An enjoyable sequel

Rating: 8/10 (16 September 2017)

A prologue explains how a peacock named Shen's family were the city's ancestral rulers of Gongmen City but his parents exiled him after he massacred the pandas because a soothsayer told him one would thwart his ambition to rule china. Now he has taken the city by force, using cannon to defeat the kung fu masters would had protected it.
After the events of the previous film the panda Po has been accepted as the legendary Dragon Warrior but his training is far from over; before he can truly be a master he must find inner peace. After his first clash with Shen's forces he starts recalling his past and realises that the goose who raised him wasn't his actual father. When word of what happened in Gongmen gets out he, and the 'Furious Five' must go there and defeat him; if they are to prevail Po must come to terms with his past.
This sequel is a lot of fun; I'm sure anybody who enjoyed the opening instalment in the franchise will enjoy this too. There is lots of enjoyable, well animated martial arts action and plenty of humorous moments; frequently at the same time. It is fun seeing the established characters again, if anything it is more fun than before as they have become friends. Shen is a fine antagonist; the backstory we are shown at the start of the film gives him a touch of King Herod as he attempts to eliminate the pandas because one is foretold to defeat himÂ… of course as with all such prophecies it is ultimately correct. The animation is impressive with great looking backgrounds and nice character designs. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to those who enjoyed the first film.