Kung Fu Panda 2 (soundtrack) explained

Kung Fu Panda 2 (Music from the Motion Picture)
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Hans Zimmer and John Powell
Cover:Kung Fu Panda 2 soundtrack cover.jpg
Released:May 24, 2011
Recorded:2011
Genre:Film score
Length:64:26
Label:Varèse Sarabande

Kung Fu Panda 2 (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack to the film Kung Fu Panda 2, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, a sequel to Kung Fu Panda (2008). The film is collaboratively scored by Hans Zimmer and John Powell, who also scored for the predecessor and had incorporated themes from the first film by adding more Chinese flavor for the score.[1] The soundtrack was released by Varèse Sarabande on May 24, 2011, two days before the film's release.[2]

Reception

James Christopher Monger of AllMusic wrote "listeners who enjoyed the initial blend of swashbuckling, martial arts-inspired adventure themes and lush, pastoral interludes won’t come away disappointed, as the two styles are well represented here."[3] Filmtracks.com wrote "Those fans have often considered Kung Fu Panda to exceed its three-star rating at Filmtracks, and with the aforementioned improvements to its sound, Kung Fu Panda 2 successfully transcends to achieve that fourth star."[4] James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "The themes of the first score all make a welcome return and there are times, in fact, that it can be hard to remember that you’re not actually listening to that first score, so similar they are. Where they differ is that this one has more in the way of action music – a plus, since it’s done so well – but slightly less in the way of the kind of heavenly music which was the highlight of the earlier score."[5] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter complimented Zimmer's score as an "energetic plus" and praised the "wittily ever-accelerating music" in the end credits.[6] The New York Times critic A. O. Scott commented "Hans Zimmer’s score is a witty pastiche that includes some choice ’70s-style chopsocky riffs as well as more stately pseudoclassical swatches."[7] Angie Errigo of Empire and Peter Debruge of Variety called it as a "standout" and "bombastic ".[8] [9]

Accolades

Award! scope="col"
CategoryRecipient(s)Result
ASCAP AwardTop Box Office FilmsHans Zimmer and John Powell
International Film Music Critics AssociationBest Original Score for an Animated FilmHans Zimmer and John Powell[10]
World Soundtrack AwardsSoundtrack Composer of the YearHans Zimmer[11]
[12]
John Powell

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.[13]

Orchestra and choir
Instruments

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Binkley . Christina . 2011-02-25 . Hans Zimmer: The Maestro in the 'Batcave' . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226145151/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703775704576162250644951060 . 2014-12-26 . 2023-05-03 . The Wall Street Journal . en-US.
  2. Web site: Kung Fu Panda 2 Soundtrack (2011) . https://web.archive.org/web/20141019130243/http://www.soundtrack.net/album/kung-fu-panda-2/ . October 19, 2014 . October 13, 2014 . Soundtrack.Net.
  3. Web site: Christopher Monger . James . Review: Kung Fu Panda 2 [Music from the Motion Picture] ]. https://web.archive.org/web/20140901045745/https://www.allmusic.com/album/kung-fu-panda-2-mw0002136799 . 2014-09-01 . 2023-05-03 . . Rovi Corporation.
  4. Web site: Kung Fu Panda 2 (Hans Zimmer/John Powell) . https://web.archive.org/web/20110901211457/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/kung_fu_panda2.html . 2011-09-01 . 2023-05-03 . Filmtracks.com.
  5. Web site: Southall . James . 2011-06-06 . Kung Fu Panda 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927014512/http://www.movie-wave.net/kung-fu-panda-2/ . 2013-09-27 . 2023-05-03 . Movie Wave . en-GB.
  6. Web site: McCarthy . Todd . 2011-05-22 . Kung Fu Panda 2: Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20211001210507/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/kung-fu-panda-2-review-191016/ . 2021-10-01 . 2023-05-03 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  7. News: Scott . A. O. . 2011-05-25 . A Noble Panda Takes On a Nightmare Enemy . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001100213/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/movies/kung-fu-panda-2-from-dreamworks-review.html . 2015-10-01 . 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Errigo . Angie . Review: Kung Fu Panda 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220711160529/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kung-fu-panda-2-review/ . 2022-07-11 . 2023-05-03 . Empire.
  9. Web site: Debruge . Peter . 2011-05-22 . Kung Fu Panda 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012042125/https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/kung-fu-panda-2-1117945290/ . 2013-10-12 . 2023-05-03 . Variety . en-US.
  10. Web site: . 2012 . 2011 IFMCA Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20140312195111/http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2011-ifmca-awards/ . March 12, 2014 . May 1, 2020 . IFMCA .
  11. Web site: World Soundtrack Awards Announces 2012 Nominees . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127133949/https://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/news/world-soundtrack-awards-announces-2012-nominees . 2022-01-27 . 2023-05-02 . World Soundtrack Awards . . en.
  12. Web site: World Soundtrack Awards Nominees Announced . 2023-05-02 . Grammy.com . The Recording Academy.
  13. Web site: Kung Fu Panda 2 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329181328/http://www.varesesarabande.com/servlet/the-726/Kung-Fu-Panda-2/Detail . March 29, 2012 . March 28, 2012 . Varèse Sarabande.

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