Cast members pose with panda Po at the news conference in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

DreamWorks Pictures has named the major Chinese voice actors in the Mandarin version of third installment of Kung Fu Panda, the highest-grossing animated franchise in China.

The director of the Chinese version, Teng Huatao, told a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday that Zhang Jizhong is the voice of Master Oogway, the elderly tortoise and the previous senior master of the Jade Palace.

Zhang, 64, gained nationwide fame for directing a TV series on martial arts, The Legend of Condor Hero.

The voice of Tigress, one of the master-gang Furious Five, is rising actress Bai Baihe, who grabbed the spotlight recently for her role in Go Away Mr. Tumor.

Other voice performers include Jackie Chan (the panda Po's biographical father), Huang Lei (Po), Taiwan pop singer Jay Chow (Monkey) and actress Zhu Zhu (Viper).

Kung Fu Panda 3 is to be released simultaneously in China and North America on Jan 29.

China's fast-growing movie market is the reason why DreamWorks did a Mandarin version, domestic media reports say.

The mouth movements and facial expressions of the characters have been adjusted to make them look natural when speaking Chinese, says Teng.

The English version of the film is directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, and has a stellar voice cast, including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Seth Rogen.

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