Pearl Studio’s All Wishes Come True! is a new animated adventure that retells one of China’s best-loved folktales as a heist comedy. It stars eight ordinary people who pretend to be gods.

Writer-director Mu Zhengyang based the film on the centuries-old legend of The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. It is set on a magical island where mortals and Immortals live side by side. The island holds a legendary vault said to contain unimaginable treasures. Two schemers, Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan, hatch a bold plan to get in: they disguise themselves as Immortals and pull off the greatest heist the heavens have ever seen.

They can’t do it alone, so the pair recruit six unlikely companions: He Xiangu, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe and Zhang Guolao. As the band gets closer to the vault, the danger grows. Then the quest takes an unexpected turn. The eight are pulled into an ancient conspiracy that threatens the fragile balance between the mortal and immortal worlds, and these accidental heroes may end up deciding both fates.

In Chinese culture, the Eight Immortals are among the most recognizable figures in mythology. Folklore, literature, and art have celebrated them for centuries. Each Immortal comes from a different walk of life, which reflects a long-held belief that wisdom, courage, and perseverance can rise above social status. In the classic tale, each one crosses the sea using their own talents and treasured artifact. The story has become a symbol of ingenuity, hope, and the value of being yourself. The film uses that theme by starting its heroes as regular people rather than gods.

The voice cast includes: Li Shaozhe as Lü Dongbin, Chen Hao as Zhongli Quan, Lidong as He Xiangu, Zhang Yunqi as Cao Guojiu, Cao Zhishan as Lan Caihe, and Deng Xiansen as Zhang Guolao.

Han Xiangzi is voiced by three performers together with Dong Tianyi, Yu Pengli, and Huang Yushuo.

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Mu Zhengyang is a Chinese film director making his directorial debut with All Wishes Come True! Previously, he directed award-winning short films, including One Small, One Big.

Cathine Yin is the CEO and president of Pearl Studio, formerly known as Oriental DreamWorks. She oversaw the strategic direction of the animated studio as a Hollywood-China joint venture, co-producing Kung Fu Panda 3, to a fully Chinese-owned studio known for Abominable and Netflix’s Over the Moon.

Watch the exclusive interview with director Mu Zhengyang and Pearl Studio CEO Catherine Yin below. Let us know what you think of the interview.

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Source: LRM Online Exclusive, Pearl Studio