The REAL Reason Oogway Chose Po To Be The Dragon Warrior⎮A Kung Fu Panda Theory

Oogway throughout Kung Fu Panda is made out to be the wisest character and someone who knows everything there is to know about life. But how much does he really know? Did he actually believe it was a good idea to pick Po to be the Dragon Warrior? Did he put his trust in fate and genuinely believed that all would work itself out and it was meant to be to risk the safety of the entire valley on someone that had no prior expertise in Kung Fu? Or was there more at play? Today we discuss whether Oogway was the ultimate troll or the ultimate mastermind.
Hear our thoughts and let us know yours in the comments down below!

[@littlebaldedone]

It kinda makes sense. I remember Oogway, saying that it was the Universe that brought Po to him. Oogway had chosen to trust in fate and allow the universe to do what it had to do. He even said he used the universe to call Po's dad and tell him where his son in, so in this world the universe is a metaphysical entity that decides the fate of others. So, really it was the universe that was calling the shots and Oogway just went with the flow.

[@ThatGuyjontover]

Universe:train this panda to be the dragon warrior, the valley of peace is at stake Ogway:ok, lol lemme just get my student to do it and head out

[@sleepybearuwu]

I like this Theory because Oogway just give off the go-with-the-flow type of guy

[@deadguy775]

@@sleepybearuwu exactly. Typical Oogway. “Oh? Well let’s see how this turns out, WHY NOT?!” Basically encapsulated with the dragon scroll’s first reveal. The confidence to just answer “HOW WILL THIS HAPPEN” with “I don’t know! :)”

[@razi_man]

Oogway: It just works.

[@MarkusMaal]

This gives a whole new meaning to "there are no accidents"

[@WarmLillie]

Fate might have placed all of the ingredients, but oogway was the one cooking, deciding which to use.

[@gameman3981]

That's a pretty damn good metaphor.

[@brodriguez11000]

@@gameman3981 Makes me hungry.

[@just_a_dude6917]

Best metaphor to have ever exist

[@ragemalachi]

Actually, if you pay attention in the first movie, when Po is trying to get into the Jade Palace at the start, he goes flyiing up over the wall when Oogway said "the dragon warrior is among us". If you look, Oogway is looking in the exact direction he would need to be to have seen Po trying to get it. And think the ritual dance he did was to give Po enough time to get in

[@ludovicocroce9229]

wow never noticed that, I totally agree, Oogway knew what was gonna happen, even though the decision was made by the fate, Oogway alredy knew and basically helped the process. What I absolutely don't agree with about the video is the theory he chose Po just because he was a panda, it makes sense logically but it's just not it, that's not how they intended the movie, it's clear that Po could become dragon warrior becuse of his soul basically, how he was humble and tried to be respectful. After all Po is the only one besides Oogway who reached inner peace, alredy in the second movie, a feat that even Shifu couldn't replicate

[@mexbex8923]

I noticed when Po got rocketed to the sky and then Oogway said "the dragon warrior is among us" . but I didn't think about master Oogway doing his ritual dance to give Po enough time to get in, if that's what it really is its freaking amazing!

[@junebug8687]

AMONG US

[@ashtimbog]

@@mexbex8923 and it doesn't compromise the theme of letting go of control in any way

[@unbreakable.3132]

Now THIS, should have been mentioned in this video essay. Great observation bro

[@dragonqueen7328]

Another point to make is the panda physiology. They're nigh invulnerable. The fat basically rends him impervious to all damage. Imagine surviving a fall from hundreds of meters up onto stone tiles. Oogway knew to pick the panda right away. (It's also why the training dummy is vaguely panda-ish) But yeah, I've been thinking about how the second and third films basically confirm that pandas are OP and Oogway would've surely known all that, so despite it being pure "coincidence" that the only panda to be thought alive shows up on the day of choosing the Dragon Warrior, it was what the universe needed. (When Oogway says he can "Sense" the dragon warrior, I'm 100% certain he just saw Po outside trying to get in and was stalling until he got inside) (Oh and also; Po taking an interest in martial arts even before being chosen as the Dragon Warrior may be hinting that Pandas are innately drawn to Kung Fu)

[@awesley1725]

Lets not forget that being built like a uncooked ball of dough makes super powerful insta-ko pressure point techniques utterly useless. Po took multiple hits of it and all it did was make him near pee himself laughing, even mantis couldn't find this mans nerves properly.

[@bungiecrimes7247]

Guys... 😢 so i ran over my fat friend, and i think he forgot to wake up😭

[@vukkulvar9769]

@@awesley1725 Needed a thousand needles before it did something.

[@wyslanniknewworldorder9525]

@@awesley1725 *Virgin* Tai Lung *VS* *Chad* Po!

[@VakzFFA]

Did you forget in the 3rd Kung Fu Panda you find out Oogway used to have a friend named Kai, they were taken in by pandas & were taught how to balance their Chi? Also the universe chose Po because he’s in-between Yin & Yang.

[@phoebegreig6523]

Oogway told us in the 3rd movie that he picked Po because he was a panda. He saw the past and the future right in front of him

[@g.d.graham2446]

Indeed

[@VakzFFA]

But it wasn’t until the 3rd movie he *Actually* became the dragon warrior, he learned how to balance his Chi which made him both yin & yang, somewhere in the middle. He embraced that he was just a panda but he also embraced that he has a responsibility to protect the village. Great movie 10/10.

[@ssgoko88]

@@VakzFFA why did you start with but You just provided a non sequitur

[@TheFoxfiend]

So interesting idea, but it goes against the idea of the first movie, the "there is no secret ingredient". I've got another personal theory. Technically anyone could have been the Dragon Warrior, but Oogway shows that he has great insight into the people around him, and each of the masters that would have been most suited to being the Dragon Warrior were all too proud. I think he picked Po because it was an opportunity to teach his greatest disciple one final important lesson, about humility. If any of the masters there had gotten the title and scroll they would have only been more proud, it would have gone to their heads. Instead they become better people through Po as they learn humility. We even see Shifu acknowledge his pride when he comes face to face with Tai Lung.

[@matheuspimentel5828]

I like this idea too since when we see Tai Lung past is showed that Shifu is almost obssed to be the one to train the Dragon Warrior as Tai Lung, hell Shifu is partially responsable for Tai Lung obssesion by always feeding too much his pride

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Maybe Oogway concluded that a guy launching himself over a wall with rockets to see the dragon warrior and survive the attempt would make a good dragon warrior. Notice that Oogway said he was ready to choose the dragon warrior when he saw Po trying to launch himself with a tree?

[@eghoseisiramen1892]

@@matheuspimentel5828 partially? Nah a cool 80-90% is his fault

[@megashutdown1019]

I concur

[@alexisguillen8400]

I can understand the message in it, but martial artists have to train and work a lot for their craft, the pride they have is something they earned. To past on their most important tittle to a nobody who came out of nowhere is one hell of a jackass move and insult you’ll only see happening in a kids movie. I love kung fu panda but the reason people love the movie it’s also the same reason they hate Rey Skywalker. Imagine Rock Lee in any of those masters position and suddenly it becomes clear what’s wrong with the whole premise. It’s a complete spit in the face of hardworking and dedicated martial artist. Ain’t nobody likes to train their whole life and then their master closes his eyes and picks at random who their best warrior will be. Which, because it’s fiction it kinds of works out, but it’s still one horrendous message.

[@shadowarchivist2382]

I think you are correct with the reason behind his choosing Po, but I also think he's a massive troll. Po has lived in the valley since near-infancy and already had a large obsession with kung-fu. Oogway had to know about Po for years and yet, he didn't train the only known panda in the region during that time. I think this was at least partially to get under Shifu's skin as he knew his pupil wouldn't understand why the wise and enlightened Master Oogway would choose some nobody. Then there is the scroll about his time with the pandas. He had to have left so much blank space at the beginning knowing that whoever read it would have already learned about the dragon scroll being blank.

[@capir3136]

PO pode não ter sido treinado porque um panda entre esses mestres provavelmente seria bastante conchecido e isso seria um grande problema já que havia o vilão do segundo filme que com certeza iria matar o infante Po

[@antitheist3206]

I'd argue that Donkey is actually a static character, and his purpose isn't to change himself but other characters. I mean, the reason Shrek became the hero he is was because of Donkey, and he was the one who got Fiona to open up about her curse. No Donkey means Shrek 1 couldn't have happened.

[@Elitex62]

That is the flat character arc in action.

[@brodriguez11000]

A catalyst for change.

[@Picmanreborn]

Yeah donkey just kind of infects everyone around him with hope and positivity. He even got a dragon to catch feelings for him

[@MiguelAguilar-yo2mv]

Was scrolling to see if anyone had commented this yet lol Donkey is the flat character that influences everyone around him.

[@yoannbelleville7763]

As interesting as this theory is, it goes against one of the main lessons of the first movie: letting go of the illusion of control. I believe that the reason behind Oogway's choice is exactly what it looks like. Po just fell in and Oogway saw it as a sign from the universe. I don't deny the possibility of Po being a panda influencing the decision but overall, it was merely a leap of faith.

[@tommarsdon5644]

But Oogway did not have control over Po arriving; not in front of him nor even at location as a whole.

[@SuperLol]

@@tommarsdon5644 that's what og comment said right? "letting go of the illusion of control" aka no control. i think it's po's determination and passion for kung fu that brings him to Oogway. Po is a panda hence has potential in qi. Neither of the two ingredients are dispensable. Fate/destiny brings these two events to realization, and Oogway sees the convergence of them right in front of him and therefore realizes it's the universe's call for his decision to choose Po as the next dragon warrior. It's not about forcing something to happen but realize a certain combination of certain ingredients make the best dish.

[@yoannbelleville7763]

Jeez, that's the most likes I've ever gotten on a youtube comment. Thanks.

[@icholi88]

@@tommarsdon5644 That is the point, Oogway is releasing the illusion that he has control over any of the preceding or continuing events and not second guessing the path the universe has laid before him.

[@hasty-carnaage1518]

oogway word for word said "I saw the future of Kung Fu.. and the past... I saw the panda that could unite the. both. that is why I chose you Po". not too hard to figure out what Oogway meant when he literally tells us. Oogway knew pandas were special beings from his time with them. I gurantee Oogways "no control mindset" had a huge impact when Po dropped in front of him which basically solidified Oogways feelings about Po already just because he was a panda.

[@arandomthingintheabyss2062]

It kind of funny that in this universe pandas are this world's version of Saiyan's

[@arandomthingintheabyss2062]

@@Will_JC they have nearly endless potential and can be extremally powerful

[@godzillagurus576]

Po is like Goku + Superman mixed together. Li shan is like Bardock + Jor-El

[@bencrailer8483]

Frieza​ is Shen @@godzillagurus576

[@grantarmstrong2968]

I think they confirm that Oogway can foresee the future, and I think he knew for a fact that Po would be able to succeed as the dragon warrior. This and the fact that being a panda made him invulnerable to practically all blunt attacks, this is why tai lung can’t seem to even touch him the first movie. I feel like in the first movie, while he was capable of kung fu, it wasn’t his skill that allowed him to win, but his quick thinking and invulnerability to Tai Lung’s attacks. Plus there is the fact that in a way he lost in that Tai Lung succeeded in getting the dragon scroll, which was the only reason Tao Lung was fighting Po in the first place.

[@Jasmin-lg3gf]

I always interpreted the films that way. Po is the chosen one. He possesses the Dragon Warrior Chi, which allows him to use Kung Fu instinctively. (I don't know how much the Hero's Chi plays a role in this.) Oogway is capable of sensing destiny. He senses that the dragon warrior's time has come, but he doesn't know who he is. When Po finally lands in front of him, he's actually surprised. The reason is that he was expecting the Dragon Warrior but not a panda. He realizes at first glance that Po's destiny is so much greater. Not only will he be the Dragon Warrior, but so much more. At that moment, Oogway decides that Po will be his successor. Before, he only felt that his time had come, but here a conscious decision is made by him. So Oogway was both surprised and chose Po, but not in the way you might think. And yes, he's a troll. You always notice that when he leaves his wise master mode. I also find it interesting that Po has changed over the films but is still the same as at the beginning of the first film. He has become the Dragon Master, but is still the same kung fu nerd after all.

[@ThePrincessCH]

Technically, there wouldn't be such a thing as a Dragon Warrior. In Chinese culture, dragons were symbols that were specifically reserved for the emperor. If anyone was caught using one, they likely would have been executed.

[@gigiisaweirdo8175]

I still think dream works is better at making sequels than Disney, and then I STILL NEED TO FINISH MY DS KUNG FU PANDA GAME I NEVER FINISHED IT

[@geoshark12]

Po beat ti lung in the first movie for two reasons The master doesn't fear another master but they fear the beginner. What this means is a beginner won’t do what your supposed to and are completely unpredictable ( beginners luck as it were) ti lung couldn’t predict po’s next move because po was making it up as he went The other is his anatomy , earlier in the film it is shown panda anatomy and nerve points are different and hard to find , which basically negated ti lungs nerve attack which he seemed to heavily rely on to finish fights ( like he did with the furious five)

[@Anonymous-gq7ho]

I agree and disagree at the same time. In my point in view, the reason he lost is simply because he lost will to fight after seeing the scroll. Let's be real, Tai Lung literally beat Furious Five like it's nothing, and then beat Master Shifu's cheeks like it was nothing. The guy didn't even seem tired even little bit after this. And mind you, he didn't even train for 20 years and still beat pretty much everyone. If Tai Lung really wanted to kill or to beat Po, he was definitely going to do it no matter what.

[@Picmanreborn]

@@Anonymous-gq7ho "beat Master shifu's cheeks" 😂😂😂😂

[@zoruasnivy]

I never noticed the nerve thing, granted I haven't watched this movie since I was young but that's a really cool detail.

[@serge263]

Oh, and Tai Lung was more focused on getting the scroll then he was fighting Po. So he got a bit of a beatdown because he wasn't focused on Po.

[@hassanabdullah2425]

@@Anonymous-gq7ho bruh he only beat shifu because shifu couldn't bring himself to hurt his adopted son.

[@alextunneyware]

It's also important to note that when Po was younger, in one side story he actually inadvertently created the furious five

[@drishalballaney6590]

Ah yes when tigress misplaced the scroll to call the right masters

[@kriksi7775]

How?

[@alextunneyware]

@@kriksi7775 look it up, it's a neat stylised animation very similar looking to the dream sequences

[@Mike-mf3ed]

Oogway explained in the 3rd movie that when he first saw Po, he saw both the past of Kung fu and its future. This means (I think) that he knew everything that has and would happen in the movies after Po fell from the sky. It’s as if he was implying that he knew as much as everyone else did (which is why he said “I don’t know” when Shifu asked him) and Po was the sign from ‘the universe’ that he was seeking…

[@richardlandrum1966]

I like your take. My take is that oogway chose po to finish sifu's training before he left, to teach sifu that anyone can be trained.......and that confidence and enthusiasm are all that's needed to become great, but can ruin everything if paired with anger.

[@ForgedinPrint]

For defeating tai long, you did forget one important detail. Tai did invest all his skill into that crippling ability, and didn't really know what to do once it failed him. It was an important lesson in not investing everything into one skill.

[@ink7610]

I could have sworn that was implied when Oogway's backstory was revealed. Pandas, who should be natural masters of chi, taught him how to use it, and as such when a panda landed right in front of him, a descendant of the same species that inspired his martial arts in the first place, he believed that Po could reach the same level as his ancestors and master chi. Yes, I know I'm just restating the video, but my point here is that I'm fairly certain the third movie just tells us this

[@nalaka3488]

Dragon style is an amalgamation of all the other styles. Because he was such a fan of the 5, and new about their battles, and had a basic understanding of each style he was also the perfect person to learn dragon style

[@theonethatlovescartoons3196]

The third movie did explained why oogway chose po to be the dragon warrior

[@EldynvanDijk]

(Love reading through the comments here btw) I fully support how you brought it. I think panda's are just so passionate about how they do things that thats the reason why Oogway chose a panda. Most of the times when people are passionate about something they dedicate everything to that, and I personally think that motivation is a strong factor why Poh could learn so quickly. Even the "Dragon Scroll" predicts the end of the last film: _"You got to accept who you are"_ . Panda's passionism makes this a natural progression.

[@elo2coon434]

Nice video. I think, oogway go through so much méditation that he is the embodiment off the world greater good itself. And so yes, Po is a chosen one. He literaly said in the 3 that he picked him when he saw him in the first movie. You can all go see the new Dream Works. movie Is good, animation is great.

[@samshare2146]

Don't forget that Po was the only one who was immune to Tai Lung's nerve attacks. It is likely that Oogway knew that.

[@MrDEdits]

In the 3rd movie, it shows that Oogway saw the future and saw that Po would become the savior of Kung Fu and saw his life journey as soon as he saw Po land in front of him.

[@justindishaw3219]

i mean in a way the scroll is meaningful despite being blank, since it looks like it works like a mirror the message is seeing the reflection and understanding that, which you can see why tai lung didnt become the dragon warrior because when he looked at the scroll he didnt see anything and didnt realize the true meaning of it.

[@iiomniverseiiomniscient7149]

Makes sense honestly or uguay is a super troll. P.s I liked the troll hunters ending.read the invincible comic theres a situation just like the ending as one of the invincible story lines your not looking at the bigger picture.

[@StudyTeatime]

I feel like analyses like these go so in-depth, that if I were the writer, thoughts like these would never fly through my head when I would be writing this. Any others?

[@D.AblosFamilia]

I feel like the reason is stated really well at the ending of each Kung-Fu Panda through Po's interactions with Shifu. It seems that Pandas are capable of finding inner peace with much great ease, or well, at least Po is. The way he discovered how to use Oogway's special technique and how he learned to redirect the cannon fire shows that maybe Panda's are only able to become so talented in Martial Arts and Chi because they can find their inner balance

[@turi-ffic]

He didn’t choose po. The universe chose by presenting po. He just listened to the universe.

[@charliepirhonen9734]

I like this theory. I tend to think that Oogway was so in touch with the flow of the universe and had been pivotal in events surrounding him both good and bad that to right the past he gathered all the pieces together. All the characters had inner conflict and by placing a piece like Po in the table amongst all that conflict Oogway saw an opportunity for everyone to find peace in a very efficient way through the introduction of Po.

[@toganium4175]

Oogway: we do a little trolling.

[@ThornDevl]

I think it was fate like he just felt like the dragon warrior will be right here

[@icholi88]

You're over thinking it, there is no secret ingredient. Po was chosen because of serendipity and if you know anything thing about Taoism, its best to not fight ones first inclination. Oogway knew that so long as the heart was willing and ambition didn't overwhelm empathy anyone could see that path to completion if given the opportunity.

[@bluelightstudios6191]

I always knew it was because Po was a panda, it made the most sense, oogway the inventor of kung fu was taught a very advanced kung fu skill by panda's that he had never known before and one just so happened to fall from the sky as he was gonna select the next dragon warrior right in front of him, a creature he has seen first hand capable of doing things even he once thought were impossible. He knew of the legend of the hero of black and white (Lotta ofs there) and the fact that Po was the only person who's nervous systems couldn't be reached by Tie lung's paralysation attacks would make it very clear that the title of dragon warrior could only be given to Po.

[@neorenamon]

Funny, but I thought Po was the chosen one because he could learn any Kung Fu move by seeing it done once. He learned the Wu Xi Fingerhold by seeing it almost used on him. He learned the Thundering Wind Hammer just because someone described it to him (I think). I know there's at least one character who knows all Kung Fu, but there was no one else who could learn it by just seeing it done. I admit that being a panda had something to do with the size of his chi pool, but not his ability to learn Kung Fu so quickly.

[@hellogoodbye4061]

When Po falls from the sky, Oogway is heard saying "How interesting" and then poking him with his staff, knowing all too well that Po will be immune to Tai Lung's nerve attack. Oogway also told ShiFu earlier when asked who possessed the ability of unlimited power via the Dragon Scroll, he looks at ShiFu and says "I don't know."....meaning he actually did not know at the time.

[@Neuralatrophy]

Po has cheat codes... Not only does he have the chi potential of a panda, his aproach is creative and with child like excitement. EVERYONE who lost against Chang fought rigid, by the rules of kung-fu... they brought nothing new, they weren't adding the "secret ingredient" which we later learn is nothing but the love and excitement the individual brings to the table, Po had that in spades and Oogway probably saw that from the start.

[@doupnetwork]

Oogway trusted Shi Fu to bring out Poe confidence and Shi Fu found out that Poe had the natural agility and resilience needed

[@GreenTeaGal01]

to be fair Po was definitely above Tai Lung's weight class and had a very high tolerance for pain / could tanks hits ALL day and not die.

[@FoxUnitNell]

And finally with the way pandas and especially Po eats, they likely have a bite force better than any big cat having to eat tough bamboo 🎍 all day.

[@ignisdeus6172]

The fun thing is that the kung fu panda series explaines why po is the dragon warrior why destiny keeps going in his favour and oogway said he senses the dragon warrior but look closely a few seconds before that po jumps from a tree or something and oogway sees it and is like oohhh here we go kind of face he sees po before po entered there and actually reacts to it the animator animated it that way summing that up basically po is the reason the furious five were created and are together like this po can learn the inner peace cannon ball throw and the wushi finger hold out of nothing simply because thats one of the dragon warriors power, he can learn any magical cool technique simple by seeing it once or trying if a few times and there a looottttt more destiny related reasons in the series that is like the middle story between kung fu panda 1 and 2

[@smudg39]

Oogway knew that Po's species has the potential to harness chi energy, Oogway became who he was because of Po's ancestors.

[@razum1448]

I really like the theme of Kung Fu Panda, that everyone can be a meaningful. Theres Mantis so tiny who is able to fight opponents much bigger than him. Or Shifu is able to keep up with Tai Lung. Your strength isn't determined by your physicality. Their are still limits, like only Crane can fly out of the furious five and such stuff. It's always important to know, that their are limits. But what you can do is much more determined by what you put into getting better than it is by talent/physicality. And Po symbolizes this more than anyone else. "He's a Panda, Panda's don't do much." Seriously, do you know how Panda's live? They eat bambus all day while being really bad at digesting it. So a Panda bringing change to the world, being the only one able to fight the evil guy, symbolizes that there is much more in everyone than one might think.

[@Bioguy5]

*Ehhh...* I don't know, having Oogway choose Po just because he's a panda goes against the message of the first film. There are no accidents. And, there is no secret ingredient. If Po was chosen specifically because he's a panda, then that's choosing his bloodline, not *him.* This is a fantasy trope that I really actually dislike quite a bit--where the nothing-nobody main character turns out to be the greatest and most powerful because of his long-lost bloodline or something. It's the worst kind of wish-fulfillment where you don't grow and achieve your goals because your a hard-worker, but because you were just born that way. Po in the first movie grew and not because he wanted power, or because power was given to him, but because he learned to achieve his goals in a way that suited him--working towards his strengths and covering his weaknesses. He never gave up, and continued forward because he loved what he did, and when he doubted himself, he had friends to help him. That's his character. It's a lot less compelling to say that he was strong just because that's how he was born.

[@drewt1717]

I think Po was chosen simply because Oogway knew that the big ole Panda was the only one in the vicinity capable of absorbing the punishment that Ty Lung would be dishing out. As the Five demonstrated, mastery of Kung Fu wasn't enough vs someone like Ty Lung, who could take whatever came his way without breaking stride, and deal back worse. Ty Lung hit Po with far more attacks than any of the 5, but thanks to Po's built-in durability, he wasn't incapacitated and could keep on fighting. Simple physiology and practical wisdom were the reasons for Oogway's choice.

[@Nerazmus]

My secret theory is that Mr. Ping was on it and while he didn't want his son to do the dangerous Kung Fu stuff, he was subtly preparing Po for his destiny. I mean, some of the stuff he says is like directly from Oogway's mouth. Like the whole secrete ingredient plot from the first movie, that's basically just re-dressed Dragon warrior prophecy so that Po would understand it.

[@theobserver314]

Oogway, the benevolent troll.

[@zerozephyr8668]

Oogway had chi and probably can sense other chi. Po was fated to be the dragon warrior. So he followed the Chi rather than using his sight or knowledge at the time and accepted it. I don't actually know if he had knowledge of Po prior to that day.

[@davidstrife165]

I thought there was something funky going on with him "figuring out" the finger hold, that was hyped as a master technique. Turns out half of it was muscle memory/genetic memory/instinctual. Most of it made sense to him already.

[@GH-un9uz]

while the third film all but directly states that Po was chosen because he was a panda, it feels more like a retcon to justify his ability to defeat Kai, as opposed to what he was intended for in the first film. In the first film almost every word that comes from his lips, from "there are no accidents" to "one often meets the path they take on the road they chose to avoid it" and especially his last conversation with shifu, it is clear that Oogway believes in a deterministic view of fate and destiny, that things just sorta have a way of working out. So (at least in the first two movies) the reason he chose Po was out of blind faith, given the incredible coincidence that Po would land directly in front of him right as he was pointing to tigress, as if the universe was crashing the wedding yelling "I OBJECT". Seeing such an unlikely twist of fate, Oogway essentially goes "well ok then" and picks Po, having faith that things will work out. To everyone else in the story, including the audience, it seems like he's some troll who takes a massive gamble. But based on everything he says in the film, it becomes clear in retrospect that, at least to Oogway, it wasn't a gamble at all.

[@Porasion]

I personally disagree, as I’d argue that him having been chosen for having been born a certain way detracts from the message of the franchise: There is no special ingredient.

[@cigana-moreira]

Panda's village saved oogway first, so when he saw Po he knew its the right sign

[@m.c.martin]

You still have to admit the way Tai Lung refers to Po in the First Movie is pretty epic. “I heard the Dragon Warrior fell out of the sky in a ball of fire! (Blah blah blah)… Our battle will be Legendary!” It’s like the most over hyped way to explain that. But it’s cool at the same time.

[@lancingdragon160]

Bro... I just watched someone unironically talk about kung Fu panda, and I loved it

[@eddybarelore9579]

There is no Oogway -Master Accident

[@gillesaboubechara2978]

There are no such things as coincidences

[@timexgirl]

I feel that it is a mix of all of those theories. Including the trolling. I think its more like he was aware of more than was let on, but he also was cheeky about how he did things and liked to make others suffer for his amusement...to an extent.

[@Princess_of_cute]

I think he just knew man. Things came and went and he just knew or maybe at some point got told what his part was in all of it. Imagine it like time travel. You got sent back, but you can't change anything, because it might cause a butterfly effect. So he probably knew quite a lot and also when Po was there already, but everything had it's time to happen. So he let all of it run like it did. He maybe knew Thai Lung would turn out the way it would, but couldn't change it. Shifu would have maybe stood against him, if he had immediatly said no, if he hadn't seen what his adoptiv son was wanting to do, just to get the dragon roll. If Thai Lung wouldn't have been banned then, then there would have been no reason for the furious five to exsist. Without them, Po would have probably never had any interesst in kung fu. If Thai Lung wouldn't have escaped, there would have been no reason for the furious five to leave Po and Shifu alone, so they could train. There wouldn't have been any threat Po had to fight and there for had no way to really be as invested in it all, as he was. There was a need for him because of it all. He was much more important for so much more, but for Po to build up like that, all this had to happen, the rest was up to the universe.

[@SteelCityK1D]

Isn't the fact Poe was selected more like a prophecy akin to the chosen one in Star Wars meant to bring balance to the Force?

[@widepeepocat6940]

I believe that oogway just stalled by dancing like crazy just to wait for Po to fall from the sky LOL

[@daemonrider2199]

I agree, I would love to see at least one more install with po at the to teaching the furious five and using chi to fight one more foe.

[@blackpredator4637]

The fact that donkey doesnt grow makes it even better, CAN I SLEEP WITH YOU🤣

[@eadbert1935]

plot twist: pandas invented kung-fu, so oogway learned it and eradicated the pandas, blaming it on the other guy.

[@zukanyed8633]

Wow

[@cwadh2143]

Oogway: "I'm too old for this shit. I need a grandson."

[@smallboatfishingchannel2805]

So what you are saying he was picked by... "The color of his fur". I get it. I think your right. Individuals are given positive or negative "points" by how the people picking feel about how an individual fits into the role they are looking for.

[@jacobthecork1606]

I love how in king Fu panda 2 po represented yin and yang due to him being a panda and being half black half white which are the 2 same colors as yin and yang.

[@Wayabahobemmfhtrhamm]

Kung Fu Panda Races In The Context Of Family Mechanic Turtoise - + 50 HP and Stamina, can see hitboxes but less M1 Speed [0.5%] Panda - 1.5x XP Gain but bigger hitbox, Completely Immune to stun [1%] Ox / Bull - Doesn't Take Knockback [1%] Tiger / Snow Leopard - + 15% Damage to Everything [1%] Red Panda - NPC Tortoise Teammate That Stays Until Level 75 but no Tutorial Guide [1%] Monkey - Dash Doesnt Take Stamina [1%] Crocodile - Special Bite Move That Has Bleeding Effect [1%] Crane - Start With Double Jump [2%] Peacock/ Chicken - Ability to blind enemy, blind time is extended against Panda's [2%] Viper - Faster M1 and M2 speed by 15% M1's Poison [2%] Wolf - 5% More Damage On Everything [2%] Mantis - Can Wallrun [2%] Goose - Each Death, Gains a Small Amount Of Food That Regenerate HP [3%] Pig - Skip Tutorial [3%] Rabbit - Smaller Hitbox [3%]

[@djw_tekken8490]

Lmao nice

[@zerotwo7319]

In the first movie, Po does whatever it takes to watch the ceremony. oogway saw this as a core value in kung fu and chose him.

[@shockdiesel3470]

I'm not sure if you've seen this one or not but I recommend to you the theory matpat put out on Kung Fu Panda a few months back and I only recommend it to you now because I just now found this video

[@InsanitiesBrother]

Po had one big issue though in 3. Po already came to terms with being the dragon warrior in the first movie. It wasn't a component in the second movie. Then in the third movie, suddenly he doesn't feel like he is the dragon warrior anymore. He already learned to just be himself two movies ago but he had to relearn it by going to a panda village to learn to be like a panda.... despite being like a panda already.

[@DficienC]

this video is pointless. i think the films already make this assumption. also like kai we can assume since oogway is a master of chi he can see people's chi and saw that po had the most chi in the valley of peace. The fact that panda's saved him when he got injured. the fact that they are both sides of the yin and yang. Oogway knew no one else could counter tai lung's nerve attack. shen being defeated by a warrior of black and white. Out of everyone through out each film, no one actually likes kung fu they just do it to either 1 protect the weak or 2 for power yes oogway does it for 1 but he also enjoys kung fu and no one else actually shows love and eagerness to learn except Po and the fact that he went through so much just to see the furious five showed his love for kung fu and Oogway needed to make sure his predecessor loves kung fu in order to keep it alive. Oogway knew all if this did not happen for no reason. as he says "There are no accidents"

[@jamesflanagan1509]

i believe u are right because oogway even said that pandas hold the power of chie and also he was tought it by the pandas that saved him so i agree with that statement and i believe oogway already knew considering he knew po was close before anybody else even did

[@Anlonn]

your theory sound good tome. makes sense looking from this perspective. ty for sharing.

[@astk5214]

the turtle knows the law of caulality

[@prototypesoup1685]

I disagree with your thought process. In my opinion, Oogway is a finely-tuned vessel for the universe. Oogway may have a thing for pandas, both black&white and red, but beyond that, I don't think he "decides". I think he "discovers"

[@FoxUnitNell]

I'd also guess that seeing a guy survive an explosion and a massive drop from a height into hard surfaces was a great counter to an enemy with an all out offence of piercing and slashing damage.

[@EndersGame6195]

Damn these pandas and their cheat codes. Hacking the whole universe just for a stat boost so that Oogway could fuck with us all as he died

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

Joseph Campbell’s ‘ The Hero’s Journey’.

[@andrisnorrason4928]

The entire fate of china Oogway playing f@#k around and find out

[@ssstreams8440]

In the third movie Li even gave the excuse that he can teach chi because he was a panda, which po took very literally

[@Moymoy-25]

Oogway was just waiting for Po

[@commanderungarr1547]

Oogway did mention to po the reason he choose him in the sprit world he said he saw the past and future of kung fu inside him

[@warrmalaski8570]

Deep down I simply think that being the Dragon Warrior. Is as simple as saying you're the Dragon Warrior. Then live your life accordingly. And the only thing that stopped Ty Long-form from being The Dragon Warrior or a Dragon Warrior next to Po. Was Ty Long.

[@kulgydudemanyo]

It makes sense. I always thought oogway picked Po because of what it would teach Shifu

[@helloweener2007]

He choose Po because it was foreseen. The Dragon warrior was by the lore the Warrior who will beat Tai Lung. Only Po could be him because being chubby made him immune against Tai Lung's nerve attacks. The scroll is not about being you. This was the meaning for Po. The scroll is a mirror. You are the Dragon warrior because you saw the scroll. His father told him the secret ingredient is nothing. It is about the customer's believe of getting something special. Same for the Dragon Warrior. The Dragon Warrior is special because Tai Lung believed the scroll made him special. He even fall for the Wuxi Finger Hold. Po said he figured it out for himselve. This is the secret of the soup. The customer's believe it is special. Tai Lung had only to believe in the Wuxi Finger Hold, that Po knows how to do it.

[@CutoutClips]

Poo

[@helloweener2007]

@@CutoutClips Upps, thanks for pointing it out

[@Kyrieru]

I think it's as simple as him accepting that it was fate, and that everything happens for a reason. Reasoning can't really go beyond the first film because...well, they didn't exist yet. Anything in those is just retroactive.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

There are no accidents...he already was aware of Po

[@MrCodey360]

What's funny is that I just watched Kung Fu Panda again last night

[@ramiromarcosjr1362]

and Po had no darkness in his heart

[@johanstenfelt1206]

Hm, have you watched MatPat’s Film Theory about this exact topic? If not, i highly recommend that you do, it’s pretty well made.

[@flambleue3195]

can he evolve as much as evoli though?

[@2side1coiniskandaraslar69]

Hiccup from-HTTYD And Po-kung fu panda This is the best character that grows in each seasons

[@batmantis7851]

The whole concept that the movie is portraying is that the universe, or fate, will do what it wants and it is a force that can't be fought. Po fell in front of Oogway, so it must have been what the universe saw fit to do.

[@barbararab6390]

I mean, in the third film its stablished that pandas saved his life and taught him about chi. And that he pretty much let the universe choose. So the universe brought him Po, and when he saw that he was a Panda, realized that he was the chosen one

[@CandyThePuppy]

I got all this just by casually watching the third movie. I mean, for me at least, it basically spelled it out as to why! XD

[@QuranNAhadith]

His theory is wrong because the character(oogway) and the story line itself says that oogway has not chosen him because he is panda he has chosen him because he saw the past and the future in him and he was the only worthy to be a dragon warrior and have dragon warrior (or hiro chi) chi and I have proof for it it is not theory what i said in the scene when the post goes to spirit realm and meets oogway there after defeating kai in kungfu panda and he gives a stick there he says "as i hoped when i i send a message to your father because the universe needed you. you finally became the panda you were always meant to be on the first day we met i saw the future of kungfu and the past i saw the panda who could unite them both that is why i chose you po both sides of yin and yang and you are my true successor" he didn't chose him because he was panda and this is not theory it is fact go and watch all the parts of kungfu panda carefully then you will understand it don't have to watch this fake thoeries because there are already facts out there then why are you watching these things with are not conformed. Thank you for reading my comment like you liked it😊.(probably the most biggest comment on this video.😅 it took me about 15 to 20 min😅).

[@lonerimortal8]

Thinking about It now, It makes sense for pandas to be important in a story inspired by the chinese culture :^D

[@orionsarrow2119]

As soon as I heard the premise I came to the same conclusion before I watched the rest of the video. Seems like the most obvious answer

[@maxwhite8616]

There is another reason. Po is a social genius. The five could not beat Tai lung because they couldn't shake his focus. Po did exactly that. Let me explain Po is weaker than Tai lung and he knew it. He wasn't playing the same game Tai was though. He was screwing with his mind. You see he knows the scroll is empty so they fight for it, Tai wins, gets the scroll and nothing. That shatters him and makes him weaker. Now Po can strike him down and that is what he did.

[@greg.l705]

Real shit I feel like oogway put his finger out and WHATEVER was infront of him would have became dragon Warrior 🤣