Panda Rules in the Year of the Monkey

Happy Chinese New Year! It is now the Year of the Monkey and we’re excited for the prosperity and hi-jinks that come with it. Elizabeth kicked off the exciting year with another appearance on World Insight, this time to talk Pandas! The Kung-Fu Panda, that is, who high-kicked his way into China’s hearts with a record-breaking opening at the box office.

Kung Fu Panda 3 premiered with $57 million in China over its opening weekend. That’s the best debut for an animated feature in the history of Chinese cinema. The success of the film is due in large part to the way it was tailored to Chinese audiences. The Mandarin version of the film included new animation not seen in the US release. Watch Elizabeth discuss the film’s triumph and the implications it bears for future Chinese-American co-productions! And a Happy New Year!!