Although the latest installment in Dreamworks Animation's Kung Fu Panda series (Kung Fu Panda 2) is just hitting theaters this weekend, the word from Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg is that the 3D version of the film for the home market will be a Samsung exclusive. Mr. Katzenberg provided this information in response to a question from a journalist at a recent Samsung technical briefing held on the Dreamworks campus in Los Angeles. What this means is that, if you want to take the film home on Blu-ray 3D Disc any time soon, you'll need to buy a Samsung 3D TV Starter Kit, which includes 3D glasses that work exclusively with Samsung 3D TVs.
This news should surprise no one, as it only maintains the exclusive partnership first announced between the two companies in early 2010 with the Blu-ray 3D release of Monsters Vs. Aliens, and continued with each of Dreamworks' Blu-ray 3D titles that followed, including How to Train Your Dragon, the entire Shrek series (Shrek through Shrek Forever After) and, most recently, MEGAMIND.
Although some criticize the studios for effectively restricting the widespread distribution of 3D content at home (potentially slowing the format's adoption), one can easily see why it makes business sense for both the studio and the TV manufacturers to partner in this manner. An exclusive release guarantees the studio that they will make a profit on the 3D release of each title, even before the Blu-ray 3D and 3D TV markets reach critical mass. And the electronics manufacturer gets an exclusive on popular 3D titles, which may influence consumers to purchase a specific brand 3D TV over the competition.
Panasonic struck a similar deal with 20th Century Fox in 2010, obtaining exclusive rights to the Blu-ray 3D version of Avatar until some time in 2012. But in this case, that Avatar 3D disc can be obtained, not just with the Panasonic 3D TV or 3D glasses purchase, but also with the purchase of a Panasonic Blu-ray 3D player or home theater system, either of which is fully compatible with other brands' 3D TVs.
As for the latest Dreamworks Animation film itself, we saw an early screening of Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D and found that it it offers exceptionally high quality imagery and sound, including effective use of 3D in drawing you into the story. And the story itself is pretty entertaining as well. We expect this film will prove to be a popular demo disc when it becomes available in Blu-ray 3D format later this year.
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