Kids

Kung Fu Panda 4: Sometimes, Change is Hard

Po is back for a new adventure, where sometimes, letting go of the status quo is needed to embrace destiny.

Everyone’s favorite panda Po (played by Jack Black) from the movie Kung Fu Panda is back! If we saw him embrace his destiny as a spiritual leader in the last film, we now see him face the challenge of letting go of his original task—being a warrior.

Kung Fu Panda 4 started showing in cinemas on March 6.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

Change is hard at the start

In the beginning of Kung Fu Panda 4, we see Po still being the “Dragon Warrior” that he is with his two dads—Mr. Ping (James Hong) and Li Shan (Bryan Cranston)—showing their support. Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) then informs Po that his time as a dragon warrior is over, which means that he needs to find a successor to fill the role to move on to be a spiritual leader.

Po finds this hard and still kicks butt—that is until he meets Zhen (Awkwarfina), a fox who seeks him out after the Chameleon (Viola Davis) unleashes evil as she steals the kung fu powers of several kung fu masters before them.

Despite Master Chifu’s warning, Po goes with Zhen to face the Chameleon. This new adventure tests, not only his warrior skills but also his trust in people. He and Zhen face some bumps along the way and eventually realize that they must work together to defeat the Chameleon.

It is in defeating Chameleon that Po realizes that he should embrace the change and pass on to someone what he has learned. While he initially struggles with this new development, Zhen guides him on what he needs to do.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

Kung Fu Panda 4 teaches us that change is constant.

Change can throw everyone in a loop because it interrupts what is known and familiar. In Po’s case, his routine was built on what he thought his purpose was: to be a dragon warrior. But change is inevitable and so, he cannot be a dragon warrior forever.

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po must pass the role onto someone else so he can fulfill a new mission—being a spiritual leader.

Zhen—when we first met her in the movie—was an orphan adopted by Chameleon, who led a life of stealing. But thanks to Po, she learned about change and trust, which she eventually embraced. And while it may seem hard at the start, Zhen found herself accepting a new mission, thanks to Po and the help of some friends.

Like Po and Zhen, kids and parents find themselves constantly going through change. There is a saying that the only constant thing is change and that we must embrace it. After all, we cannot stay the same forever and it is through change that we learn and grow into better versions of ourselves.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

More about movies for kids!

Spy X Family Movie Comes to the Philippines This 2024!

New Despicable Me 4 Trailer Showcases a Fun-Filled Heist for the Family to Enjoy!

Migration the Movie: Why Risks Matter

Shop for Modern Parenting's print issues through these platforms.
Download this month's Modern Parenting magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]