Movie Background
Movie synopsis:
Living large and loving life, Po (Jack Black) realizes that he has a lot to learn if he’s going to fulfill the next challenge from his beloved instructor (Dustin Hoffman). After reuniting with his long-lost father (Bryan Cranston), Po must transition from student to teacher and train a group of fun-loving, clumsy pandas to become martial-arts fighters. Together, the kung-fu brethren unite to take on the evil Kai (J.K. Simmons), a supernatural warrior who becomes stronger with each battle.
Why Kung Fu Panda 3?
Like the other Kung Fu Panda movies, this movie doesn’t fall short in its storytelling and humour. Moreover, there’s more pandas! What more can I ask for? I’m in love with the cinematography and art direction of this movie. The combination of 2D and 3D animation is fantastic as both styles of animation merge together so seamlessly. When a movie is already very good, it’s always a tall order to produce a sequel that is better than its predecessor. In Kung Fu Panda franchise’s case, the movies just get better and I feel that Kung Fu Panda 3 is the best of its series so far. That’s why I feel that Dreamworks is as good as Disney! I loved this movie so much that I even bought the art book so that I can have a glimpse of what goes behind the movie.
Chosen Quote
“You’re never gonna be able to save the world on an empty stomach.” – Mr Ping
In this scene, Mr Ping (Po’s adoptive father) hid himself in Po’s travel bag because he was worried that Po would be hungry on his way to the secret panda village.
Po: Dad.
[opens his bag to find Mr. Ping inside]
Mr. Ping: Yes?
Po: What are you doing here?
Mr. Ping: What am I doing? Getting a backache! Did you have to step on every rock?
Po: No, I mean why are you here ?
Mr. Ping: What was I supposed to do, huh? What if the pandas don’t have food you like? You’re never gonna be able to save the world on an empty stomach. I consider my presence mission critical.
Breakdown of Quote
“You’re never gonna be able to save the world on an empty stomach.”
This is a straightforward quote that doesn’t need much analysis. Basically, when Po is hungry, he won’t be able to concentrate on saving the world!
Since Po is defeated when he is hungry, a way to showcase defeat is the usage of the white flag. The white flag is often used in old-school cartoons such as Tom and Jerry as a comical way of depicting surrender and defeat.
Concept 1
This concept is a literal representation of the quote. It features a defeated panda lying on an empty stomach.
Sketches:
Development 1:
Design breakdown:
- A defeated panda lies on top of a stomach, with a white flag stuck to its butt. This composition is then laid on top of a map of the earth.
- The white flag symbolises surrender, representing how the panda has submitted to defeat because it’s too hungry to fight.
Room for improvement:
- The addition of the map causes the entire design to appear flat. Composition will be more dynamic if the stomach and panda aren’t completely covered by the map.
- Details are lost because of the map too, for example, the white flag is camouflaged into the map. People might not notice it if I didn’t point it out.
Development 2:
Design breakdown:
- Scaled down the size of the map and situation it behind the stomach, such that the roundness of both the map and stomach compliment each other.
- White flag is now positioned on top of the map, to represent the defeat of the world because the panda was unable to defend it.
Room for improvement:
- Continue to explore other ways of representing this quote.
- Representation of ‘the world’ can be better represented since it currently looks very disconnected from the rest of the design elements.
Development 3:
Design breakdown:
- Same idea as the previous development
- Panda is in vulnerable position, with both hands surrendered in the air.
- Holding a globe with a white flag stuck on it in its raised hands, representing surrender and defeat.
- Panda is lying on an empty stomach.
Room for improvement:
- I realised that when the flag is stuck onto the globe, it implies that it is the world that is surrendering, not the panda. It would be more effective for the panda be in direct contact with the white flag instead.
- The panda in the previous development showed more defeat as compared to this panda, hence I will be reverting back to the previous design and develop from there.
Development 4:
Design breakdown:
- Instead of placing the map of the earth behind the panda and stomach, I made the panda lie defeated on top of the globe with a flag stuck to its butt. This represents how the panda is unable to fulfil its mission of saving the world. I feel that this is a much better representations since the panda is in direct contact with the globe, showing a sense of connection, belonging and intimacy to the world he belongs.
Room for improvement:
- Too literal because the panda is on an actual stomach… Can make use of more creative ways to represent hunger.
Development 5:
Design breakdown:
- Instead of lying on an actual stomach in the previous developments, this panda now lies on top of an empty plate.
- Empty plate represents the absence of food that the panda likes, hence causing him to go hungry and becoming defeated.
Room for improvement:
- When placed a plate like this, it looks like the panda and globe are being served. It doesn’t convey how the panda is hungry.
Development 6:
Design breakdown:
- Instead of using an empty plate to represent hunger, I used a pair of chopsticks picking up noodles to represent that. I feel that this is much more effective than all the previous developments because it’s not too literal. The chopsticks also act as the panda’s saviour, bringing him food to satisfy his hunger.
- Noodles instead of bamboo are chosen because in the movie, Po grows up eating the noodles that his adoptive father cooks.
Development 7:
Design breakdown:
- I was satisfied with the previous development initially, but I realised that the representation for ’empty stomach’ can be pushed further.
- As a result, I used bolts to represent the empty stomach growling, an indication of hunger.
Concept 2
This concept revolves around the usage of x-ray to reveal the fact that Po’s stomach is empty, and hence this causes him to be unable to concentrate on saving the world.
Sketches:
Development 1:
Design breakdown:
- Panda is seen to having a crisis because he is unable to save the world due to his empty stomach.
- The empty stomach is revealed by an x-ray.
- His defeat is shown by him holding on to a white flag.
Room for improvement:
- I used an actual x-ray of the stomach in this design, but due to the threshold, the x-ray ended up looking more like an icon. Will have to find other images that look like an x-ray even in black and white.
Development 2:
Design breakdown:
- X-ray of stomach is more realistic now as compared to the previous development.
- Made the panda stand on the globe instead, reason is the same as Development 4 in Concept 1.
- White flag is placed on top the panda’s head to represent a sense of surrender and defeat.
Sources
Image sources:
- Movie Detail – fanart.tv. (2017). fanart.tv. Retrieved 16 October 2017, from https://fanart.tv/movie/140300/kung-fu-panda-3/
- “New Tom & Jerry” Show #13 (11/27/75). (2017). 1975tomjerry.50megs.com. Retrieved 18 October 2017, from http://1975tomjerry.50megs.com/episodes/NTJ_Show13.html
- What Pinterest Forgot To Tell You About College. (2017). The Odyssey Online. Retrieved 18 October 2017, from https://www.theodysseyonline.com/pinterest-forgot-college