Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom Of Doom

[GeneChing]

The KFP sequel, set for 2011.

This should really go on our Spy Next Door thread, but I figured Kaboom of Doom needed to start somewhere.

Click for pic.

Jackie Chan reveals waxwork model of himself - but which is which?
By Jody Thompson, Mirror.co.uk 12/01/2010

Martial arts movie legend Jackie Chan may have come up with another way to fool his mortal enemies - by confusing his attackers as to which is the real him.

The Rush Hour star posed the puzzler when he unveiled a new Madame Tussaud's waxwork of himself in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

When not admiring his wax likeness, Jackie's also been busy recording his part for the Kung Fu Panda sequel - The Kaboom Of Doom - set for release in 2011.

His next film however, The Spy Next Door, in which he stars with model-turned-actress Amber Valletta opens later this year.

[GeneChing]

I edited out the other 5 new series. You can follow the link if you're interested.

Kung Fu Panda Series Part of Nick's 2010-11 Slate
By Rick DeMott | Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 12:06 pm

Press Release from Nickelodeon

NEW YORK--March 11, 2010--At its 2010 annual upfront presentation which featured top talent across the worlds of television, music and film, Nickelodeon today announced a slate of new programming that will be added to the network’s 2010-11 schedule, including: six new series and new seasons of 16 returning hits such as top-ranked iCarly, SpongeBob SquarePants and Team Umizoomi. Additionally, five brand-new series will bow across Nick’s digital nets, which include TeenNick, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons, during the 2010-11 season. Nickelodeon, the top-ranked basic cable network in total day for almost 16 years, is poised to close 1Q10 as its most-watched quarter ever in its 30-year history and just celebrated January as its most-watched month ever.

Held this morning at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Nickelodeon’s upfront presentation featured special guest appearances and contributions from: M. Night Shyamalan, director of Paramount Pictures’ and Nickelodeon Movies’ upcoming feature film The Last Airbender; Miranda Cosgrove, star of iCarly, basic cable’s top kid and tween series; Victoria Justice, from the upcoming Nickelodeon live-action series Victorious; and Jamie Kennedy, star of the animated hit Fanboy and Chum Chum. The event was capped by musical performances from Nick’s Big Time Rush, and pop singing sensation Justin Bieber, who sang his hit songs, “One Time” and “Baby.”

Six new series will be added to Nickelodeon’s programming line-up this season, including:

* Kung Fu Panda: The Series, Nickelodeon’s second collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, chronicles the further adventures of Po, the energetic, enthusiastic, always hungry martial arts panda as he protects the Valley of Peace from threats of all kind. Based on DreamWorks Animation’s hit feature film Kung Fu Panda, the Nick animated series is executive produced by Cheryl Holliday (King of the Hill, Still Standing, Father of the Pride) and produced at Nickelodeon’s Burbank, Calif. Animation Studios.

[GeneChing]

I think there's more on the KFP thread, but that's so 2008 now.

Late to the Game, DreamWorks Is Bringing Kung Fu Panda World to the Web
By BROOKS BARNES
Published: April 11, 2010

LOS ANGELES — Can DreamWorks Animation revitalize the cooling business of virtual worlds?

On Monday, DreamWorks will formally enter this crowded realm with Kung Fu Panda World, a $10 million Web site that will allow children to play elaborate games, chat with friends, learn kung fu styles and get a pet.

The site, which has taken two years to develop, is centered on the company’s hit movie “Kung Fu Panda,” which had $632 million in global ticket sales in 2008.

Membership will cost $5.95 a month — on par with other virtual worlds for children — although DreamWorks has also devised a free option: children can play free for one day if they watch a 15-second ad. A player can come back day after day with this option, but membership is required to unlock more advanced settings. Kung Fu Panda World is aimed at children age 8 to 12.

DreamWorks has been notably absent from virtual worlds for children, a business that has expanded rapidly in recent years by serving as part online role-playing game and part social scene.

The Walt Disney Company, which bought ClubPenguin.com in 2007 for $700 million, has pumped out sister sites; toy companies like Build-A-Bear Workshop, the retail chain, have flooded the Web with their own offerings.

But oversaturation and the faddish nature of children’s entertainment is starting to batter the once-booming business. About 6.7 million unique visitors logged on to Club Penguin in March, a 7 percent decline from March 2009, according to the research company comScore.

Webkinz.com, where children care for stuffed animals that come to life, registered about 2.7 million, a 58 percent drop. Neopets.com, owned by Viacom, suffered a 25 percent decline, to about 2.1 million.

“The market is shaking out — there is only room for so many of these worlds in a child’s life and a parent’s wallet,” said Christopher Byrne, a toy consultant and content director for Time To Play magazine.

DreamWorks is betting that there is a window of opportunity when it comes to slightly older children — after growing out of Club Penguin, where children dress and groom penguin characters, but before becoming interested in more mature online offerings like World of Warcraft, MySpace and Facebook.

It’s not an easy road. A lavish “Pirates of the Caribbean” world, an attempt by Disney to attract children 10 and older, has been a failure. (Disney is expected to introduce another entry into this market in the coming months, a world built around “Cars.”)

John Batter, a former executive at the video game giant Electronic Arts, managed the Kung Fu Panda World project for DreamWorks, where he is co-president of production for feature animation. He is confident in his site’s chances in part because DreamWorks took its time.

“With ‘Kung Fu Panda’ we actually had a property that lent itself very well to this medium,” he said. For those unfamiliar with the film — a sequel is on the way — an underdog kung fu fighter, Po the Panda, finds his inner hero with the help of some oddball friends.

Mr. Batter said it took time to work out how to make the world intricate while keeping it technologically easy, or at least apparently easy. “Most worlds are pretty shallow — we wanted ours to be the exact opposite,” he said.

Another sign of his confidence in the market: DreamWorks is already at work on a follow-up world built around “How to Train Your Dragon.”

The decision to include advertising will undoubtedly draw scrutiny from child advocacy groups. Aside from the commercials children can watch to gain free access, DreamWorks has teamed with McDonald’s on a Happy Meal promotion.

Parents may also have concerns about a decision by DreamWorks not to restrict the chat function to a menu of words and phrases. There is also bullying potential as children roam around the site and form cliques.

“As you can imagine, kids get together and figure it out,” said Rick Rekedal, head of production for DreamWorks Animation Online. He said the company was one step ahead.

Moderators will constantly monitor activity, and software has been added to flag questionable behavior. Mr. Rekedal added that filters would prevent players from entering addresses while chatting, among other things. Personal information is banned, and there are also controls where parents can disable certain features and oversee play.

Kung Fu Panda World is built around the concept of sash levels; players start as a white belt and try to work up through 21 colors. A map shows where your friends are playing within the game — no need to call each other on the phone to figure it out, as many children do when playing in virtual worlds. There is shopping (with coins earned by winning arcade-style games) and players can send gifts to one another.

Mr. Byrne, the toy consultant, said he had high expectations. “Kids have become very sophisticated online, and I think this site meets the challenge,” he said. “It’s very rich, very fast and you don’t have to know the movie to play.”

[GeneChing]

I loved Being John Malkovich. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind didn't quite work for me. Never saw Adaptation.

May 13, 2010
Charlie Kaufman polishing 'Kung Fu Panda' sequel (exclusive)

Charlie Kaufman, the Oscar-winning writer behind “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and films such as “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich,” has headed off into an unexpected direction: animation.

The scribe is coming off of less than two weeks worth of work on DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom,” the sequel to the fun 2008 movie that had the voice talent of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Dustin Hoffman.

His work on “Kaboom” falls under the polish category, and animated movies tend to be worked on by multiple writers, so it’s not fair to say this will be a Kaufman cartoon. But it will be interesting to see, when the movie is released in 2011, how much of the Kaufman stamp it will bear.

And it’s also interesting to think about the potentially other secret assignments the UTA-repped Kaufman may have taken over the years in order to be keep working on his unique projects. (There was a four-year gap in between “Spotless Mind” and “Synecdoche, New York,” which he also directed.”)

[GeneChing]

I'm so glad this will be in 3D.

May 20, 2010
Gary Oldman to strut his stuff in 'Kung Fu Panda 2' (exclusive)

Gary Oldman has joined the voice cast of DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom.” Jennifer Yuh Nelson is directing the film, slated for a summer 2011 release.

“Kaboom” is a 3D sequel to the successful 2008 film about Po, a panda voiced by Jack Black. The story centres on Po's search for other pandas and his run-in with a group of bandits.

Oldman voices a character named Pea**** who helps Po find the bandits but is more than he seems.

The actor most recently lended his voice to the animated alien comedy “Planet 51” and Disney’s retelling of “A Christmas Carol,” both of which were released in the fall.

Oldman, repped by Paradigm and Douglas Management Group, most recently appeared onscreen in “The Book of Eli.” He next will reprise his role as Sirius Black in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II,” due in July 2011.

[GeneChing]

Not only Oldman, add our fav Bond Girl and JCVD.

Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Jean Claude Van Damme and Victor Garber Join Cast of DreamWorks Animation's 'Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom'

Release Date Moved Up To Memorial Day Weekend, May 27, 2011

GLENDALE, Calif., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced that Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Jean Claude Van Damme and Victor Garber will join Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross and James Hong in its upcoming film, "Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom," which is now scheduled to be released on May 27, 2011 (Memorial Day weekend). The previously announced release date was June 3, 2011.

Oldman voices the character of Lord Shen (a pea****), the film's formidable new villain while Yeoh brings to life the mystical character of The Soothsayer (a goat). Van Damme and Garber round out the cast as Master Croc and Master Thundering Rhino, respectively.

"In the sequel, Po goes on an amazing personal journey and we are thrilled to have assembled such a talented and well-respected group of actors to bring to life our new characters, who – alongside our returning cast – play such a critical role in Po's quest and his ultimate triumph over the forces of evil," said Melissa Cobb, Producer of both "Kung Fu Panda" and its sequel.

During its theatrical run in 2008, "Kung Fu Panda" – DreamWorks Animation's most successful original film ever – reached over $631 million in worldwide box office. The sequel will follow Po, the world's biggest kung fu fan, as he continues his journey as the chosen one who fulfills an ancient prophesy while mastering the art of kung fu. "Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom" is directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and produced by Melissa Cobb. Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, who wrote and co-produced the original film, also return.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE® Magazine for two 2 consecutive years. In 2010, DreamWorks Animation ranks #6 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 20 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamWorks Animation's next feature film is Megamind, scheduled to be released in 3D on November 5, 2010.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

[GeneChing]

Ape Entertainment Publishes "Megamind" and "Kung Fu Panda 2" Comics
by CBR News Team, Editor
Posted: 20 hours ago
Official Press Release

Ape Entertainment will publish comic books inspired by the upcoming DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc (Nasdaq: DWA) films, Megamind, which is due in theaters on November 5th and features the voice talents of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross and Brad Pitt, and Kung Fu Panda 2, which is due in theaters on May 27, 2011 and features the voice talents of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Gary Oldman and Michelle Yeoh.

Published under the company’s all-ages imprint, Kizoic, Megamind and Kung Fu Panda 2 will be the third and fourth DreamWorks Animation properties to be given the comic book treatment by Ape Entertainment. The San Diego-based publisher is also producing comics based on the studio’s popular franchises, Shrek® and The Penguins of Madagascar™.

“As soon as we caught a glimpse of Megamind, we knew we wanted to be involved in the comic book adaptation,” says founder and co-publisher David Hedge****. “And Kung Fu Panda is a personal favorite of everyone at Ape Entertainment, so being able to work with the sequel has us all feeling like kids in a candy store.”

Kizoic will release a four issue Megamind mini series beginning in November, with a 48-page prequel in October prior to the film’s release and a four issue Kung Fu Panda 2 mini series beginning in May 2011, with a 48-page prequel in April prior to the film’s release.

For more information on Ape Entertainment, visit www.ape-entertainment.com. To download artwork for this pr visit the downloads section of www.sphinxgroup.com.

I also started a thread for the KFP Holiday Special

[GeneChing]

Kung Fu Panda 2 Trailer (HD)

[GeneChing]

The Panda is on the march... for next May.

Kung Fu Panda 2 Movie Poster
Movies | Lainey DeeKay | November 8, 2010 at 1:50 pm


Check out the new poster for the upcoming Kung Fu Panda 2 the animated movie and set to be in 3-D. The movie titled ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom’ is scheduled to be released to theaters nationwide on May 27 2011 and will bring together the cast from the first movie as well as several new actors. The sequel was announced on 2009 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Lui, Seth Rogen David Cross and James Hong are going to be joined by Victor Garber, Michelle Yeoh, Gary Oldman, James Woods, and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The sequel to the movie will focus on Po (Jack Black), Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Master Tigress (Angelina Jolie) and the rest of the Furious Five will join forces with The Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh), Master Skunkman (James Woods), Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme), and Master Thunder Rhino (Victor Garber) on their quest defeat Lord Shen (Gary Oldman). Lord Shen possesses a deadly weapon that can destroy Kung Fu forever and it will be up to Po, and the Furious Five, and their new friends to stop this new weapon. But first Po will have to confront his long-last past.

This is the most anticipated sequel, are you going to go see it?

[GeneChing]

I saw it preceding Megamind. It drew a lot of laughs from the audience, more than I thought it should have.

[GeneChing]

Five 'Kung Fu Panda' And Two 'How To Train Your Dragon' Sequels Are On The Way!
Posted 12/3/10 3:19 pm ET by Josh Wigler in News

Are you a fan of "Kung Fu Panda" and "How To Train Your Dragon"? We sure hope so, because you're about to get a whole lot more from both franchises!

DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg spoke with Empire about the developing sequels to some of the studio's most important properties. During the interview, Katzenberg revealed that there are five more "Kung Fu Panda" movies on the way — the forthcoming "Kaboom of Doom" included, presumably — as well as at least two more installments of "How To Train Your Dragon."

"'Kung Fu Panda' actually has 6 chapters to it, and we’ve mapped that out over the years," he said. "'How To Train Your Dragon' is at least three: maybe more, but we know there are a least three chapters to that story."

Elaborating on "Dragon," Katzenberg said that the next two chapters in the series would serve to further flesh out the world of Berk. "As you know, there are many islands in the world of Berk, and different things there, so we'll see," he said. "But right now, today, we know that there are three for sure that we want to tell and there may be more. We haven't thought, you know, how do we continue beyond that."

Beyond "Dragon" and "Panda," Katzenberg said there would likely be two more installments in the "Madagascar" series.

"I can tell you pretty succinctly where 'Madagascar' goes," he said. "Ultimately they will come back to New York, and they will come to terms with that, which they will do in this next chapter. Because of the way that movie concludes there’s probably one more for them."

With the holiday special and the live show, this has exploded into quite the franchise.

[GeneChing]

Whoever is repping KFP2, don't forget KFM!

December 27, 2010
Insane movie swag department: 'Kung Fu Panda 2'


A giant Chinese-restaurant take-out box arrived today. It featured the Kung Fu Panda himself karate-kicking his way into the new year -- that is, "2011: The Year of Awesomeness."

Promoting the forthcoming "Kung Fu Panda 2" (set to open in May), the box contained an East-meets-West New Year's Party table setting for four, including wooden mats, plastic champagne glasses, ceramic soup bowls, a dumpling steamer and a dumpling recipe.

Is it the most outlandish swag that I've received on the movie beat?

No, that would have to be the talking "Donnie Brasco" tissue-box that said "Fuhgedaboutit" every time you pulled out a tissue.

But this comes in a close second. It also has a fortune-cookie kind of logic to it. "Yesterday is history/tomorrow is a mystery/but today is a gift/that's why it's called the present," says the "Kung Fu Panda" quote accompanying the package.

And all good "Kung Fu Panda" fans know that the high point of the first film was a fight over a dumpling.

[GeneChing]

2011 - year of Pandamonium.

Must Watch: Year of Awesomeness TV Spot for 'Kung Fu Panda 2'
December 31, 2010
by Alex Billington
Kung Fu Panda 2 TV Spot

2011 - The Year of Awesomeness! It seems a little early to see a TV spot for a movie that doesn't come out until May next summer, but it's New Years EVE, so why the heck not put out a New Years-themed spot? DreamWorks Animation has started airing a new 15-second TV spot (found first at SlashFilm) for their upcoming animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2. We already saw a hilarious teaser trailer for this back in November, but this is a good little tease as well. I guess they're trying to own the whole year with some huge marketing - it might work, this is a sequel I'm actually looking forward to. It's short so check it out. Enjoy!

Watch the first TV spot for DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda 2:

Po & the Furious Five head to China to battle a villain and uncover the secrets of Po's mysterious origins.

Kung Fu Panda 2, officially known as Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, is directed by Jennifer Yuh, a former storyboard artist and the head of story on Kung Fu Panda, whose only past directing experience was on the Spawn animated TV series. The script for this sequel was written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger (both of MADtv, King of the Hill, Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs Aliens). Paramount is bringing DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda 2 to theaters everywhere in 3D starting May 26th, 2011 next summer. Who's in already?

Kung Fu Panda 2 "TV Spot" - Awesomeness (HD)

[enoajnin]

I have to laugh every time I see Pea****. Maybe I could write Peakock and trick it?

[GeneChing]

My favs are ****sapien and the great Kurosawa film, Ras****n. I could totally reset it, but where's the fun in that?

I still haven't got my KFP2 schwag box. Come on, reps. Kick down. We did you well for KFP.