February 15 (2016-02-15) – June 29, 2016 (2016-06-29)
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness is an American animated comedy spin-off television series co-produced by DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon Animation Studio based on DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda films. First released in 2011, the show serves as a bridge between the first and second films, showing Po's training to becoming a successful Dragon Warrior, whereas the second film is, according to the series' developer Peter Hastings, "not unlike a very long, super-deluxe 3-D version of one of our episodes."[1]
The series was originally set to air on Nickelodeon in 2010,[2] but it was pushed back to 2011 instead. The series premiered with a special preview on September 19, 2011, and began airing regularly on November 7.[3] Three seasons were produced. Airing ceased in the United States partway through season 3. Before finishing up in the United States, all the episodes had aired already in other countries, for example on Nicktoons in Germany from 2014–15[4][5] and then on YTV in Canada from 2015–16.[6] In 2016, Nicktoons in the United States began running ads announcing the airing of new episodes; it was subsequently revealed that five of the ten unaired episodes would play from February 15 through February 19.[7] As a result, the final episode aired on June 29, 2016.
Besides Lucy Liu and James Hong, who reprise their film roles as Viper and Mr. Ping, the cast features new voice actors for the characters of Po (Mick Wingert), Master Shifu (Fred Tatasciore), Tigress (Kari Wahlgren), Crane (Amir Talai), Monkey (James Sie), and Mantis (Max Koch).[3]
Netflix commissioned a successor series, titled Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, in 2022. Peter Hastings, the developer of Legends of Awesomeness, returned as an executive producer. Unlike Legends of Awesomeness however, Jack Black reprised his role as Po from the films.[8]
Po and the Furious Five defend the Valley of Peace from villains of different kinds. All the while, Po makes accidents, learns lessons, learns more about the history of kung fu, and meets other famous kung fu masters.
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness took part in Nickelodeon's revamp to their cartoon season on TV. As an early promotion, Po was featured in a Nickelodeon bumper alongside other characters.[12] On July 23, an exclusive sneak peek of the show was shown at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, with producers and members of the voice cast present at the panel.[13] A sneak peek episode was released for the DVD / Blu-ray release for Kung Fu Panda 2 on December 13, 2011.[14] In addition, two sneak preview episodes aired (one on September 19, 2011 and another on October 21, 2011) before the official premiere of the show. In June 2018, it was announced that the series will stream on Hulu.[15]
Other dubbed versions
In 2021, Bangladeshi television channel Duronto started to broadcast a Bengali dubbed version of this show as part of the channel's 15th season.[16]
Critical reception
Mary McNamara of Los Angeles Times called Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness "a show that won't drive every adult in earshot absolutely crazy. And these days, that's saying something."[17]
Kevin McFarland of The A.V. Club said that the show "rips out the elements that made the original film such a surprise, leaving behind a derivative, cliché-laden children's show that recycles moral platitudes adequately but is otherwise indistinguishable from countless other programs" and "isn't a show that's aiming to be cutting edge or original, just mildly entertaining, which it is....This isn't going to harm any kids, but it's not going to impress them either."[18] Despite the mixed reviews, the show has received four Emmy Awards and nominated for four Annie Awards.
Joe Pizzulo, Paulette Lifton, James Lifton, Benjamin Wynn, Jeremy Zuckerman, Rob McIntryre, Anna Adams, Jason Stiff, Molly Minus, Matt Hall, Andrew Ing, Roberto Dominguez Alegria, Aran Tanchum, Chris Gresham and Lawrence Reyes
Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing – Animation
Justin Brinsfield, Matt Corey and Thomas J. Maydeck
Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
Peter Hastings, Bret Haaland, Randy Dormans, Gabe Swarr, Andrew Huebner
Won
Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program
Gabe Swarr, Michael Mullen, Lane Lueras, Juan Meza-Leon, Peter Hastings
Nominated
Outstanding Individual in Animation
Joel Fajnor (for "Kung Fu Day Care")
Won
Bill Dely (for "Kung Shoes")
Won
Outstanding Writing in Animation
Peter Hastings, Doug Langdale, Gene Grillo, Paul Rugg, Kevin Seccia, Scot Kreamer
Nominated
Outstanding Sound Editing – Animation
Joe Pizzulo, Gary Falcone, Jeremy Zukerman, Benjamin Wynn, Rob McIntyre, Anna Adams, Marc Schmidt, Andrew Ing, Jeseey Drake, Roberto Dominguez Alegira, Cynthia Merrill
Gary Falcone, Rob McIntyre, Marc Schmidt, Jeremy Zuckerman, Benjamin Wynn, Anna Adams, Andrew Ing, Thomas J. Maydeck, Roberto Dominguez Alegria and Cynthia Merrill
Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing – Animation
Justin Brinsfield, Matt Corey, Thomas J. Maydeck, Rob McIntyre and Roberto Dominguez Alegria
Home media
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness home video releases
Kung Fu Panda 2: December 13, 2011 Episode(s): "Has-Been Hero"
Good Croc, Bad Croc: June 18, 2013[34] Episode(s): "The Princess and the Po" • "Chain Reaction" • "Good Croc, Bad Croc" • "Jailhouse Panda" • "Bad Po" • "Po Fans Out" • "Father Crime"
The Scorpion Sting: October 15, 2013[35] Episode(s): "Scorpion's Sting" • "Owl Be Back" • "Love Stings" • "Monkey in the Middle"
The Midnight Stranger: March 11, 2014[36] Episode(s): "Master Ping"
Holiday Hijinks: November 18, 2014 (Redbox exclusive) Episode(s): "Hometown Hero" • "Hall of Lame"
Holiday Hijinks: November 18, 2014 (Redbox exclusive) Episode(s): "Shifu's Ex" • "Po Picks a Pocket"
Notes
^The official series finale "Emperors Rule" first aired sometime in 2014 in Germany. However, in Germany, the final episode to air from season 3 was "Po the Croc", which aired on January 7, 2015, in that country.
^ abcdefghij"Megahit Martial Arts Panda is Back as Nickelodeon and Dreamworks Animation Premiere Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, New CG-Animated Series, Monday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 P.M. (ET/PT)". PR Newswire. October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011. this year, has brought in $664 million at the worldwide box office. Kung Fu Panda 2 debuts on Blu-ray and DVD on December 13, 2011. Lucy Liu (Kill Bill) and James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China) reprise their roles as Viper and Mr. Ping Kari Wahlgren (Tak and the Power of Juju) as Tigress, Amir Talai (Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay) as Crane, Max Koch (Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five) as Mantis, Fred Tatasciore (Family Guy) as Shifu and James Sie (King of the Hill) as Monkey
^"Kung Fu Panda: Episodenguide" (in German). Retrieved December 31, 2015. 71 3. 19 Die ersten Fünf 29.12.2014 The First Five 72 3. 20 Im Dienst des Kaisers (1) 06.09.2014 Emperors Rules, Part 1 73 3. 21 Im Dienst des Kaisers (2) 06.09.2014 Emperors Rules, Part 2 74 3. 22 Jugend Re-Volte 30.12.2014 Youth In Re-Volt 75 3. 23 Ohne Tsin und Verstand 31.12.2014 See No Weevil 76 3. 24 Der greinende Ganter 01.01.2015 Goose Chase 77 3. 25 Der Angsthasenkrieger 02.01.2015 Face Full Of Fear 78 3. 26 Die vernachlässigten Fünf 05.01.2015 Training Session 4 79 3. 27 Camping mit Ping 06.01.2015 80 3. 28 Po, das Krokodil 07.01.2015
^"Kung Fu Panda". RogersOnDemand.Com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. EP 65 Emperors Rules (Part 2) Aired on 01/17/16 EP 64 Emperors Rules (Part 1) Aired on 12/20/15 EP 31 Shifus Back Aired on 11/22/15
^"Outstanding Animated Program"(PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. p. 18. Archived from the original(PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
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