Monkey

Lore & Background

In Kung Fu Panda 2, Monkey is identified specifically as a golden snub-nosed monkey. He serves under Master Shifu alongside Tigress, Mantis, Viper, and Crane. His presence in the film is defined by his membership in the Furious Five as they travel to Gongmen City. When Shen's army raids villages for metal to build cannons, Po and the Five intercept them. Monkey participates in these early skirmishes before the team learns that Shen has killed Master Thundering Rhino with a cannon.

In Their Own Story

The journey to Gongmen City begins when an emblem on a wolf soldier's armor triggers a memory flash for Po. The Furious Five, including Monkey, are dispatched to stop Lord Shen after he kills Master Thundering Rhino and imprisons Masters Storming Ox and Croc. Upon arriving in the city, they find the remaining regents refusing to help due to fear of Shen's cannons. Po and the Five feign surrender to gain entry to Gongmen Palace. Inside, they free themselves from execution and destroy Shen's prototype cannon. During this chaos, Monkey fights alongside his teammates until Po is distracted by an emblem on Shen's plumage, allowing Shen to escape and destroy the palace with his completed arsenal.

Reader's Guide

Monkey acts as a steadfast warrior within the Furious Five during the events of Kung Fu Panda 2. When Po follows the team to Shen's cannon factory after being abandoned for his safety, Monkey is captured along with Tigress, Mantis, Viper, and Crane when they attempt to destroy the factory. They are held prisoner while Shen taunts Po about his parents. However, once Po returns with inner peace, he frees the Five. Together, with the help of Masters Ox and Croc, they take out the foremost ships of Shen's fleet. While the text highlights Tigress confronting Po earlier and Po redirecting cannonballs in the climax, Monkey remains part of the collective force that stops Shen's army from reaching the harbor.

Did You Know?

• Jackie Chan reprised his role as Master Monkey in Kung Fu Panda 2.
• Monkey is identified specifically as a golden snub-nosed monkey in the film's cast list.
• The film was produced in DreamWorks' stereoscopic 3D technology, following the standard for their films since Monsters vs. Aliens.
• Monkey participated in the mission to Gongmen City where the team faced Lord Shen and his cannon-wielding wolf army.

Narrative Arc and Character Evolution

The storyline centers on Po's journey to inner peace while facing Lord Shen. Monkey is present throughout the group's mission to Gongmen City. He fights alongside Po against Shen's wolf army and participates in the infiltration of Gongmen Palace where they destroy a prototype cannon. The team faces capture at Shen's factory, where Monkey remains imprisoned until Po returns. With his new inner peace, Po frees the Five, and they collectively engage Shen's fleet on the river. While the text focuses heavily on Po's personal redemption and final duel with Shen, Monkey is integral to the group effort that scatters Shen's forces before the final confrontation.

Production History and Direction

Jackie Chan reprised his role as Master Monkey for Kung Fu Panda 2. The film was directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who replaced John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. As with every DreamWorks Animation film from Monsters vs. Aliens onward, the movie was produced in stereoscopic 3D technology. The production team visited Chengdu and Mount Qingcheng to incorporate elements of Chinese culture, though Monkey's specific design or cultural inspirations are not detailed beyond his species identification as a golden snub-nosed monkey.

Critical Reception and Box Office Success

Kung Fu Panda 2 grossed $666 million against a $150 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film from a female director at the time. It received an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 84th Academy Awards. Jackie Chan's performance as Monkey contributed to the ensemble cast that included Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Haysbert, and Victor Garber.

Antagonist Dynamics and Thematic Depth

Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman, serves as the antagonist whose past drives the plot. Monkey stands in opposition to Shen alongside the other members of the Furious Five. The conflict escalates when Shen kills Master Thundering Rhino with a cannon. The narrative explores themes of destiny and trauma, culminating in Po achieving inner peace. While Monkey does not have a direct solo interaction with Shen described in the text, he is part of the group that challenges Shen's tyranny and ultimately helps defeat his fleet.