Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Blu-ray Movie Review

Classic 'Panda' with a holiday flavor.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 10, 2012

What goes on in your heart will never let us down.

DreamWorks has recently released two holiday-themed animated short film collections, one centered on Halloween and the other Christmas. There's even a Valentine's Day-themed Madagascar short on the horizon, titled Madly Madagascar. These shorts are safe bets, fun little diversions, and highly satisfying efforts that consistently capture the spirit and tone of the DreamWorks animated franchises. Kung Fu Panda Holiday, released separately from the Christmas collection, may be the best of them all. Why, at 26 minutes in length, it simply wasn't just made a part of the Christmas package remains a mystery. Nevertheless, it's here and it's quite good, a short that captures the Kung Fu Panda spirit and tells a quick, witty, and heartfelt tale of food and family, key ingredients in any series entry.

I'm just a little hungry.

Po (voiced by Jack Black) is excited to be spending the coming holidays with his father, Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hong). It's tradition that they cook together and it's a time of great happiness and new memories. However, Po learns that one of his most sacred duties as Dragon Master is to host the Winter Feast, a luxurious gathering of all the masters, an event steeped in tradition and complex rituals. Many have their doubts, however, that Po has what it takes to arrange the perfect feast. He must piece it all together and, most importantly, choose the right cook for the job. It quickly becomes an overwhelming proposition, and with every new demand, the more Po realizes that he only wants to spend his usual Christmas with his father. Can he somehow pull off his greatest challenge yet by ignoring the callings of his heart, or will he fail in performing one of his most critical duties as Dragon Master?

What's so great about this -- and the other -- DreamWorks holiday specials is the strict adherence to look and feel, recreating the essence of the full-length films in a picture a third of the length. For DreamWorks, short specials don't mean cut corners; Kung Fu Panda Holiday brings back the entire voice cast and features the same high-end animation found in the feature films. The result is a seamless entry into franchise canon, a perfect fit, a fine film worthy of the rest, a real pleasure to watch. Dramatically, Kung Fu Panda Holiday captures the same essence of its bigger brothers, too. The film is built around the same character-driven heart and soul that make the others such successes. The humor is wonderful and, while the action is minimal, that adherence to series spirit makes the film a total Kung Fu Panda package winner. It's just as funny as it is heartfelt; the film assembles a quality theme about the importance of family, about doing what it is right and following one's heart rather than stuffy tradition, particularly if it comes a high personal cost one is unwilling to pay. The film crams quite a bit of characterization and depth into such a short venture, a credit to both the script and the strengths of the established Kung Fu Panda universe that allows for a great story on a short clock.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kung Fu Panda Holiday arrives on Blu-ray with a striking 1080p transfer that's just as good as its feature length film counterparts. The image offers faultless color reproduction. The world of Kung Fu Panda Holiday is awash in brilliant hues, all of them perfectly balanced and naturally vibrant. Fine detail is striking and as complex as the animation allows. Whether fur, clothing lines, wood, or ornamental objects, the transfer delivers every small nuance with precision. Clarity is perfect and every frame is as sharp as can be. There are no signs of banding or other eyesores. There's not much else to say, really; this is a perfect transfer through and through.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Kung Fu Panda Holiday arrives on Blu-ray with a high-end Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack. The track delivers faultless elements across the board. Music plays big, enjoying wide spacing, perfectly blended surround support, natural bass, and unrivaled clarity. The track's precision and sound placement also dazzle. Every element exists within a perfectly realized 360-degree sonic environment. Whether discrete effects, naturally drifting dialogue, or that perfectly-placed music, DreamWorks' track has been engineered to exacting precision and faultlessly replicated on Blu-ray. There are no anomalies and nothing's out of place. Dialogue is clear and natural. Overall this is an A+ soundtrack in every regard.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Kung Fu Panda Holiday contains a rather small but fun assortment of extra goodies.

• Learn to Draw: Wo Hop (HD, 5:42): Head of Story Tom Owens guides viewers through the process of how to draw Wo Hop.
• Kung Fu Panda Holiday Shuffle (HD): Players may choose between two games. In Follow the Candle, a candle is placed under a can, the cans are shuffled, and players must select the can with the candle to win. In Wo Hop and the Golden Ladle, Wo Hop hides under shuffling crates and players must keep track of his crate as they quickly move around the screen.
• Mr. Ping's Noodle House (HD, 4:40): Alton Brown, host of Iron Chef America, narrates as Danny Yip, Executive Pasta Chef at Mr. Chow Restaurant, works magic in the art of noodle making.
• How to Use Chopsticks (HD, 2:54): A kid-centric extra that instructs viewers on the use of chopsticks.
• Previews (HD): Additional DreamWorks titles.
• World of DreamWorks Animation (HD): Music videos, previews, and more from the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and Megamind properties.
• DVD Copy.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kung Fu Panda Holiday does everything a short special should: it's funny, heartfelt, and stays true to the series in terms of visual style and voice acting. If there's a fault it's that it's too short, but other than length, it's classic Kung Fu Panda through and through. It doesn't feel forced or made just to generate a few sales but rather because it has a simple but effective story to tell. Best, it effortlessly nestles in with the rest of the series. Hopefully, this isn't the last of the Kung Fu Panda specials. DreamWorks' Blu-ray release of Kung Fu Panda Holiday features standout video and audio. A few good extras are included. Highly recommended.