Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll

Movie review by Grace Montgomery, Common Sense Media
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

Short origin story will appeal most to series fans.

NR 2016 23 minutes
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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll tells the origin story of the kung fu fighters in the popular Kung Fu Panda franchise and was originally a short only available on the first and second Kung Fu Panda movie DVDs. There's not a lot to worry about in this short and sweet animated film, but an enraged boor charging through cities destroying anything in his path might be scary for young, sensitive viewers. There's also one scene of kung fu action full of punches and kicks. The sequence of events may also be confusing to young viewers or those not familiar with the series.

Community Reviews

Msberann
Msberann Adult
April 7, 2019
age 7+

Excellent backstory - short!

As a huge fan of the Kung Fu Panda franchise I think this is an excellent short film, one of the best, if not the best! I was very surprised first time I saw it I found it was on Netflix. It shows a little bit of Po's teenage years, although I think this one focus more on Tigress and her relationship with Master Shifu after the terrible incident with Tai Lung. It's very interesting to see more of Shifu's behaviour after that. Little sad, which I defenitely think will bring up very deep conversations with your kids about effects of certain happenings. I also thinks it has a very important moral about making someone proud but at the same time be yourself, especially from Tigress's perspective. It also shows in a very beautiful way how The Furious five met for the first time. The animation style is gorgeous! Its always nice to see these chatacters in 2D once in a while. Defenitely the best out of these short films, it looks absolutely perfect! And the reuse of the franchise's background music fits perfect for every scene. If I say any more I will spoil it, just watch it if haven't and if you are or have someone in the family who absolutely loves the Kung Fu Panda movies! You will not regret it, I promise!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When Po's father accidentally gives away his figures of the Furious Five, Po starts to reminisce about how he accidentally brought the Furious Five together. Left to run the restaurant, Po (Jack Black) accidentally poisons Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) with some bad noodles, forcing the master to look for outside help to defend the city. With the savage Boar on the rampage, destroying all the masters in the land, Master Shifu sends Tigress (Tara Macri) on a mission to find four warriors to come to their aid. But Tigress confuses a scroll with Po's career wish list (comedian, doctor, dancer, and cleaner) for the master's favored warriors, leading her on a path to discover her true self and bring together the Furious Five.

Is It Any Good?

Die-hard fans of the Kung Fu Panda series will no doubt enjoy this short and sweet animated tale, but those unfamiliar with the series may find it a little ho-hum. There are some slapstick laughs and a positive message about being true to yourself, but there's no character development and it's assumed you know the characters and care where they came from. A change in animation style also signals to the viewer that Po is reminiscing about the past, but the shift is subtle and younger viewers or those not familiar with the series may be unsure what's the past and what's the present.

Fans of the franchise looking for more should check out this short and silly story, but newbies to the series should start with Kung Fu Panda before diving in.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the characters change in the film. What does Master Shifu learn? What about Tigress? How do they change by the end of the short?

  • What role does violence play in the story? Did the characters have any other options? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Which Kung Fu Panda movie is your favorite? Why is it your favorite?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • Kung Fu Panda Poster Image

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    Appealing kid-friendly comedy; some scary scenes.

    age 6+
  • Kung Fu Panda 2 Poster Image

    Kung Fu Panda 2

    Panda hero saves the day in surprisingly deep family film.

    age 6+
  • Kung Fu Panda 3 Poster Image

    Kung Fu Panda 3

    Upbeat but intense threequel looks at identity, family ties.

    age 6+

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