Tai Lung is the sole antagonist of Kung Fu Panda. He was Shifu's former adoptive son, Tigress' former adoptive older brother, and Po's arch-nemesis. He is also a minor antagonist of Kung Fu Panda Holiday.
Biography
Beginnings
Tai Lung was found on the steps of the Jade Palace as a cub by Master Shifu. Shifu took him in and raised him as a son, and when he showed talent in kung fu, Shifu trained him and told him he was destined for greatness. Shifu believed that Tai Lung was the legendary Dragon Warrior. This filled Tai Lung with pride, and he mastered the one-thousand scrolls of kung fu. Tai Lung wanted the power of the Dragon Scroll. His pride, however, caused Master Oogway to see the darkness in his heart, and he denied him the Dragon Scroll, shocking both Tai Lung and Shifu. Shifu had no choice but to obey Oogway's wishes.
Filled with rage, Tai Lung laid waste to the valley, and smashed into the Jade Palace and tried to take the scroll by force. Shifu briefly tried to stop Tai Lung, but could not bring himself to strike. Tai Lung shattered Shifu's hip and knocked him away, before continuing to the Dragon Scroll. Oogway, however, blocked his chi by jabbing several pressure points, and Tai Lung fell unconscious. He was imprisoned in Chorh-Gom Prison, designed specifically to keep him in, and he remained there for twenty years.
In Kung Fu Panda
Twenty years later, Oogway had a vision where he discovered that Tai Lung would be freed. When Shifu was informed of this, he sent his messenger, Zeng, to tell Commander Vachir to increase the security to ensure that Tai Lung didn't escape.
Ironically, Tai Lung managed to free himself using Zeng's feather to pick a lock. After managing to get free from his restraints, Tai Lung fought past the guards as they attempted to stop them, easily defeating them. After being cornered at the exit of the prison, Tai Lung used a stick of dynamite to blow the entrance, finishing off the remaining guards. Capturing Zeng, Tai Lung sends him off to tell the Jade Palace that "the real Dragon Warrior" was coming home.
During this time, Po the panda was being trained to become the Dragon Warrior and defeat Tai Lung. When news of Tai Lung's escape reached the valley, the Furious Five set off to stop Tai Lung. Meeting him at the Thread of Hope, the Furious Five engaged Tai Lung in battle and nearly overpowered him; however, Tai Lung defeated them with his nerve attacks, sparing only Crane so that he would fly the others back to the Jade Palace as a warning. Realizing that Tai Lung was stronger than before, Shifu gave Po the Dragon Scroll. However, the scroll turned out to be blank, and Shifu ordered the Five to evacuate the valley while he stayed behind to fight Tai Lung.
Tai Lung eventually reached the Jade Palace, where he met his former father figure after twenty years. When Shifu challenged Tai Lung to battle, the two engaged in a fight that decimated part of the palace. Tai Lung managed to overpower Shifu, despite the latter's attempts to reach out to his former son, and demanded the scroll. Upon discovering that the scroll was missing, a frustrated Tai Lung nearly strangled Shifu to death, before being stopped by Po, who revealed that he had the scroll.
Tai Lung and Po engaged in a battle throughout the valley, both of them trying to take the scroll. Despite Po's unorthodox fighting skills briefly keeping Tai Lung at bay, the snow leopard managed to temporarily stun Po long enough for him to take the scroll. However, Tai Lung was surprised to find the scroll blank. Not understanding its meaning, a frustrated Tai Lung attacked Po once more with a nerve strike, but the panda's body fat made him immune to the attack. Po quickly gained the upper hand in the fight, overpowering Tai Lung.
Weakened, the snow leopard made one final strike, only to be caught in the Wuxi Finger Hold.