Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011) is an animated short film from DreamWorks Animation. In the middle of the night, Master Po leads his fellow masters Tigress and Mantis on a secret mission to break into the new Masters’ Council exhibit in honor of Thundering Rhino, Ox, and Croc. Although Tigress and Mantis are initially frustrated with Po’s deception, he captures their attention with the intriguing tale of how these three masters first crossed paths. Long ago in Jinzhou, a city where Kung Fu was dominated by street fighting, Rhino, Ox and Croc were up-and-coming pit fighters who caught the eye of Grand Master Oogway. Recognizing their skill and determination, Oogway urged them to find a cause worth fighting for. Meanwhile, two notorious villains – the Wu Sisters – were freeing their eldest sister Su Wu from captivity. In order to stop them, Oogway enlists Rhino, Ox and Croc to join him on a journey to Hubei Volcano. However, he has to resort to promising them unspecified riches in order to gain their cooperation.

As the Wu Sisters scheme to unite the criminal gangs and gain control of China, Master Oogway must deflect his fellow travelers’ repeated propositions to abandon each other for their own gain. However, as they make camp, Oogway learns that Croc and Ox are driven by self-centeredness and greed, while Rhino’s desire to earn his father’s approval runs deep. In response, Oogway advises them that their current pursuits will only leave them wanting more, and suggests a change in direction for a better outcome. But before the trio can fully comprehend his message, a messenger bird from the Sisters arrives with news of their plot. Without hesitation, Oogway urges the group to set off immediately.