Wish Dragon (2021)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A working-class college student discovers a magical teapot inhabited by a dragon capable of granting three wishes.
The story
Din Song is a working-class college student in Shanghai who dreams of reuniting with his childhood friend Li Na, who moved away ten years ago to live a lavish life. One day, Din is given a teapot by an elderly man, from which emerges Long, a wish dragon. Long informs Din he will grant three wishes to his master, i.e. whoever holds the teapot. Din will be Long's tenth and final master and will free Long from his servitude, allowing him to enter the Spirit world. Subsequently, Din is chased by a trio of goons sent by Li Na's father to recover the teapot.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Din Song, a working-class college student in Shanghai, dreams of reuniting with his childhood friend Li Na, who now lives a lavish life. He receives a teapot from an elderly man, releasing Long, a wish dragon. Long offers Din three wishes to free him from servitude. After escaping goons sent by Li Na's father, Mr. Wang, Din uses a wish to appear as a wealthy 'princeling' to attend Li Na's birthday party. Despite the disguise, Din and Li Na bond over their shared past, but Li Na eventually leaves him due to their socioeconomic differences. Long reveals he was once a selfish lord punished by gods to become a dragon to learn the meaning of life. Pockets, a henchman, steals the teapot and tries to turn everything to gold, mortally wounding Mr. Wang. Long sacrifices himself to save Din, turning into a gold statue and eventually falling into a river. Long finds himself at the Spirit world gate but pleads to return to Din. Din uses his final wish to heal Mr. Wang. Later, Mr. Wang opens a restaurant with Din and Li Na's help. Din finds a new teapot and releases Long, who must serve ten more masters before returning to Earth.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States; China
- Original languages
- English; Mandarin
- Directors
- Chris Appelhans
- Writers
- Chris Appelhans · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jimmy Wong · Din Song; John Cho · Long; Constance Wu · Mrs. Song; Natasha Liu Bordizzo · Li Na Wang; Jimmy O. Yang · Short Goon; Aaron Yoo · Pockets; Will Yun Lee · Mr. Wang; Ronny Chieng · Pipa God
- Genres
- animated; fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- social status; hustle culture; friendship; selflessness
- Tone and mood
- heartwarming; charming; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- wish fulfillment; dragon; contemporary China; fantasy comedy
- Franchise connections
- Wish Dragon
- Content notes
- scares
- Reception
- The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics, with some praising its heartwarming message and animation style while others found it predictable.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 59 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- It is the first Sony Pictures Animation film produced by Base Animation.; It is the first Sony Pictures Animation film to feature visual effects and animation provided by Industrial Light & Magic.; The film was originally scheduled for release in July 2019 but was delayed multiple times.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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