Preproduction art from "The Art of Kung Fu Panda" from Po's dream sequence storyboard. A giant demonic figure formed of shadow, fire, and lava towers upward, its entire torso blazing red while black armored spikes rise from its shoulders and upper arms. Its head is a horned skull, mouth gaping in either laughter or a furious roar.
Preproduction art from "The Art of Kung Fu Panda" of the Vault of Heroes. Within the vastness of the cavern stand many giant statues of kung fu masters, though most are either dim silhouettes in the background or just the tops of their heads in the foreground. Brightly lit, however, are two statues opposing one another. One is an armored snow leopard standing sideways, legs bent at the knees, its right arm held behind its head in an L-shape, its paw spread and claws splayed for the kill, while its left arm is punching forward in a straight horizontal line, fist clenched. Opposing this statue is one of a panda, looking quite peaceful and with a serene, knowing smile on its face while it holds its paws before its chest and belly in a vitarka mudra, the Buddhist meditation pose where the yogi appears to be clasping an invisible sphere from above and below (as if holding the world). On the extended arm of the snow leopard statue can be seen the small figures of Tai Lung and Po.
The snow leopard statue from the previous picture is now depicted from a much closer position, and viewed from an angle so that its snarling face can be seen and the extended fist is aimed more toward the viewer. On the arm, Po is depicted in a Dragon style stance while wearing the armor of Master Flying Rhino and carrying the Golden Shield, while blue Water chi swirls in a sphere around his free paw. Tai Lung stands back-to-back with him in a Leopard style stance, both paws upraised and burning with orange Fire chi. In the darkened heights of the Vault above them, Heian Chao can be seen flying, wings spread wide and eyes burning red, while two arcs of chi circle through the air behind him and in front of him in shapes reminiscent of the Yin-Yang: the one behind is black and formed of misty, ink-like shadow while the one ahead is bright white and formed of ice.
Chapter 43, "Igniting the Flame". #fanfiction #KungFuPanda #ADifferentLesson
Art by @masterlan12.bsky.social.
archiveofourown.org/works/175095...