Co-composed by
Hanz Zimmer and John Powell, both of whom helmed the first installment of the immensely popular Dreamworks animation series, the score for
Kung Fu Panda 2 dutifully expands on the motifs that the pair introduced in the inaugural film.
Zimmer, who traveled to China in 2007 to absorb the country’s rich musical history, adds more regional flare to the orchestral score this time around, but listeners who enjoyed the initial blend of swashbuckling, martial arts-inspired adventure themes and lush, pastoral interludes won’t come away disappointed, as the two styles are well represented here. ~ James Christopher Monger