Again? Wow...

I don't know any way to justify this, other than to say, it doesn't surprise me. Viacom owns Paramount Dreamworks and Nickelodeon, so to them, it's expanding the brand to ensure that it doesn't get forgotten while we wait another year and a half for another feature film. It feels wrong, but it makes perfect sense.

Just playing devil's advocate.

The Lion King. It doesn't make The Lion King a bad movie because Timon and Pumba had their own shows. Didn't hurt Aladdin or Beauty And The Beast. And it doesn't effect the legacy of the original films. I don't even pay attention to Lion King 2 or 2 1/2 or whatever, cause they weren't made for me.

There isn't a chance in hell that Monsters vs Aliens isn't due for the same treatment. These DWA movies are pretty much designed from the get-go for sequels and TV shows.

Let's be fair and balanced here and keep in mind that Pixar also had a Toy Story TV show called "Buzz Lightyear Star Command."

And to be fair, Pixar also sold out. :) I think television shows based on animated feature films are almost always a bad idea.

Yea, I think you're right in most cases, but there are some rare exceptions. I for one really loved TaleSpin, the Disney animated series which was a loose spin-off (no pun intended) of the Jungle Book.

And even though it wasn't an animated feature film, Ghostbusters obviously had a much beloved cartoon series called The Real Ghostbusters.

Hmm, I can see some validity in what you are saying, but I certainly wouldn't call it selling out. Look at the Clone Wars animated movie. That was not good in my opinion. However, the animated TV series is quite brilliant, and I'm a 30 year old saying this. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it, and it may change your quote of, "I think television shows based on animated feature films are almost a bad idea."

To be extra-fair, was that TV show actually Pixar, or a Disney show using licensed Pixar characters? I always assumed it was Disney, kind of like what they were planning to do with Toy Story 3.

"The LEGACY of the original film?" Are you serious, man? We're using terms like "legacy" and "sell-out" in regards to Kung Fu friggin' Panda? Look, I understand you've got a strange pet peeve going on about adapting animated films for TV series (God knows why), but you need to step back and get a little perspective here, Peter. This isn't like somebody colorizing "Citizen Kane". Your childhood will not be raped. Sheesh..........

Peter,

I love your site. But your Pixar fanboyism gets a bit much. You seem to forget that other studios have done this as well. You make it sound like KFP are the only ones to have tried this venture. It's been done for years and it's both work and failed for some.

Nothing in the article is Pixar fanboyism, except a worry that Pixar will head to the same road, it's not even a compliment. He also stated Little Mermaid and Madagascar.

Disney got Buzz Lightyear show a while ago but it's not done by Pixar and not even related to the Toy Story universe.

It's his site, don't read if you don't like it.

"It's his site, don't read (it) if you don't like it"

You've got to kind of actually read something FIRST before you decide whether or not you like it.

So I see the old "be a smarmy douche to anyone you don't agree with" rule is in full effect here, too. Just like AICN.

Anyone here who has seen the Penguins of Madagascar show will instantly not be worried. The show is way above average for the usual crud on kids TV and is watchable for all ages.

If Penguins is the guide they are using for Panda then no worries for me.

Speaking as a parent to a little boy who loves Kung Fu Panda (and I did too), I know he'll be VERY excited about this animated series. This show is for children, I don't think the ins and outs of it need dissecting by the likes of a film blog.

Pretty much. And kids WILL see the next movie based on KFP. Why? Because kids will always want more of something they like. Look at the Pokemon series.

The American animation industry for the most part is all marketing and as much branding as possible. You either go for tv show spin-off's, happy meals, or technology tie-in's.

you got that right

What sucks is that when the sequel comes out, I'll only be 14! and I'm 12 right now.

Kung Fu Panda sucked balls. Lame jokes and inferior animation...I guess you'd have to be a child to enjoy that swill. WALL-E was so much better in every way.

agreed. It was so predictable and cliched. Give me Wall-E anytime of the day!

Your MAMA sucked balls. it was better then wall-e I bet Po could karate chop wall-e and eve, even those fat people.

Dreamworks Animation selling out? All they ever have done is sold out. They advertise their movies based purely on celebrity voiced characters. There hasn't been a time where I said, "Oh that Dreamworks film has a creative a new plot with interesting characters that I've never seen before!"

Am I the only person who is not that excited about 3d in the first place? You go in, you buy a ugly and overpriced glasses and then you give them back to be "recycled"? If I went to see Kung Fu Panda 2 , it will be because I want to see it. I go to see a movie to see a movie and 3d really doesn't offer anything extra. "Feel like your really there!" No! Your not really there and its just another way for them to take my money.

Dreamworks can make some really solid films, but they can't keep banking off the same ideas over and over again. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from Shrek 3., and their making two more of those films. Are you kidding me?

How can you "sell out" on a commercial piece of junk like Kung Fu Panda? Come on.

I'll have you know, Kung Fu Panda isn't "Junk" It's a heart warming movie.

"Why will kids pay to see a new Kung Fu Panda movie if they can watch the television show at home for free? "

Because first off, kids dont pay for squat. Its the parents who pony up the cash. And second, when kids see something they like all they have to do is point and demand. They don't know the difference between a movie and a tv show of the same nature. Sure the format may be different, but same characters, same thing in their eyes.

To sell out, you have to have integrity in the first place. Stop being so sensitive. They got offered lots of money for something they've already done, and they took it. It's called business, not selling out.

I'm still thinking about this one.

Disney practically invented the whole concept of branding animation across every platform of media all around the universe. I don't think, and maybe someone could correct me, that it's really up to Pixar if Disney chooses to turn one of their movies into a spinoff tv show. It's Disney's channel and they still own Pixar. So really, they can do whatever they want.

Toy Story 3 is going to be great! Guaranteed Oscar. It's also going to be HUGE at the box office. You know why? Because they kept the franchise going with spinoff TV shows and straight to dvd releases. Toy Story 2 was 1999. Do you realize how many new kids have been born and grown into over saturated mass media consumers? Kids born since Toy Story 2 came out! Do you realize how many animated movies have come out since then? It only makes sense to do what they're doing in order to keep the franchise relevant.

It's easy for young kids to move onto the next cool thing. It's usually the parents who have the attachments to the earlier films. Can't count how many times my friend has watched Alvin and the Chipmunks and Bolt. I'm sure he'd much rather be watching Toy Story or Finding Nemo.

As much as it bothers us, and it does, it's very smart business. That's why Disney is Disney. That's why Viacom is Viacom. Because they're willing to do this sort of thing in exchange for insane amounts of cash from mass consumers.

And who's to say Jack Black won't voice the character for the show? Maybe he's contractually obligated. You never know. Doing voice work for an animated series or film is much easier and faster than filming a live action movie, so he could easily do both. Hank Azaria can manage acting in films, television, and doing probably more voice work on a single show than anyone else alive. I'm sure Jack Black could handle the responsibility.

That's all I got. I'm sure nobody will read this.

Well it BETTER be Jack Black as Po, other wise they're ruining the movie! Who's with me?