Kung Fu Panda Adventure is an animated simulator attraction based on the popular franchise. It can be found at Universal Studios Hollywood, where it opened on June 14, 2018, replacing Shrek 4D.
In its story, Po sets off on a river raft-based quest to deliver the "Liquid of Ultimate Power" to the Emperor, bringing Master Shifu, Mr. Ping, and the entire audience along with him for extra help. In typical theme park ride-fashion, they encounter multiple obstacles along the way when they are faced with a band of wolf pirates that want the liquid for themselves.
The attraction is set inside the "DreamWorks Theatre", and is intended to be the first of many DreamWorks Animation attractions to be shown in the venue. As a result the theater contains multiple tributes to all of DreamWorks Animation's films, including a pre-show that has Po interacting with some of the characters from Shrek, Madagascar, and Trolls.
The Motiongate Dubai park contains a similar attraction called Kung Fu Panda: Unstoppable Awesomeness, which is presented in 3-D and doesn't use the DreamWorks Theatre setting, along with having some minor plot differences.
Tropes shown in Kung Fu Panda Adventure include:
- Art Evolution: Due to the advances in animation technology that have occurred since their last movies, the Shrek and Madagascar characters are much more expressive and animated on top of possessing higher-quality models across the board.
- Arrows on Fire: The wolf pirates are briefly shown firing a barrage of flaming arrows towards the characters.
- Big Bad: Kang, who is hellbent on taking the Liquid of Ultimate Power for himself before the heroes can get it to the Emperor.
- Big Entrance: All of the Dreamworks guests introduce themselves in grandiose entrances: Donkey has a spotlight shining down on him, Shrek walks in holding a lantern, Marty appears from a crate dropped down via the penguins, and Poppy enters on a shower of confetti and balloons.
- Bioluminescence Is Cool: The entrance to Kang's cave is filled with glowing rockwork and dozens of fireflies.
- Blazing Inferno Hellfire Sauce: It turns out that the Liquid of Ultimate Power is actually just the ingredient for Mr. Ping's hot sauce, which is so strong that it sends Kang crashing back to the ground in smokes, and causes Po to burp fire.
- Broken Bridge: Right after going down the waterfall, the audience finds themselves going through a series of obstacles in the form of an unfinished bridge.
- Building Swing: As to be expected with pirates, Kang and his pack get around the cave with a series of hanging ropes and chains.
- Canon Foreigner: Kang and his pack of wolf pirates were created exclusively for the attraction.
- Cave Mouth: In a slight variation, Kang's cave has a glowing mouth and eyes in the middle of it, rather than right at the entrance.
- Check, Please!: After Po mentions the Ming Hammer (an item so powerful it can knock anyone into the spirit realm), Marty says the trope by name and notes he can't compete with that.
- Chekhov's Gun: Along with a few other weapons, the pre-show briefly showcases the Ming Hammer, noting that it's a magical weapon powerful enough to teleport someone to the Spirit Realm. It doesn't seem to be important to the plot at first until Kang breaks in and steals it, and later uses it against the protagonists.
- Conveyor Belt o' Doom: Kang's territory has one that contains swinging axes, wrecking balls, spikes, among other hazards.
- Derelict Graveyard: The river rapids that the characters travel down are filled with the remains of several wrecked ships.
- Dramatic Spotlight: One appears over Donkey as he makes his entrance into the pre-show.
- The Dreaded Pretend Tea-Party: After Po refuses to let them come along, Princess Poppy decides to drag Gingy off-screen to one of these.
- Funny Background Event: After Kang sends the party into the spirit realm, the musicians that were next to the emperor are sent there as well, and go on to provide the music for the entirety of the finale. This is very easy to miss on a first watch due to the fight having your attention, and that they are away from where the fight is happening throughout the entire fight.
- Heh Heh, You Said "X": Gingy does this in the pre-show, which gets a groan out of Shifu.Princess Poppy: Poppy reporting for duty!Gingy: Heh, heh! She said "doody"!
- Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: The wolf pirates, despite firing dozens of close arrows, fail to land a hit on any of the characters.
- Inevitable Waterfall: Not far into the journey do the protagonists find themselves plummeting down a waterfall.Po: (looking at the map) That's weird, it's like the river just ends up ahead...
- Intercontinuity Crossover: The pre-show involves several of the characters from Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar, and Trolls interacting with each other.
- Large Ham: Kang proves to be this, with his constant Evil Gloating and just how much he loves to keep announcing, "I am Kang!"
- Last Villain Stand: Kang returns on his own to take on the heroes, though he is later able to use the Ming Hammer's magic to summon two of his minions.
- MacGuffin Escort Mission: The plot of the ride deals with Po trying to deliver the supposed "Liquid of Ultimate Power", though it later turns out that the Emperor just wanted to see Po and the liquid was just an excuse.
- Magic Mirror: The Magic Mirror from Shrek briefly appears right at the start of the pre-show to give an introduction.
- Meaningless Villain Victory: Kang succeeds in getting the Liquid of Ultimate Power, but his victory is short-lived as it turns out that it was actually just a bottle of hot sauce, which he experiences the full effects of upon drinking it.
- My Name Is Inigo Montoya: Upon appearing from out of the darkness, Kang simply introduces himself with, "I am Kang! Prepare to die!"
- Pirate: A band of wolf river pirates act as the villains of the attraction.
- Refusal of the Call: Shrek, Donkey, and Marty are at first willing to join Po on his adventure, but when Shifu notes that they might not all survive, they are quick to make an exit.
- Refused by the Call: After the other characters decline joining Po, Princess Poppy and Gingy are the only ones willing to help. Po decides to reject their services on account of how tiny they are.
- Sadistic Choice: Kang gives Po the choice of stopping him or saving his father, pointing out that a large rock is about to hit Mr. Ping. Po chooses to save Ping without even a second of hesitation.
- So Much for Stealth: Upon entering Kang's territory, Mr. Ping, despite Po and Shifu's warnings, is unable to keep quiet, which soon leads to them getting caught.
- Supervillain Lair: Kang and his wolf pirates have a sinister-looking lair in a cave that's filled with all sorts of death traps.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: The Big Bad of the attraction, Kang, appears to be a substitute of the deceased Wolf Boss from Kung Fu Panda 2: they're both villainous wolves who lead packs against Po and the heroes, and even have similar designs to boot.
- Talking in Your Sleep: Right at the attraction's entrance, Pinocchio from Shrek can be seen inside the theatre's ticket booth, asleep and talking to himself.
- Weaponized Teleportation: Kang uses the Ming Hammer to teleport the characters into the Spirit Realm.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: When Po suggests that the audience should come along with them, Shifu gives this response. He does this again in the climax when Kang returns, muttering an annoyed "Really?"
- Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: It seems at first that the journey is over once the protagonists have finally made it to the Emperor... only for Kang to reemerge and bring the characters into the Spirit Realm for a final showdown.
