Visually stunning!

Rating: Null/10 (24 June 2011)

Oh, it's so on. After a less than spectacular beginning to animation and still having the occasional misstep, Dreamworks has put themselves in direct competition with Pixar. While Fox Animation Studios continues to be unsuccessful in their attempts, and with Blue Sky Studios being even worse (they insist on hanging onto the irksome Ice Age franchise), Dreamworks animation has put itself on pace to being nearly as good as Pixar.
Kung Fu Panda 2 is just the latest in a string of great movies from this production studio. With Jack Black leading the cast as Po, the Kung Fu Panda, it was going to be, at the very least, entertaining. It's also proof that a writing "team," as it were, can do a great job. Most cartoons do this with great success. Primary writers Aibel and Berger are also responsible for the Alvin And The Chipmunks stories, so perhaps it's even better they have consultants in the matter.
The character development was top notch. They could have chosen, as plenty do, to keep things status quo, but instead, we area treated to a progression of the characters, and even a look at things to come, should there be another sequel. The characters were likable, as in the first. It allowed for an attachment, and therefore an investment in them, particularly Po, his father, and Master Shifu. They also did a good job in making the villain, Lord Shen, loathsome.
Jack Black had much to do with the success of Po. His Shtick can become tiresome in live action movies, but in Kung Fu Panda 2 he brings Po to life. He gives Po a connection with the audience that few main characters in movies do.
The rest of the cast is magnificent as well. Dustin Hoffman didn't have the same screen-time as in the first, but he has a good voice that puts Master Shifu in the spotlight when he's on screen. David Cross and Seth Rogen and also have talent voicing characters. Gary Oldman lends his villainy voice. He is rapidly gaining experience in voicing, now even doing video games.
Director Jennifer Yuh has nearly 2 decades of animation experience in everything from TV to feature films. Her work in Kung Fu Panda 2 is meritorious. She worked on Kung Fu Panda as well, winning awards for storyboarding. I'm not sure how involved Guillermo Del Toro was, but I'd bet he had at least a small amount of input.
I don't watch 3-D movies much anymore, but the 3-D in Kung Fu Panda 2 is supposed to be the best so far. Either way, it's a superb movie and a sequel that can arguable be better than the first.
Visually stunning in 3D, strong cast and a good story about Po finding his true identity. More action than the previous one.