Enthusiastic and a little clumsy, Po is the biggest fan of kung fu around... but his girth is more suited for working in his father's noodle restaurant than kung fu fighting. When the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung threatens the safety of the serene Valley of Peace, all hopes are pinned on Po, the newly anointed Dragon Warrior, and a most unexpected defender of the land. When the legendary Furious Five and their teacher, Master Shifu, are charged with transforming this flabby, food-loving panda into a kung fu warrior, they realise that destiny sometimes arrives in unexpected ways. With art, behind-the-scenes visuals and exclusive filmmaker insights, this collector's edition takes fans of the movie beyond the on-screen world of the Valley of Peace, detailing the journey of Kung Fu Panda, from concept to finished film...

The Art of Kung Fu Panda takes fans of the movie behind the scenes to witness many of the concepts that never made it to the screen, as well as detailed character pages and a look at the creation of the beautiful locations.

Over almost 200 large glossy pages, we are treated to page after page of glorious illustrations, paintings and computer art work - in what must surely be the ultimate coffee table edition for serious Kung Fu Panda fanatics.

There's an interesting introduction that lays out the origins of the movie, and what the creators were hoping to achieve. This is followed by a very in depth exploration of the main characters, a look at the dream sequence and a breakdown of the locations featured in the film.

My only slight moan was that at the very back of the book, hidden away, is an envelope with the words "Prepare for Awesomeness". I prepared myself for awesomeness... but sadly all that was inside was a folded A3 poster. Okay, it's great that this little touch was included, but I was expecting something a little more... well... awesome.

This is an incredible book - and certainly one you'll be proud to own.

9

Darren Rea