View source for Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters

{{Infobox film
| name           = Kung Fu Panda:<br /> Secrets of the Masters
| image          = Kung Fu Panda Secrets of the Masters poster.jpg

| caption        = [[DVD]] cover
| director       = [[Tony Leondis]]
| producer       = Karen Foster
| writer         = [[Todd Berger]]<br />Paul McEvoy
| starring       = [[Jack Black]]<br />[[Angelina Jolie]]<br />[[Randall Duk Kim]]<br />[[Dennis Haysbert]]<br />Tony Leondis<br />[[Paul Scheer]]<br />[[Sumalee Montano]]<br />[[Dustin Hoffman]]
| music          = [[Lorne Balfe]]<br />[[Hans Zimmer]]<br />[[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]]
| cinematography =
| editing        = [[Marcus Taylor]]
| studio         = [[DreamWorks Animation]]<br>Duncan Studio
| distributor    = [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]
| released       = {{Film date|2011|12|13}}
| runtime        = 24 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
}}
'''''Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters''''' is a 2011 American animated short film produced by [[DreamWorks Animation]]. It was released December 13, 2011, as a special feature attached to the 2011 animated film ''[[Kung Fu Panda 2]]'' [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]]. The short consists mostly of a traditional animation (17 minutes), created by Duncan Studio.<ref>{{cite news|title=Congratulations to the team for the Annie Award nomination of "Best Animated Special", for KFP's Secrets of the Masters! Duncan Studio created the 17 minute 2D section (in Stereo). Woot!|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=138979876210947&id=394189970165|access-date=January 12, 2012|newspaper=Facebook|date=December 5, 2011|author=Duncan Studio}}</ref> It uncovers the backgrounds of the masters of Gongmen City: Master [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Thundering Rhino|Thundering Rhino]], Master [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Storming Ox|Storming Ox]], and Master [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Croc|Croc]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Hilarious Global Smash Hit Kung Fu Panda 2 Becomes the Most Awesome Holiday Gift Pack on Blu-Ray™ and DVD Tuesday, December 13th|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-hilarious-global-smash-hit-kung-fu-panda-2-becomes-the-most-awesome-holiday-gift-pack-on-blu-ray-and-dvd-tuesday-december-13th-131104983.html|access-date=October 5, 2011|newspaper=DreamWorks Animation via PRNewswire|date=October 4, 2011}}</ref>

A significant feature has [[Jack Black]], [[Dustin Hoffman]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[Seth Rogen]], [[Randall Duk Kim]] and [[Dennis Haysbert]] reprising their roles from the movies. However, [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]] and [[Victor Garber]] did not reprise their roles from the sequel.

==Plot==
During the night, under the pretense of an emergency, [[Po (Kung Fu Panda)|Po]] leads [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Tigress|Tigress]] and [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Mantis|Mantis]] in breaking into the new Masters' Council exhibit, in tribute of Masters [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Thundering Rhino|Thundering Rhino]], [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Storming Ox|Ox]] and [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Croc|Croc]]. Although Tigress and Mantis are annoyed at the deception, Po engages their interest in the story of how the trio of masters first met.

Long ago, in the city of [[Jinzhou]], where kung fu was practiced for the sport of [[street fighting]], Rhino, Ox and Croc were small-time pit fighters who attracted the attention of Master [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Oogway|Oogway]], who, seeing their talent and focus, wished them to find something worthy for which to fight. As the trio fought to a standstill, two of the villainous [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Wu Sisters|Wu Sisters]] were freeing their leader and eldest sister, Su Wu. To recapture them, Oogway persuades Rhino, Ox and Croc to help him find the sisters at Hubei Volcano. However, to his disappointment, Oogway has to appeal to them with vague prospects of being put on a path to riches to get that cooperation.

While the Wu Sisters plot to unite the various criminal gangs to seize control of [[China]], Oogway has to brush off each of his compatriot's petty proposals during the journey to abandon the others for their benefit. At camp, Oogway discovers that, although Croc and Ox are motivated by narcissism and greed, respectively, Rhino has a deep-seated need to win the respect of his father, Master [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Flying Rhino|Flying Rhino]]. To that, Oogway suggests to all that their current goals will keep them only wanting more, and "changing course" can lead to better lives for all. Before the trio can comprehend Oogway's point, a messenger bird from the Sisters arrives to reveal their plan, and Oogway has the company set off immediately.

To encourage them to change their ways, Oogway secretly leads the trio on an extremely dangerous path across the Bridge of Mists, and forces them to cooperate so they all can safely pass, to illustrate his point of selflessness. However, when the trio finally learns that Oogway's metaphorical promise of riches actually meant "emotional riches", their protests accidentally get them trapped on a river of [[lava]]. Oogway manages to get them to safe ground, but he falls over a lava fall, leaving them with only the advice, "Remember the path", to guide them.

Dispirited by their loss, the trio try to find their way home. However, they encounter a rabbit village devastated by the Wu Sisters, and its citizens desperately try to hire them for protection. Moved by the villagers' plight, the trio decline the fee and resolve to stop the Wu Sisters, for the sake of a higher ideal.

Motivated, the trio interrupt the Sister's summit. When the former street fighters reveal that they are doing this purely for honor, they intimidate the various visiting gangs to retreat, while the Wu Sisters fight alone. Although the Wu Sisters prove too much to fight individually, Rhino, Ox and Croc manage to combine their talents to defeat them in a coordinated attack. At the moment of their victory, Oogway, who somehow survived, reappears, having captured the rest of the gangs, and praising his fellows for being worthy warriors who have found a higher purpose.

The scene returns to the exhibit in the morning, where Po concludes the story of how the new masters formed the Masters' Council in Gongmen City until Master Shifu discovers them. Although not furious, he still sets Po to work to repair the roof he damaged breaking in, before the exhibit opens in 20 minutes. Po accidentally locks himself in a sarcophagus that once served as Su Wu's prison cell, but he decides to take a power nap instead, leaving the roof unfixed.

==Voice cast==
{{Main|List of Kung Fu Panda characters}}
* [[Jack Black]] as [[Po (Kung Fu Panda)|Po]]
* [[Angelina Jolie]] as Tigress
* [[Dustin Hoffman]] as [[List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Shifu|Shifu]]
* [[Randall Duk Kim]] as Oogway
* [[Seth Rogen]] as Mantis
* [[Todd Berger]] as Pig Server
* David Cowgill as Flying Rhino
* [[Donald Fullilove]] as Gorilla Guard #1
* [[Dennis Haysbert]] as Young Storming Ox
* Joseph Izzo as Little Birdie
* [[Tony Leondis]] as Young Croc
* [[Edie Mirman]] as Mother Bunny
* [[Sumalee Montano]] as Su Wu / Wing Wu / Wan Wu
* [[Michelle Ruff]] as Money Bunny
* [[Paul Scheer]] as Young Thundering Rhino
* [[Paul C. Vogt|Paul Vogt]] as Pig Announcer

==Awards==
''Secrets of the Masters'' won a 2012 [[39th Annie Awards|Annie Award]] for [[Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production|Best Animated Special Production]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Beck |first=Jerry |title="Rango" tops Annie Award Winners |url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html |access-date=February 5, 2012 |newspaper=Cartoon Brew |date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603222731/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/top/rango-tops-annie-award-winners.html |archive-date=June 3, 2012 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1980162/ Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters] at [[Internet Movie Database]]

{{Kung Fu Panda}}
{{Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production}}
{{Tony Leondis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kung Fu Panda: Secrets Of The Masters}}
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2010s American animated films]]
[[Category:2011 animated short films]]
[[Category:American animated short films]]
[[Category:Kung Fu Panda mass media]]
[[Category:Wuxia films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tony Leondis]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Todd Berger]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Animation animated short films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in China]]
[[Category:Films set in Liaoning]]
[[Category:Animated films about cattle]]
[[Category:Animated films about crocodilians]]
[[Category:Animated films about rhinoceroses]]
[[Category:Animated films about giant pandas]]
[[Category:Animated films about turtles]]
[[Category:English-language short films]]