(From left) US actors James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Jack Black and Awkwafina attend the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Kung Fu Panda 4" at the AMC The Grove theatre in Los Angeles, California, March 3, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

LOS ANGELES - Jack Black's dumpling-obsessed bear is back in the latest installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise after an eight-year hiatus.

Getting back into the character of Po after such a length of time wasn't difficult for Black. He just had to remember a few things.

I would pretend to be bionic and I would draw pictures of bionic man and that's what Po is all about, that youthful enthusiasm. You can hear it creeping into my voice already and it's as simple as that, just remember your childhood exuberance.  

Jack Black, Actor

"I mean, I do have to prepare... remembering what it was like when I was a kid and the things that I loved. What do I love as much as Po loves Kung Fu? What did I love that much? And the answer is The Six Million Dollar Man. It was my favorite show," Black told Reuters, referring to the 1970s series.

ALSO READ: 'Barbenheimer' mania fuels US gambling on the Oscars

"There was a bionic man and I just loved that show. I watched it once a week every week and I also loved The Hulk... I would pretend to be bionic and I would draw pictures of bionic man and that's what Po is all about, that youthful enthusiasm. You can hear it creeping into my voice already and it's as simple as that, just remember your childhood exuberance."

READ MORE: A modern take on ancient detective tales

Kung Fu Panda 4 sees Po tasked with finding a successor to become the next dragon warrior.

That successor comes in the form of the thieving fox Zhen, voiced by Awkwafina, who agrees to help Po fight the power-hungry Chameleon, voiced by Oscar winner Viola Davis.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows characters Po (left), voiced by Jack Black and Zhen, voiced by Awkwafina, in a scene from DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 4". (PHOTO / DREAMWORKS ANIMATION, UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP)

"There is something that feels very relatable personally to her so I feel like that probably is one of the closest to my personality and voice that I've ever voiced in an animated character," Awkwafina said in a joint interview with Black.

READ MORE: 'Oppenheimer' wins again with top film prize at PGA Awards

Black and Awkwafina are friends in reality so director Mike Mitchell said he let them run away with their imaginations during voice recordings.

"I knew they had this contentious chemistry with each other, joking with each other all the time. So I'm like, let's just make them into cartoon characters and do that so when they're behind the mic, I really just stay out of the way," he said.

Kung Fu Panda 4 hits US cinemas on Friday.