Is this Baahubali The Eternal War animation sequence ‘inspired’ by Kung Fu Panda? Director addresses claims

Director Ishan Shukla addressed claims that one sequence from his upcoming film Baahubali: The Eternal War was inspired by Kung Fu Panda. Here's what he said.

Director and animator Ishan Shukla, the man behind the upcoming animated film, Baahubali: The Eternal War, has responded to comparisons between his film and Kung Fu Panda. When the teaser for the film was attached to Baahubali: The Epic, people thought a particular sequence in the film was inspired by Kung Fu Panda. Here’s what he said.

Is Baahubali The Eternal War sequence inspired by Kung Fu Panda?

Comparisons were drawn between one sequence in Baahubali: The Eternal War and Kung Fu Panda.

Ishan held an AMA on Reddit, and questions poured in for the animator. One question was, “The sequence where Indra and the red monster-like character fight, some bits, like the pillars being thrown and the red character trying to climb up from one end. And the frame of all the pillars being stuck to the character - these looked inspired from certain King Fu Panda scenes - like the Jailbreak and Bridge fight. Thought these were cool homages.”

Baahubali: The Eternal War features events that take place after Mahendra Baahubali’s death in the Baahubali films. The film features him facing off against Lord Indra for an unknown reason. Presented by SS Rajamouli and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni, the film has a story by Ishan and Sowmya Sharma. Madan Karky and Deva Katta have written the Tamil and Telugu dialogues. It will be released in theatres in 2027.