In Kung Fu Panda we meet Po (voiced by Jack Black), you’re typical dream-big slacker that works a menial job while hoping that there are bigger things in store for him. He lives in the Valley of Peace which is protected by a number of brave warriors, each a kung fu master trained by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). But everyone in the Valley is awaiting the arrival of the Dragon Warrior, a prophesized master of martial arts that will have great power and will earn the right to read from the Dragon Scroll. So three guesses as to who it turns out to be?

This tale of how an orphaned Panda with an obvious eating disorder becomes the most skilfully feared warrior of ancient talking animal China is perhaps the best film to come out of Dreamworks Animation. Further, the house of Shrek and Sharktale delivers a story where all the jokes fit and work together in the same universe; in other words, no one gets up and sings “I’m a Believer” in the end. Also, there’s a solid moral lesson in the end that’s genuine and not meant as some gaudy tack-on lesson of acceptance told around several Godfather references that are completely above the head of the target audience.

The one aspect that is preserved is the all-star voice cast, which is pretty good even through there are very few Asians amongst the main cast despite the fact that the film makes no bones about being set in Asia. Black is a standout as Po, and I mean that in an obvious way because there were times I was looking at Po on screen, but seeing Black’s slacker character from Orange County, with a dirty wife-beater, dishevelled hair and all. But aside from those two things, the voice cast is solid. Hearing David Cross’ semi-aggravated tones as Crane was a standout, as was Ian McShane as the power-mad snow leopard Tai Lung.

Needless to say that the film is gorgeous to look at; the colours pop and the production design is perfect down to the last detail. I can only imagine what Kung Fu Panda looks like in IMAX 3-D, but I wouldn’t mind knowing, so if its available in this format where you live, I think it’s the preferred option. The technical prowess in creating the film doesn’t end in the aesthetics though. Filmmakers Mark Osborne and John Stevenson have obviously taken great pains to make the martial arts feel as authentic as anything done in a live action movie, taking inspiration from hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers.

Apparently, Dreamworks started making Kung Fu Panda with the idea of turning it into a spoof. It’s a creative choice I understand because it’s something that’s worked well for them in the past, but as I’ve said before, even watching Shrek seven years after its initial release, it can’t help but seem dated. Stevenson made the smart choice in telling the story straight-up in a classical manner that’s easy to enjoy without the whole thing feeling like a Robot Chicken sketch. The kids will love it. Their parents will love it. I loved it. Kung Fu Panda is solid animated entertainment.