This is an original, unused 2008 DreamWorks "Kung Fu Fighting Kit" sent out to promote the original "Kung Fu Panda" animated film starring Jack Black.
It comes housed in the original 16x12x2-inch red promo box. Open it up and it includes the original instruction sheet, a sealed DVD trailer for the film and a STILL-SEALED bag containing a roughly 5-foot-tall blow-up Kung-Fu Panda vinyl punching bag.
The vinyl punching bag is still-sealed and never been used. Since it's sealed, I can't photograph the punching bag blown up . . . but I did find some photos of a blown-up punching bag and included those as the final photo to give you an idea of what it will look like.
But, really, we all know: What it will look like is AWESOMENESS!
BACKGROUND
Kung Fu Panda is an American media franchise that originally started in 2008 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, produced by DreamWorks Animation. Following the adventures of the titular Po Ping (primarily voiced by Jack Black and Mick Wingert), a giant panda who is improbably chosen as the prophesied Dragon Warrior and becomes a master of kung fu, the franchise is set in a fantasy wuxia genre version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals. Although everyone initially doubts him, including Po himself, he proves himself worthy as he strives to fulfill his destiny.
The franchise consists mainly of four CGI-animated films: Kung Fu Panda (2008), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024), as well as three television series: Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016), The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019), and The Dragon Knight (2022–2023). The first two films were distributed by Paramount Pictures, the third film was distributed by 20th Century Fox and the fourth will be distributed by Universal Pictures, while the television series respectively aired on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. Four short films, Secrets of the Furious Five (2008), Secrets of the Masters (2011), Secrets of the Scroll, and Panda Paws (both 2016), and a television special, Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010), have also been produced.
The franchise's first two features were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as well as numerous Annie Awards, the first television series won 11 Emmy Awards and the third television series won 2 Emmy Awards. The first three films were critical and commercial successes[1] while the second film was the biggest worldwide box office success for a film directed solely by a woman (Jennifer Yuh Nelson) until Wonder Woman (2017). The series is additionally popular in China as an outstanding Western interpretation of the wuxia film genre.[2]
Kung Fu Panda (2008)Po, a clumsy panda, is a kung fu fanatic who lives in the Valley of Peace and works in his goose father Mr. Ping's noodle shop, unable to realize his dream of learning the art of kung fu. One day, a kung fu tournament is held for the elderly spiritual leader of the valley, Grand Master Oogway, to determine the identity of the Dragon Warrior, the one kung fu master capable of understanding the secret of the Dragon Scroll, which is said to contain the key to limitless power. Everyone in the valley expects the Dragon Warrior to be one of the Furious Five—Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Crane—a quintet of kung fu warriors trained by Master Shifu to protect the valley. To everyone's surprise, Oogway chooses Po, who has accidentally stumbled into the tournament arena after arriving late via fireworks explosion.
Refusing to believe that Po can be the Dragon Warrior, Shifu subjects Po to torturous training exercises in order to discourage him into quitting. Determined to change himself into someone he can respect, Po perseveres in his training and befriends the Furious Five, who had previously mocked Po for his lack of skill in kung fu. Po soon learns that the valley is being approached by Tai Lung, an evil kung fu warrior who has escaped from prison to take revenge for being denied the Dragon Scroll, and despairs he will be unable to defeat him. However, Shifu discovers that Po is capable of martial arts when motivated by food, and successfully trains him to learn kung fu. After his training is complete, Po is given the Dragon Scroll, which he discovers to be blank. However, Po realizes that the key to limitless power lies within himself, allowing him to defeat Tai Lung and restore peace to the valley.
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Po now lives his dream as a kung fu master and protects the Valley of Peace alongside the Furious Five. However, he is thrown into internal conflict when he begins having flashbacks of his mother and learns from Mr. Ping that he was adopted as an infant. Shortly after, Po and the Five are sent on a mission to stop the evil peacock Lord Shen from using a newly developed weapon, the cannon, to conquer all of China and destroy kung fu tradition. Po remains tormented by thoughts of being abandoned by his real parents until he is guided by a wise old soothsayer to embrace his past, and remembers that his parents risked their lives to save him from Shen, who had set out to exterminate all pandas after learning of a prophecy that he would be defeated by "a warrior of black-and-white". Po achieves inner peace, which allows him to destroy Shen's new weapon, defeat Shen, and accept Mr. Ping as his father. However, during the last scene of the movie, it shows Po's biological father realizing his son is alive.
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Shortly after the events of the second film, Shifu relinquishes his duties as master of the Jade Palace to Po, claiming that the next step of his own apprenticeship is to oversee the Furious Five's training. While struggling with this new responsibility, Po rejoices upon reuniting with his biological father, Li, though Mr. Ping is less enthusiastic. However, news arrives that the spirit warrior General Kai has returned to the mortal realm and is 'collecting' Kung Fu masters from all over China, both living and dead, to serve in his army of Jade Zombies. Po and the others discover from a scroll left by Oogway that Kai can only be defeated by the power of Chi, a technique known only by the panda colonies; thus, Po and Li set to the secret Panda Valley in order to have Po learn it. Po eventually discovers, to his horror, that Li had deceived him, because the pandas have long forgotten about how to manipulate the Chi, and he just wanted to protect his son from Kai. Once making amends with both his adoptive and biological fathers, Po joins forces with Ping, Tigress, and the pandas to make a stand against Kai, all mastering the power of Chi in the process and using its power to destroy him for good. After returning to the Valley of Peace, Po spends his days spreading the teachings of Kung fu and Chi.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
In December 2010, then-DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said that the Kung Fu Panda film series was planned to have six films, or "chapters" altogether, of a "Student" and "Master" trilogy, with three sequels to follow Kung Fu Panda 3.[3] The filmmakers of Kung Fu Panda 3 were asked about the possibility of a fourth film in August 2016;[4] co-director Jennifer Yuh Nelson said: "It's one at a time. We want to make this a perfect jewel, and then we'll see what happens after that",[4] with co-director Alessandro Carloni responding: "With the sequels, we don't want to try to have them feel open-ended. We want it to feel like a completed journey, and we feel this movie does. And then, if a fantastic story presents itself, great".[4]
When asked about any updates on Kung Fu Panda 4, Nelson replied in August 2018 that she did not know as she had always seen the series as a trilogy, but that she was open to the idea of a fourth installment as long as it focused on Po.[5]
In August 2022, DreamWorks Animation confirmed that Kung Fu Panda 4 was in production and is set to be released on March 8, 2024.[6]
In April 2023, during CinemaCon, it was announced that The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, Trolls and Shrek Forever After director Mike Mitchell will direct the film, with Stephanie Ma Stine as a co-director and Rebecca Huntley as a producer, while Jack Black revealed the story, which follows Po trying to find a new Dragon Warrior while facing a new villain, the Chameleon.[7]
Planned sequels
In 2010, then-DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that the franchise was planned to have six movies, or "chapters", altogether.[8]
Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)
Kung Fu Panda Holiday (also known as Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special) is a 2010 television special that premiered on NBC on November 24. It tells a story of Po, who is assigned to host the annual Winter Feast by Master Shifu, despite his wishes to spend the holiday with Mr. Ping.
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2014; 2016)
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness is an animated television series based on the Kung Fu Panda film series, set between the first two films. The show was originally intended to premiere in 2010, but was delayed and officially launched on Nickelodeon on November 7, 2011. Of the series's voice cast, only Lucy Liu, Randall Duk Kim, and James Hong reprise their roles from the films as Viper, Oogway, and Mr. Ping, respectively. The first season, consisting of 26 episodes, ended on April 5, 2012. The second season aired from April 6, 2012, to June 21, 2013, and also consisted of 26 episodes. A third season consisting of 28 episodes began airing June 24, 2013, going on an extended hiatus after June 22, 2014, before airing its last 10 episodes two years later, from February 15 to June 29, 2016, as a tie-in to the theatrical run of Kung Fu Panda 3.
Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019)
Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is the second Kung Fu Panda animated series, set after the events of Kung Fu Panda 3. Across 26 episodes produced by DreamWorks Animation Television with Amazon Studios and ordered, and aired by Amazon Prime Video, the series was released in its 13-episode first season's first part on November 16, 2018, and its 13-episode first season's second and final part on July 4, 2019.[9] The series follows Po on a fresh adventure, mentoring four young pandas (Nu Hai, Jing, Bao and Fan Tong), who happen upon a mystical cave beneath the Panda Village - and accidentally absorb the chi of the ancient and powerful Kung Fu warriors known as the four constellations. The four friends realize that they now have a new destiny - to save the world from an impending evil with their new-found Kung Fu powers. They are aided along their journey by Po, who finds himself faced with his biggest challenge yet - teaching this ragtag band of kids how to wield their strange powers.
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022–2023)
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight is the third Kung Fu Panda animated series, which premiered on Netflix on July 14, 2022, with Jack Black reprising his role as Po.[10][11] The series follows Po as he must leave his home behind and embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight known as the Wandering Blade. Rita Ora joined the cast as Wandering Blade and James Hong reprised his role as Mr. Ping.[12]
Short films
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five, or simply Secrets of the Furious Five, is an animated short film that serves as a semi-sequel (or spin-off) to Kung Fu Panda and appears on a companion disc of the original film's deluxe DVD release. It was later broadcast on NBC on February 26, 2009, and is available as a separate DVD as of March 24 the same year. The film has a framing story of Po (in computer animation), telling the stories of his comrades in arms, the Furious Five, which are depicted in 2D cel animation.
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters is an animated short film released on December 13, 2011, as a special feature attached to the Kung Fu Panda 2 DVD and Blu-ray. It tells the backgrounds of the masters of Gongmen City: Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox, and Croc.[13]
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll (2016)
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll is an animated short film officially released as a bonus feature in the Kung Fu Panda: Ultimate Edition of Awesomeness Blu-ray pack in January 2016.[14] Secrets of the Scroll details the forming of the Furious Five, and their first fight together against a common enemy. Unlike previous Kung Fu Panda[citation needed] short films, Secrets of the Scroll has yet to be released on its own DVD or Blu-ray.
Panda Paws (2016)
Panda Paws, is a short film that was released with the home media of Kung Fu Panda 3. Panda Paws involves the character Mei Mei (voiced by Kate Hudson) competing with Bao at the "Spring Festival". A version of the short was previously released in theaters preceding the DreamWorks Animation film Home in 2015, with Rebel Wilson voicing Mei Mei, prior to her firing from Kung Fu Panda 3.[15]
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Directed by
| Mark Osborne | ||
| John Stevenson | ||
Writing Credits
| Jonathan Aibel | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Glenn Berger | ... | (screenplay) |
| Ethan Reiff | ... | (story) & |
| Cyrus Voris | ... | (story) |
| Chris Poche | ... | (uncredited) |
Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
 |
Jack Black | ... | Po (voice) |
 |
Dustin Hoffman | ... | Shifu (voice) |
 |
Angelina Jolie | ... | Tigress (voice) |
 |
Ian McShane | ... | Tai Lung (voice) |
 |
Jackie Chan | ... | Monkey (voice) |
 |
Seth Rogen | ... | Mantis (voice) |
 |
Lucy Liu | ... | Viper (voice) |
 |
David Cross | ... | Crane (voice) |
 |
Randall Duk Kim | ... | Oogway (voice) |
 |
James Hong | ... | Mr. Ping (voice) |
 |
Dan Fogler | ... | Zeng (voice) |
 |
Michael Clarke Duncan | ... | Commander Vachir (voice) |
 |
Wayne Knight | ... | Gang Boss (voice) |
 |
Kyle Gass | ... | KG Shaw (voice) |
 |
JR Reed | ... | JR Shaw (voice) |
 |
Laura Kightlinger | ... | Awed Ninja (voice) |
 |
Tanya Haden | ... | Smitten Bunny (voice) |
 |
Stephen Kearin | ... | Gong Pig / Grateful Bunny (voice) |
 |
Mark Osborne | ... | Pig Patron (voice) |
 |
John Stevenson | ... | Rhino Guard (voice) |
 |
Jeremy Shipp | ... | Blind Gator (voice) |
 |
Melissa Cobb | ... | Bunny Mom (voice) |
 |
Kent Osborne | ... | Pig Fan (voice) |
|
|
Emily Burns | ... | Bunny Fan 1 (voice) |
|
|
Stephanie Harvey | ... | Bunny Fan 2 (voice) |
 |
Riley Osborne | ... | Baby Tai Lung (voice) |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
 |
Kresimir Mikic | ... | Bogomoljka (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Jonathan Aibel | ... | co-producer |
| Glenn Berger | ... | co-producer |
| Melissa Cobb | ... | producer |
| Bill Damaschke | ... | executive producer |
| Lorne Orleans | ... | IMAX version (IMAX version) |
| Kristina Reed | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| John Powell | ||
| Hans Zimmer | ||
Cinematography by
| Yong Duk Jhun | ||
Editing by
| Clare Knight | ||
Casting By
| Leslee Feldman | ||
Production Design by
| Raymond Zibach | Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is known for roles in family and comedy films, in addition to his voice work in animated films. His accolades include an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards. After portraying supporting roles in films including Dead Man Walking (1995), The Cable Guy (1996), Mars Attacks! (1996), and Enemy of the State (1998), Black first gained prominence for his role as Barry in High Fidelity (2000). This led to larger roles in films like and Shallow Hal (2001) and Orange County (2002), before he solidified his leading man status with his Golden Globe nominated performance as Dewey Finn in School of Rock (2003). He continues to portray lead parts in films such as King Kong (2005), The Holiday (2006), Nacho Libre (2006), Tropic Thunder (2008), Bernie (2011), Goosebumps (2016), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), its sequel Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), and The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018). His noteworthy voice role performances include Po in the Kung Fu Panda franchise (2008–present) and Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). Black is the lead vocalist of the band Tenacious D which he formed in 1994 with long-time friend Kyle Gass. They won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for "The Last in Line" in 2015. Since 2018, Black has operated a YouTube channel called Jablinski Games.[2] Early life and educationThomas Jacob Black[3] was born in Santa Monica, California,[4] on August 28, 1969,[5] the son of satellite engineers Thomas William Black and Judith Love Cohen.[6] He was raised in Hermosa Beach, California. His mother worked on the Minuteman nuclear missile guidance system, the Apollo lunar module guidance system, the science ground station for the Hubble Space Telescope, and was also a writer.[7][8][9] He has three older half-siblings through his mother: scientist Neil Siegel, Howard Siegel, and Rachel Siegel.[9] His mother was born Jewish, while his father converted to Judaism. Black was raised Jewish, attending Hebrew school and having a bar mitzvah.[10] His other ancestry includes English, German, Irish, Polish, Russian, and Scottish.[11][12] Black's parents divorced when he was 10,[13] and his father then stopped practicing Judaism.[14][15] Black moved to Culver City with his father and frequently visited his mother's home. As a child, he appeared in a commercial for the Activision game Pitfall! in 1982.[16] For high school, Black's parents enrolled him at the Poseidon School, a private secondary school designed for students struggling in the traditional school system.[17] He also attended the Crossroads School, where he excelled in drama. He later attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA),[18] but dropped out during his second year to pursue a career in entertainment.[19] Fellow UCLA student Tim Robbins later cast Black in Bob Roberts. In 1995 and 1996, he gained recurring roles in the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show.[20] Acting career1982–1999: Early rolesIn 1982, Black's first acting job was in a television commercial at age 13 for the video game Pitfall!.[21] In 1987, Black joined the Actors' Gang, a theater troupe founded by UCLA students including Tim Robbins, and appeared in a variety of stage productions.[22] Black's adult career began with small roles on prime time television, including Life Goes On, Northern Exposure, Mr. Show, Picket Fences, The Golden Palace, and The X-Files. Black appeared in the unaired TV pilot Heat Vision and Jack, directed by Ben Stiller, in which he played an ex-astronaut pursued by actor Ron Silver. He was accompanied by his friend who had merged with a motorcycle, voiced by Owen Wilson.[23] After Tim Robbins cast him in Bob Roberts, Black began appearing in small film roles such as Airborne (1993), Demolition Man, Waterworld, The Fan, The Cable Guy, Mars Attacks!, Dead Man Walking, The Jackal, Crossworlds, Enemy of the State, and others. He had a small role in True Romance as a security guard, but the scene was deleted.[24] 2000–2014: Career stardom In 2000, Black co-starred in the film High Fidelity as a wild employee in a record store run by John Cusack. Black considers his role in High Fidelity as his breakout into the Hollywood scene.[25] He quickly gained leading roles in films such as Saving Silverman, Shallow Hal, Nacho Libre, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Year One, and Gulliver's Travels. He received particular praise for his starring role in the well-received School of Rock, earning critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy.[26] Black took part in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? celebrity edition along with Denis Leary, Jimmy Kimmel, and others and was handed the prize of US$125,000 in October 2001.[27] He has also had starring voice-overs in animated features, including Zeke in Ice Age (2002)[28][29] and Lenny in Shark Tale (2004).[30][31] In 2004, Black guest-starred in the first episode of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim show Tom Goes to the Mayor.[32] He starred in one of his few dramatic roles as the obsessed filmmaker Carl Denham in Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of King Kong, a performance he based on Orson Welles. In 2006, he played the role of King Herod in a one night benefit concert of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre.[33] That same year he starred as the romantic love interest to Kate Winslet in the Nancy Meyers romantic comedy The Holiday (2006). Also in 2006 he starred in the comedy film Nacho Libre (2006) which he also produced, and Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny which he also wrote and produced. In 2007 he took a supporting role in the Noah Baumbach directed comedy-drama film Margot at the Wedding starring Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. That same year he made a cameo appearance portraying Paul McCartney in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007). Black has voice acted on other occasions, including "Husbands and Knives" from The Simpsons, which aired November 18, 2007, portraying Milo, the friendly owner of the rival comic book store.[34] The following year he starred in the buddy comedy Be Kind Rewind (2008) opposite Mos Def and the war satire Tropic Thunder alongside Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. On December 14, he hosted the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards. Black has hosted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Acceptable.TV.[35]  He voiced the title role in Kung Fu Panda, which grossed US$20.3 million on its opening day, June 6, 2008, as well as Kung Fu Panda 2 and Kung Fu Panda 3; this is his favorite role, and he praises the tutoring of co-star and two-time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman.[36] In addition to Kung Fu Panda (2008),[37] He provided the voice of the main character, roadie Eddie Riggs, in the heavy metal–themed action-adventure video game Brütal Legend, for which he won the Best Voice award at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2009.[38] In 2009 he appeared in the post-Super Bowl episode of The Office along with Cloris Leachman and Jessica Alba in a fake movie within the show.[39] He starred in the Harold Ramis directed adventure comedy Year One (2009) alongside Michael Cera. In April 2009, Black starred in an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, in which he vocalized children songs, such as "It's Not Fun to Get Lost", "Friends", and "The Goodbye Song".[40] Black voiced Darth Vader in Bad Lip Reading's parodies of the Star Wars original trilogy on YouTube.[41] In 2010, Black made a guest appearance on Community[42] and also guest-starred on Nickelodeon's iCarly in an episode titled, "iStart a Fan War".[43][44] Black has appeared numerous times on the "untelevised TV network" short film festival Channel 101, created by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, starring in the shows Computerman, Timebelt, and Laserfart. He also provided an introduction for the unaired sketch comedy Awesometown, donning a Colonial-era military uniform. In the introduction, he claims to be George Washington and takes credit for the accomplishments of other American presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.[citation needed] His next film, The Big Year, a competitive birdwatching comedy co-starring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and JoBeth Williams, was released in October 2011.[45] Black garnered a second Golden Globe Award nomination, this time in the category Best Actor in a Comedy, for his 2011 starring role in Richard Linklater's black comedy Bernie. He played as real-life murderer Bernie Tiede, a funeral director in a small East Texas town, who befriends and eventually murders a rich widow, played by Shirley MacLaine. Black's subdued portrayal, authentic East Texas accent, and musical talent – he sings several gospel hymns as well as "Seventy-six Trombones" – had Roger Ebert describing Black's work as "one of the performances of the year."[46] He presented the tribute to Led Zeppelin when the band was named as 2012 recipients of Kennedy Center Honors.[47] In 2016, Black joined the climate change documentary show Years of Living Dangerously as one of its celebrity correspondents.[48] In 2018, Black appeared in the music video for Gorillaz song "Humility".[49] 2015–present In 2015, Black played a fictional version of real-life author R. L. Stine for Goosebumps, and provided the voices of two of Stine's creations, Slappy the Dummy and The Invisible Boy.[50] He reprised the Stine role in the film's 2018 sequel, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. He also voiced himself and many other additional characters on the animated YouTube series "Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto", which he also co-directed and co-wrote, along with his Tenacious D partner Kyle Gass. In 2017 he portrayed a teenage girl inhabiting the body of Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon in the children's action adventure comedy film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. He starred alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan. The film received positive reviews and was a financial success. The following year he took a supporting dramatic turn in the Gus Van Sant drama Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (2018). The film received critical acclaim and starred Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill. He reprised his role in the film's sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) which like the first film was also a box-office success becoming one of the highest grossing films of 2019. Also that year he starred in the children's fantasy film The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2019) alongside Cate Blanchett and Renée Elise Goldsberry. In 2022 he lent his voice to the Richard Linklater animated coming of age film Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood. Also that year he portrayed disc jockey Wolfman Jack in the Roku biographical parody film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022). Starting in 2022 he reprised the role of Po in the Netflix animated series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. He also guest starred on the Paramount+ series Big Nate and the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty. The next year Black voiced Bowser in the Illumination's animated feature film The Super Mario Bros. Movie based off the Nintendo games. The film was released in April 2023 and was an international box office success ranking among one of the highest grossing films of 2023.[51][52] That same year he also took roles as Joseph Stalin in the Mel Brooks Hulu comedy series History of the World, Part II and Captain Bombardier in Disney+ series The Mandalorian.[53] Black is set to return to Po in Kung Fu Panda 4, voice Claptrap in Borderlands (2024), and play Steve in Minecraft (2025).[54][55][56] Other venturesMusical career
 Black is the lead singer and guitarist for the comedy rock/hard rock band Tenacious D along with Kyle Gass.[57] They have released four albums, a self-titled debut, The Pick of Destiny, Rize of the Fenix, and Post-Apocalypto. One of their songs from their album The Pick of Destiny, titled "The Metal", was used in the music video games Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock[58] and Brütal Legend.[59] "Rock Your Socks", from the album Tenacious D, was played in the music video game Rock Band Unplugged as well.[60] "Master Exploder" from The Pick Of Destiny went on to be used in music video games Guitar Hero Van Halen, Rock Band 2, and Brütal Legend, along with their song "Tribute" from Tenacious D. "Master Exploder" and "The Metal" featured in the comedy film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The film, directed by Tenacious D veteran Liam Lynch, featured recurring characters from Black's comedy such as Lee the super-fan and the Sasquatch. Several celebrities had roles in the film; actor Tim Robbins cameos as does Dave Grohl as Satan. Ben Stiller also makes an appearance as a worker at a Guitar Center, even having a role in the music video for "Tribute".[61]  Tenacious D helped the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation[62] raise awareness of these diseases and funds for the organization in Los Angeles on December 20, 2001,[63] and in San Diego, California on June 16, 2007. Tenacious D can be seen performing in the 90s-era Pauly Shore film Bio-Dome where the duo is performing its song "The Five Needs" at a "Save the Environment" party. Black was also a guest star on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show entitled "Ellen the Musical", alongside Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and teenage singer-actress Olivia Olson. On the show, besides singing, he discussed his then-upcoming film Nacho Libre with the host. In 2000, Jack Black (along with Kyle Gass) provided backing vocals to punk rock band The Vandals' song "Fourteen", which appears on their album Look What I Almost Stepped In....[64] Black has also appeared on Dave Grohl's Probot album, providing vocals for the hidden song "I Am The Warlock", and Lynch's Fake Songs album, providing vocals for the song "Rock and Roll Whore". Black performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in the last sequence of High Fidelity. He lent his musical abilities to the Queens of the Stone Age song "Burn the Witch" with rhythmic stomps and claps.[65] He also provided vocals for two tracks on the 2006 album Death by Sexy by Eagles of Death Metal, and on The Lonely Island's track "Sax Man" from the album Incredibad. Black also recorded a duet on Meat Loaf's album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear, on the song "Like a Rose".[66] Meat Loaf also played Black's father in the Pick of Destiny movie. Black has appeared in music videos of Beck's "Sexx Laws"; Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly", "Low", and "The One"; The Eagles of Death Metal's "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)"; Sum 41's "Things I Want"; Dio's "Push"; Weezer's "Photograph"; The Mooney Suzuki's "In a Young Man's Mind"; "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Tacky", and Die Antwoord's "Ugly Boy". In October 2010, Tenacious D appeared at BlizzCon 2010, a convention hosted by the game designers, Blizzard Entertainment. In 2012, Jack Black joined up with other celebrities to record "Book People Unite", a song sponsored by the Library of Congress and RIF.[67] Black did guest vocals and appeared on the Dethklok soundtrack album The Doomstar Requiem.[68] He sings the parts for Dethklok's original band manager as well as a blogger. Black, as a member of Tenacious D, won the award for Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards.[69] The song "The Last in Line" won the award, a cover of the song of the same name by Dio that appeared on the tribute album This Is Your Life. | |||
