the first fight scene in Kung Fu Panda 2, calling the move "Feet of Fury".
• In Kung Fu Panda 2, when Po supposedly fit forty bean buns in his mouth, there were actually only nine.
• In the end credits of Kung Fu Panda 2, it is revealed that Po carved his Furious Five action figures himself.

In development

• Earlier versions of Po's character had him not as a fan of kung fu, and he was "rather hateable and stupid and dead-end". However, Jack Black's performance helped to change and define Po's personality as more of a vulnerable kind instead.
• In development, Po went through a variety of origins. Among these were living in a panda village with his mother, working in a chime factory, and being an indentured servant to Mr. Ping.
• In earlier story treatments, Po's adoptive father was going to be Shifu.
• The "weirdest" animation control was for Po's uvula.
• Po's cheeks were rebuilt during the first film to allow him to stuff his mouth with more food.

In popular culture

Po and the Furious Five parodied in MAD

• Baseball player Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants is nicknamed "Kung Fu Panda."
• As a tribute to the star of the films, a newborn giant panda cub in Zoo Atlanta—the only one born in the U.S. in 2010—was named Po. Jack Black was present for the naming of the newborn cub.
• A spoof character of Po, known simply as "Kung Fu Panda", appeared in the 2008 parody film Disaster Movie.
• Spoof versions of Po have appeared in the Cartoon Network TV series MAD in the episodes "Are You Karate Kidding Me?", "TwiSchool Musical/Avenger Time", "Kung Fu Blander", and "PO-blivion". Po was voiced in all episodes by Brian T. Delaney, who had also voiced Mantis in the first Kung Fu Panda video game.
• Po made short appearances at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards on April 2, 2011, in which he interrupted the show and eventually annoyed the host, his voice actor Jack Black. This was done as a tribute to one of the show's sponsors, Kung Fu Panda 2.

Gallery

Images

"Golden Bear" - Early Po concept art by Christophe Lautrette

Concept illustrations of Po by Nicolas Marlet

[Add a caption]

Po and the Furious Five captured in Kung Fu Panda 2

Po in Legends of Awesomeness

Po and his voice actor, Jack Black

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Videos

Kung Fu Panda (2008) - Open-ended Trailer 2

Po in the Kung Fu Panda trailer

Kung Fu Panda (2008) - Clip The Dragon Warrior

Po being selected as the Dragon Warrior by Oogway

Kung Fu Panda (2008) - Clip Po won't quit

Po undergoing training with Shifu and the Furious Five

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - Teaser Trailer

Po in the Kung Fu Panda 2 teaser trailer

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) - Clip Dumpling Warrior

Po stuffing bean buns in his mouth while the Five watch

Kung Fu Animal Alphabet - KFP LOA

Po doing the Kung Fu Animal Alphabet for Shifu in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness

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Quotes

“ There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness. —Po as the Legendary Warrior, Kung Fu Panda “ I'm not a big, fat panda. I'm THE big, fat panda. —Po in reply to Tai Lung's insult, Kung Fu Panda

“ Tai Lung:  [gasps] The Wuxi Finger Hold! Po: Oh you know this hold? Tai Lung: You're bluffing. You're bluffing! Shifu didn't teach you that! Po: Nope. I figured it out. Skadoosh. —Before Po defeats Tai Lung with the Wuxi Finger Hold, Kung Fu Panda

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See also

• Po on the April 12, 2016* version of the official Kung Fu Panda website via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine

References

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