'Kung Fu Panda' and Reebok's Four-Piece Collaboration Will Satisfy Your Inner Dragon Warrior

2020 brought many unusual things to the surface, but no one anticipated the impact the film industry would have on the sneaker world. Following collaborations such as Toy Story x Reebok, Ghostbusters x Reebok and the Star Wars x adidas Originals pack, comes another hit movie franchise team-up: Kung Fu Panda x Reebok.

This isn’t the first time the DreamWorks Animation-produced franchise has found its way onto a shoe. Back in 2016, BAIT and Diadora honored the film’s lead character Po Ping in a shoe that immortalized the panda’s characteristics, and now Po is back alongside friends and themes of the film to inspire Reebok.

A four-piece collection comprising two Club C 85 sneakers, one Instampump Fury and a Zig Kinetica each sport a design that draws influence from the film. The first Club C 85 is decorated in a mix of textures, patterns and colors that combine to honor Chinese New Year, featuring everything from a hessian weave to dark gray hairy suede, a red-and-black leaf pattern, Reebok branding in a traditional font, and Kung Fu Panda branding on the tongue alongside Hanzi symbols.

Next up is a far more subtle Club C 85 served in “Classic White” leather with “Paper White” details all over. The print is barely visible — nodding to the qualities of a ninja — but do depict things such as Hanzi symbols and characters from the film franchise, while on the inside you can find heavily branded printed insoles alongside a tongue lining that’s split into various panels, like the former Club C 85.

Once again, subtlety comes into play for the Instapump Fury. This pair comprises an upper of black, white, and beige components that altogether most prominently represent Po Ping, with the black suede being hairy, the white leather being embossed, and the beige foam elements looking as if they’re held together with stitches. Characters appear on the Instampump toggle, while dual branding graces the rear boldly.

Lastly, Kung Fu Panda and Reebok present the Zig Kinetica — perhaps the loudest shoe in the collection. Printed all over with splashes of color, the pattern is said to represent the panda’s resilient fighting spirit, despite his clumsiness. This is accompanied by a fully patterned Zig Energy Shell midsole and equally bold insoles.

Take a look at the Kung Fu Panda and Reebok collaboration above, and pick up pairs from Reebok’s website on January 8. Prices range from $100 USD to $200 USD.

In case you missed it, here is your best look yet at the FACETASM x Jordan “Why Not?” Zer0.4.