Why I Love Tai Lung - The Weight of Expectations (Kung Fu Panda)

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Fun Fact: The creators made his eyes gold to signify how he saw himself; as the hero of his own story.

That Prison Escape was one of the greatest moments in animated history

What hurts me the most is also whenever he is tranining either as a cub or an young adult, either be by praticing or breaking things, he would ALWAYS look at shifu to see look on his face and whenever his father smiles at him, he feel's happy and proud of himself.

Imagine how things would have went if shifu actually went and visited him every week or month and told him how proud he was of him, and that how he believed he could do better and be a good person.

Helps that his voice actor did a top tier job

One theory that really probably kills me when I hear it, is that oogway denied him the scroll to see how he would react, and see if he had humility, if he did it meant he was ready

"ALL I EVER DID!!!! I DID TO MAKE YOU PROUD!!" Tai lung was a victim of a forced ambition. It's like saying your parents wanted you to be a doctor or lawyer while you just wanted to be an artist. It's like your parents' choice is your choice. This kinda depicts the asian stereo type.

This is why you gotta give respect to Po’s dad, both Tai Lung and Po were adopted. Yet, Po recieved such pure constructive and unbiased love from his father. Yes, his father would have loved for Po to be a noodle man, but never forced it on him. His room is adorned with all his interests and favourite things and when he realizes Po doesn’t want to follow his direction, he loves him just as much. Meanwhile, Shifu loved Tai Lung in a very toxic way, he wanted to mold him into this perfect warrior but did not allow Tai lung to explore his own interests. He filled his head with things that weren’t even set in stone, telling him he’s destined for greatness. Without specifying that Tai Lung is already great just for being born, just trying his hardest is great. He sheltered Tai Lung and when Oogway rejected him, he didn’t even comfort his son. Tai lung didn’t have a real purpose in life or a place he still belongs, he was still an orphan while Po had a real family. After the rejection, Shifu should have left the Jade Palace with Tai Lung. Not forever, but clearly Tai Lung needed to experience a world outside of Shifu’s control to finally find himself. He didn’t even know why he wanted to be the dragon warrior, he just had to be it. Just as he took Po to train, Shifu should have left with Tai Lung.

"Who filled my head with dreams? Who drove me to train until my bones cracked? Who denied me my destiny?" - Tai Lung

I like how Tai Lung just casually lean on a bridge while four other animals try to keep it together.

Baby Tai Lung and baby Tigress make me want to cry. Tai Lung was so affectionate and happy, and Tigress is given nothing but criticism because Shifu is too hurt by his past experience to give Tigress the affection she needed.

The fight between Shifu and Tai Lung will always get me. The dialogue between them, the way that Shifu is defensive in his fighting style because he doesn't want to hurt Tai Lung, the pure agony in Tai Lung's voice as he pours all of his anger out, it will always, always make me tear up. Tai Lung is a beautiful character, not a villain, but a fallen hero that wanted nothing more than to be loved and validated for his hard work.

"Po... so that is his name. Finally, a worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary!"

His name literally means "Great Dragon" and even his eye colour is golden, a colour reserved for greatness throughout the franchise.

After watching the prison break scene as a little kid I was TERRIFIED of Tai Lung, he was the first and one of the only villains to ever make me seriously question whether or not the hero could actually win.

In my eyes; Tai Lung is misunderstood. He became Shifu's greatest student when he went under the hardest training possible that even his bones cracked as he stated in the movie. I feel like they should make a movie about Tai Lung, Shifu and Master Oogway and retell the story of how Tai Lung came to be.

what’s even more sad is how when tai lung finally opens the scroll and he sees a reflection of himself, he says “it’s nothing!” this shows how little value he had for himself because he was so determined with trying to earn validation from shifu and getting the scroll that when he was denied of his destiny, he was consumed with rage and hatred. truly a tragic character who really just wanted appreciation from his father figure.

So many characters in this film are really well written

That scene where Tai Lung stands proud, ready to receive the dragon scroll is sad. He must’ve felt like he was finally reaching his potential, his destiny. Like he was proving to the world that he shouldn’t have been abandoned on a doorstep. That it wasn’t a mistake to take him in and care for him. Only to be rejected because he harbored some mystery “inner darkness.” For the last time, he looks to his father for support. The man who always had a smile on his face every time he looked at him only showed shame, sadness, disappointment. Oogway and Shifu then literally turn their backs on Tai Lung, abandoning him on that doorstep all over again. With little more advice than “sucks to suck,” Tai Lungs life purpose, mission, and existence came crashing down watching Oogway and Shifu walk away.