Animated blockbuster 'The Eight Immortals!' hits Vietnamese theaters for Mid-Autumn Festival

Eight mortals with different backgrounds, brought together by unique circumstances, accidentally converge in the fairyland of Penglai. Some had a sudden idea, others joined as soon as they were invited, and together they opened a Taoist temple, freely enjoying the feeling of being "immortals." - Photo: Weibo

Inspired by the familiar folk legend of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, the film does not follow a traditional mythological narrative. Familiar figures are boldly deconstructed and reimagined, creating a story that is both unconventional and fresh, bringing unexpected twists to the age-old legend.

Lu Dongbin and Zhongli Quan lead the lineup, gathering He Xiangu, Tieguai Li, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, and Zhang Guolao. Facing the people of Penglai, their motto is essentially "ask and you shall receive." Yet, beneath the facade of a makeshift Taoist temple lies the courage to "outsmart even heaven and earth." Little did they know, a earth-shattering conspiracy is silently approaching. Where will this hilarious and fantastical adventure ultimately lead?

Compared to mythological IPs with clear central characters like Sun Wukong or Nezha, All Wishes Come True! is clearly more difficult to adapt. This is because the film must handle eight characters simultaneously: from determining who drives the main plot, arranging how each person appears, distributing screen time, to the most important challenge of ensuring all eight characters are memorable to the audience.

The cleverness of the film lies in not rushing to turn them into "immortals." Instead, the story is told from the perspective of mortals. - Photo: Weibo

All eight characters have their own desires, flaws, and calculations; they know how to make mistakes, feel fear, and are even greedy at times. They do not possess the aura of high-and-mighty protagonists. It is these "imperfect" traits that make them more relatable and grounded.

Notably, despite the large number of characters, each still possesses a distinct personality and mark, while creating interesting chemistry when placed together.

All Wishes Come True! reminds many viewers of previous box office phenomena like Nezha or Deep Sea, with its fresh take on familiar stories combined with a series of humorous, somewhat "absurd" situations.

The script is generally solid, with the pacing and narrative layers clearly defined. The work gradually transitions from comedy and adventure to passionate and tense sequences in the latter half.

The plot has been adapted to be more relatable to young people, especially those working in office environments. From the art design of the Penglai fairyland to the management models, transportation systems, work KPIs, and performance rankings, everything carries a very contemporary vibe.