The story of Tai Lung from the animated film Kung Fu Panda.
Past[]
| “ | Shifu found him as a cub and he raised him as his son. And when the boy showed talent in kung fu, Shifu trained him. He believed in him. He told him he was destined for greatness. It was never enough for Tai Lung. He wanted the Dragon Scroll, but Oogway saw darkness in his heart and refused. Outraged, Tai Lung laid waste to the valley. He tried to take the scroll by force and Shifu had to destroy what he had created. But how could he? Shifu loved Tai Lung like he never loved anyone before... or since. | „ |
| ~ Tigress explaining Tai Lung's backstory to Po. |
Tai Lung was found as a cub, abandoned at the doorstep of the Jade Palace, by Master Shifu. Shifu took him in and raised him as his own son, showered him with love, and trained him in the arts of Kung Fu, which Tai Lung proved to be a prodigy at. As Shifu trained him, he grew more and more confident in his abilities, due to Shifu's constant assurance that he was destined for greatness and he would be the Dragon Warrior. Growing into a proud and formidable fighter, Tai Lung would then make the tragic mistake of devoting his whole life to being the Dragon Warrior, with Shifu making the mistake of encouraging this behavior.
The ramifications came on the day when Shifu felt that Tai Lung was ready for the Dragon Scroll, but Shifu's mentor, Grand Master Oogway, respectfully refused to let him have it due to seeing a dark potential in his heart. Hurt and confused by this rejection, Tai Lung expected his master, who had always believed in him, to say something in his defense, but Shifu could not bring himself to defy his own master for his pupil.
Tai Lung angrily destroying the Valley after being denied the scroll by Grand Master Oogway.
At that point, Tai Lung's damaged pride dissolved into a rage, and he rampaged through the Valley of Peace, laying it to waste. He then attempted to take the scroll by force, barreling through the thick wooden doors into the Jade Palace's Hall of Warriors, where Oogway and Shifu were waiting for him. Shifu attempted to stop Tai Lung from getting to the scroll, but he couldn't bring himself to properly fight him due to having raised him as his own son. Tai Lung, having no mutual reservations due to Shifu's lack of support, violently struck him aside, injuring him in the process. Just before Tai Lung was about to get the Dragon Scroll in his grasp, he was stopped by Master Oogway, who blocked his chi by quickly jabbing multiple pressure points in his chest, rendering him unconscious. Shifu then mourned for his fallen son, ashamed of not being able to reel his inner demons until it was too late.
Tai Lung's first defeat.
For his crimes against the Valley, Tai Lung was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was then locked away deep within Chorh-Gom, a well-fortified prison built inside a mountain guarded by the Anvil of Heaven, a thousand rhino guards led by the ruthless warden, Commander Vachir. In addition, giant crossbows were trained on him, two large boulders were chained to his arms, and he was forced to wear a stone shell on his back with various jade acupuncture needles placed in every crucial point blocking his chi in the process as well as almost fully immobilizing him.
Kung Fu Panda[]
Prison Break[]
| “ | I'm glad Shifu sent you. I was beginning to think I'd been forgotten. Fly back there and tell them… the real Dragon Warrior is coming home. | „ |
| ~ Tai Lung's first words after escaping from prison and sending Zeng back to the valley to alert his arrival. |
Tai Lung's eyes widen with determination upon hearing the Dragon Warrior was about to be chosen.
20 years later, Oogway has a vision that Tai Lung will escape his confinement and seek revenge. Hearing this, Shifu fiercely orders his messenger Zeng to relay a message to double the security measures to avert Tai Lung's return but Vachir dismisses this; saying that escape from his prison is already impossible and attempts to prove it by showing a seemingly broken Tai Lung to Zeng; even going as far as to boast that Oogway is choosing someone other than the leopard to be the Dragon Warrior, and taking a step too far by literally stepping on his tail. As they leave, however, a molted feather from when Vachir slapped Zeng in the back lands in front of Tai Lung, and he uses his tail to sweep it closer to him, intending to finally escape and claim the title he believed was his.
Using his tail and the feather, he picks the lock to his shell to escape and is spotted by the Anvil of Heaven who mobilize to contain Tai Lung with every weapon at their disposal. Driven by his insatiable fury that has been building during his whole imprisonment, Tai Lung uses his Kung fu mastery to decimate the guards as he advances his way up the levels; resulting in a battle climaxing in a standoff at the bridge at the door level. In a last attempt to outwit Tai Lung, Vachir orders the bridge to be destroyed by setting off explosives attached to the roof of the prison which causes falling chunks of rock the size of boulders to smash into the walkway Tai Lung is standing on. Thinking quickly, Tai Lung rapidly leaps from rock to falling rock, finally reaching the last bundle of explosives that have yet to be set off—and tossed it among the guards as it exploded, blasting open the heavy doors and finishing off the remaining guards and Vachir.
Grabbing a helpless Zeng by the neck, Tai Lung politely tells him to fly back to the Jade Palace with a message of his own: "The real Dragon Warrior is coming home." After letting the goose go, he sets out to return to the Jade Palace, bent on revenge and gaining the power of the Dragon Scroll he had been denied so long ago at top speed.
Battle Against The Furious Five[]
| “ | Where's the Dragon Warrior? Tigress: How do you know you're not looking at her? (Tai Lung Laughs) You think I'm a fool? I know you're not the Dragon Warrior—none of you! I heard how he fell out of the sky on a ball of fire. That he's a warrior unlike anything the world has ever seen. Monkey: Po? So that is his name, Po. Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary! |
„ |
| ~ Tai Lung to his adoptive sister: Tigress, and the Furious Five: Viper, Mantis, Crane, and Monkey. |
Tai Lung vs. Tigress.
Meanwhile, in the Valley of Peace, the potential Dragon Warrior (Po) is being trained to fight Tai Lung. Tai Lung came across the Thread of Hope as he was confronted by the Furious Five who are known to be Shifu's students and after hearing about his escape from prison. After some time battling Tigress, the bridge was cut as Tai Lung demands to know where the dragon warrior was at. He tells that he heard the Dragon Warrior's appearances stating he "fell from the sky on a ball of fire" and was "a warrior, unlike anything the world has ever seen." Monkey mentioned Po, revealing the Dragon Warrior's name, which excited Tai Lung as he saw Po as a worthy opponent for a legendary battle.
The fight continues as Tigress attacks him but struggles into landing an attack due to how skilled Tai Lung is. Tai Lung then kicks Tigress through half of the wood bridges leading to her being strangled by the rope. Tigress was rescued by crane until Mantis was the only one standing. After Tai Lung gets overwhelmed the Furious Five wraps the rope around him to the bridge. Tai Lung managed to get out using the remaining destroyed rope bridge. He compliments how Shifu teaches them before attacking them with Crane pulling the four back to the Jade Palace as a warning that Tai Lung can defeat the five strongest warriors before coming after Shifu.
Battle Against Shifu[]
| “ | I rotted in jail for 20 years because of your weakness! Shifu: Obeying your master is not weakness! You knew I was the Dragon Warrior! (flashback ensues; 20 years ago, in the exact same spot in the Hall of Warriors; Tai Lung awaits Shifu and Oogway's evaluation; Tai Lung proudly believes he will receive the dragon scroll) You always knew. But when Oogway said otherwise, (Oogway turns to Shifu and shakes his head in refusal and walks away) what did you do? (Shifu is about to say something, but remains silent out of respect for his master) What did you do?! (Tai Lung cannot believe what he is hearing and seeing. Then the scene returns to present; Tai Lung is furious) NOTHING! Shifu: YOU WERE NOT MEANT TO BE THE DRAGON WARRIOR! THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT! (going into a rage) NOT YOUR FAULT?! (angrily knocks down Master Flying Rhino's armor) WHO FILLED MY HEAD WITH DREAMS?! (starts throwing a shield at Shifu) WHO DROVE ME TO TRAIN UNTIL MY BONES CRACKED?! WHO DENIED ME MY DESTINY?! (Tai Lung launches a volley of blades at Shifu, who deflects all of them with ease. Tai Lung kicks a sword at him, and Shifu counters it and redirects it into the floor) Shifu: It was never my decision to make! (Tai Lung growls and leaps to Oogway's shrine. He finally realizes that Oogway is gone and picks up the deceased master's staff and faces Shifu) It is now. (Shifu charges Tai Lung, hitting him before Tai Lung uses the curved end of Oogway's staff to catch Shifu by the neck and pin him to the ground) Give...me...the scroll! Shifu: I would rather die! (Tai Lung growls as they both struggle for a beat until finally, the staff snaps in half. Shifu looks back at the pieces and a flutter of peach tree petals fly by. Caught off guard, Shifu gets kicked by Tai Lung into the wall. Shifu leaps from column to column, pursued by Tai lung. Shifu eventually jumps to the rafters and Tai Lung follows and sends them both crashing through the roof. Lightning flashes. Grappling in mid-air, Shifu briefly gets the upper hand before Tai Lung gets his paws around Shifu's throat as they crash back through the roof. They kick apart. Shifu crashes into a column, falls to the floor and lands hard. Tai Lung bounces off the wall, knocking a lantern to the floor. Blue flames go everywhere. Tai Lung's arms are aflame as he charges at Shifu with a roar. Shifu struggles to block his punches) All I ever did, I did to make you proud! Tell me how PROUD you are, Shifu! Tell me! TELL ME!!! (Tai Lung use his final blow sends Shifu flying across the room. Shifu lands in a heap at the foot of the stairs. Tai Lung extinguishes the blue flames with his paws as Tai Lung stalks forward. Shifu weakly lifts himself slightly) Shifu: (weakly, tired, solemn and sad) I have always been proud of you. From the first moment, I've been proud of you. (Tai Lung stops in his tracks) Shifu: And it was my pride, that blinded me; I loved you too much to see what you were becoming...what I was turning you into. I'm...I'm sorry. (Tai Lung taken aback for a moment whiles he hesitates. Shifu waits. After a long moment... Tai Lung's expression goes cold as He grabs Shifu by the throat) I don't want your apology! I want my scroll! |
„ |
| ~ Tai Lung, brutally attacking Shifu in pure rage. |
By the time he arrived, the village was evacuated under Shifu's orders before confronting his master. Though Tai Lung at first gives Shifu a chance at welcoming him home as a one-time student, but Shifu made it clear that the Jade Palace was no longer his home and he was no longer his master. Tai Lung acknowledged that Shifu had a new student, Po, and wondered if he had scared him away. Shifu emphasized that the battle was solely between Tai Lung and himself. Tai Lung questioned if that was the way things were going to be. Shifu responded firmly, stating that it was the way it had to be. Enraged, Tai Lung cracked the Jade Palace steps and then throws a rock at Shifu using it as a distraction before punching him through the palace doors. Tai Lung was angry that Shifu did nothing when he denied his destiny to become the Dragon Warrior. When Shifu states that it wasn't his fault due to only following orders it only enraged Tai Lung as he throws and attacks him with several objects. Tai Lung taunts Shifu, suggesting that he can now appoint him as the Dragon Warrior following Oogway's passing. Using Oogway's staff as a weapon, Tai Lung strikes at Shifu until the staff breaks while attempting to strangle him. Despite Tai Lung's continued assaults, Shifu manages to evade and counter his moves, even as the snow leopard leaps from column to column in his attacks.
Tai Lung defeats Shifu.
After many attacks and blows, the lantern crashed down as Tai Lung's paws becomes cough with the blue fire. While fighting Shifu, Tai Lung revealed to him that everything he did was to only make him proud and continuously demanded that Shifu tell him that he was proud before brutally injuring him. As the snow leopard extinguishes his paws and approaches slowly, Shifu then confessed that he has always been proud of Tai Lung no matter how hard he tried before apologizing for letting the pride get to him. This touched Tai Lung as he pauses for a brief moment before grabbing Shifu on the neck declaring he doesn't want his apology but rather the scroll. Furious the dragon scroll isn't there he nearly kills Shifu before Po arrives to interrupt. Tai Lung questioned Po's identity, prompting Po to assert confidently that he is the Dragon Warrior. Upon discovering that Po was actually a panda, Tai Lung mocked Po's panda heritage, doubting what he could achieve and even jokingly suggesting that Po might try to sit on him to thwart his plans. Po then challenges Tai Lung to come and get the scroll before punching him away and grabbing the scroll.
Final Battle and Defeat[]
| “ | You...can't defeat me. You...you're just a big...fat...panda! (tries to punch him) Po: (pinches Tai Lung's finger) I'm not a big fat panda, I'm the big fat panda. (lifts up his pinky finger) (gasps in horror) The Wuxi Finger Hold?! Po: Oh, you know this hold? You're bluffing. You're bluffing! Shifu didn't teach you that. Po: Nope. (Tai Lung smiles weakly) I figured it out. (flexes his pinky finger, with Tai Lung's eyes widening in an "uh-oh" stare) Skadoosh. |
„ |
| ~ Tai Lung's last words before Po defeats him by using the Wuxi Finger Hold, sending him to the Spirit Realm, putting an end to his reign of terror once and for all. |
Tai Lung's second defeat.
During the final battle, he and Po come face-to-face and continuously fight over the Dragon Scroll. Despite Po's best efforts, Tai Lung finally gets the Dragon Scroll only to realize in shock that it is blank as it only shows a golden reflection. Po finally explains that there was never any special power inside the scroll, and that the power only lies within oneself the entire time (which happens to be the exact message that the scroll is conveying).
Tai Lung then starts taking his anger out on Po after learning that his efforts to obtain the scroll have been for nothing (as he ironically had the power of the Dragon Scroll within him the whole time) and that his whole life was supposedly "built on a lie". An enraged Tai Lung then tries to paralyze Po using a nerve attack, which proves useless against Po due to his body fat and only tickles the panda. Giving a powerful strike to Po only causes the panda to inadvertently rebound the force right to Tai Lung, sending him flying into a wall.
The two then fight in direct combat; Po soon develops his own style in kung fu using his body weight to his advantages. Tai Lung is sent crashing through another wall and make a charge at Po in blind rage only to be sent flying into the sky before landing and making a hole in the ground. Though battered, exhausted, and weakened, Tai Lung still foolishly tries to continue fighting; denying that Po can defeat him when Po had already proven to be too strong for him. Making a futile strike, he is finally caught in the legendary Wuxi Finger Hold. Though frightened, Tai Lung thinks Po is bluffing about knowing the Wuxi Finger Hold, believing Shifu didn't teach him the technique. Po assures Tai Lung that Shifu didn't, and he actually figured out the technique on his own, much to Tai Lung's shock. Po then completes the technique by flexing his pinky downwards to finish Tai Lung off, causing him to disappear in a rippling golden wave, bringing his rampage to an end once and for all, and allowing him to embrace a new life in the Spirit Realm.
Kung Fu Panda 2[]
Tai Lung is briefly mentioned when Po is put in eight-point acupressure cuffs with the panda pointing out they are the same type of cuffs had once held Tai Lung. Tai Lung is also seen shortly in the memories of Po during his flashback as the latter attains inner peace to stop Lord Shen and his army of wolves from taking over China.
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness[]
Tai Lung in a flashback in "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness".
Though Tai Lung doesn't make an appearance in the series, due to living in the Spirit Realm, he is shown in flashbacks and is mentioned on more than one occasion: At first, he is shown in the flashback during his escape from Hundan's point of view. Then, a kung fu prodigy named Peng whom Po just met revealed to have traced his family lineage and discovers that Tai Lung is his late uncle.
Po disguised himself as Tai Lung to trick Peng.
Later, in the episode, "Master and the Panda", Peng ends up learning the truth about what happened to Tai Lung and attacks Po who tries to reason with Peng that his uncle was evil. Peng later ends up corrupted by the Gong Lu Medallion and fights Po in a battle that mirrors Po's fight with Tai Lung. Po later uses a shifting stone to assume the form of Tai Lung to convince Peng to remove the Gong Lu Medallion as well as successfully convince Peng about how Tai Lung's pride and desire for power consumed him.
Kung Fu Panda 3[]
Tai Lung as one of Kai's amulets.
Tai Lung makes a cameo as an action figure that Po is playing with while taking a bubble bath and also appears on one of Kai the Collector's Jombie Amulets, but his amulet is only briefly visible in certain shots and is never used against the heroes. This shows that, when Po defeated Tai Lung in the Mortal Realm using the Wuxi Finger Hold, Kai eventually defeated Tai Lung in the Spirit Realm and took his chi. Like with Oogway and the other kung fu masters residing in the spirit world, Tai Lung's chi is freed when Po vanquishes Kai.
This is the only film where the characters don't say Tai Lung's name.
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll[]
Even though Tai Lung doesn't appear, he still has an impact on the plot as due to his turn to villainy and imprisonment, Shifu is filled with anger and trained Tigress very harshly to make her a good Kung Fu student who won't turn on him; leading her to do whatever he tells to impress him.
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight[]
When Po talks about himself, Tai Lung can be seen in a flashback, where he is defeated by Po.
Kung Fu Panda 4[]
Tai Lung returns in Kung Fu Panda 4.
Being banished to the Spirit Realm did little to temper Tai Lung's resentment, believing that Po was unworthy of Oogway's favor, though he did come to realize he wasn't meant to be the Dragon Warrior.
In her plan to steal Po's staff of wisdom, the Chameleon shapeshifts into Tai Lung and attacks a quarry in order to get Po's attention and her apprentice Zhen to lead him to her. After she successfully steals the staff and uses it to open a portal to the Spirit Realm, Tai Lung was the first to be summoned by the sorceress. Initially confused as to why he was brought back, Tai Lung immediately notices the staff in The Chameleon's hands and asks how she has it. She claims Po gave it to her, but Tai Lung refuses to believe Po is foolish enough to make that mistake. She then reveals she summoned him so he could teach her his strongest kung fu moves, Tai Lung flatly refuses and tries to return to the Spirit Realm, only for the Chameleon to close the portal and ambush him with the Chameleon's Army of Komodo dragons.
Tai Lung dispatches her army with ease, but The Chameleon disguises as one of her Komodo dragons to lower his guard and then latches her tongue onto his spirit, draining his strength and kung fu prowess from him. Weakened, Tai Lung tries to continue fighting but is easily overpowered and imprisoned by The Chameleon, who proceeds to do the same to other masters from the Spirit Realm, including Lord Shen and General Kai.
Later on, Po sneaks into The Chameleon's lair and finds Tai Lung. He brands Po as unworthy of Oogway's favor and berates him for irresponsibly losing his staff. Po promises to free Tai Lung and restore his power, but Tai Lung remarks that he only sees a broken promise. Po and Zhen duel The Chameleon not long after, in which Tai Lung frequently mocks him for his lack of progress. However, he is eventually proven wrong as Po and Zhen do succeed in defeating The Chameleon and restoring the kung fu masters' power. Upon being freed, Tai Lung approaches Po and admits that Oogway was right about him. As a display of respect, Tai Lung bows to Po, which leads the other masters to do the same. At Tai Lung's request, Po opens a portal back to the Spirit Realm, allowing Tai Lung and the other masters to return home.
As the masters enter the portal, Tai Lung takes The Chameleon with him to make her face consequences for her actions. Tai Lung is the last to enter the portal, but not before acknowledging Po as the Dragon Warrior for the first time and redeeming himself by promising to see him on the other side. Though offscreen, the film's novel adaptation reveals that Tai Lung and the rest of the masters opted to play jump rope with The Chameleon's tongue in the Spirit Realm upon returning, allowing Tai Lung and the others to give her the humiliating punishment that she deserves.