Base Animation, the new animation studio associated with Beijing-based VFX firm BaseFX, is joining forces with martial arts film legend Jackie Chan to present the studio's first feature-animated film, WISH DRAGON, which is aiming for a theatrical release in China sometime in 2019. In addition to voicing characters for both the Chinese and English-speaking versions of the film, Chan's Sparkle Roll Media will also produce in addition to acting as a co-investor on the endeavor.
Chris Appelhans, who served as an animator on Laika Studio's animated hit CORALINE will direct from his own original screenplay. When WISH DRAGON arrives, it is poised to tell a modern-day fairy tale of the moral challenges that emerge from the encounter between a boy and a dragon who is able to make wishes come true. Joining Chan as a part of the cast is FRESH OFF THE BOAT star Constance Wu, with Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jimmy Wong and Bobby Lee also in-line to contribute their voice-acting talents to the animated adventure.
“Our goal in developing the project and building the Xiamen studio was to make world class animation in China for China… and the world,” said producer, and Base principal Chris Bremble. “From the start, Chris Appelhans wanted the film made in China, with a strong Mainland China creative team, an international cast of talent, and a focus on the hopes and dreams of contemporary China.”
When BaseFX first came onto the scene, the goal of the company was to create and provide top-tier effects for the Chinese film industry. Over the past decade, the studio has grown both in scale and talent, marking it as an up-and-coming contributor to the ever-expanding world of visual effects filmmaking. When the film arrives, WISH DRAGON is hoping to turn heads while entertaining movie-goers all across the globe.
You can check out a gallery of photos from the film's production below:
WISH DRAGON is looking to dazzle Chinese audiences sometime in 2019, with a stateside release to follow.