The story centres on a normal boy, Tom, who gets drawn into this world against his wishes when his eccentric grandmother who he lives within San Francisco's Chinatown turns out to be the guardian of the phoenix egg.
When his grandmother perishes in battle and is spirited away in a ghost cart, Tom must apprentice with an unlikely mentor – a tiger, Mr. Hu – to learn ancient magic and become the egg's new protector. They team up with an unlikely band of exotic creatures, each representing a different sign of the Chinese zodiac, who can morph into human form while retaining their innate animal characteristics.
Critics Reviews:
- “I admit we've seen this story a million times in a million forms, but I thought it was nicely done and funny when it meant to be.” – Andy Klein (Associated Press)
- “The animation is less surefooted at the start in a prologue set in Hong Kong, but it quickly improves when the action shifts to San Francisco, gloriously re-created. The vocal cast is mighty impressive and includes the ever-busy Michelle Yeoh.” – Randy Myers (San Jose Mercury News)
- “There’s no word on whether the rest of the trilogy is being considered for adaptation, but if so, it’s off to a solid start, with plenty of room for improvement.” – G. Allen Johnson (San Francisco Chronicle)
- “Like a shop-bought char siu bao, it’s over-sweetened but moreish: Chinese-flavoured comfort food in cinematic form.” – Leslie Felperin (Guardian)
