‘All Wishes Come True!’ Brings China’s Ancient Eight Immortals Legend to a New Generation
Dragon Media News Desk
Chinese animated feature “All Wishes Come True!” has emerged as a notable success of China’s 2026 summer film season by combining traditional mythology with contemporary storytelling.
Released in Chinese mainland cinemas on July 18, the film draws inspiration from the famous Taoist folk legend of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. Instead of introducing the legendary figures as fully formed supernatural beings, however, the story imagines them first as ordinary people with weaknesses, competing interests and personal conflicts.
According to Xinhua, the film had earned more than 765 million yuan at the box office by July 26, establishing it as one of the prominent animated successes of China’s summer season.
Produced by Pearl Studio and distributed by CMC Pictures, the film combines fantasy, comedy and adventure with visual elements rooted in traditional Chinese culture.
Its story follows eight ordinary individuals from different backgrounds who are brought together by circumstance. What begins as a journey driven largely by personal motives gradually develops into a story of friendship, responsibility and cooperation.
Rather than treating the Eight Immortals simply as distant mythological symbols, the production seeks to make them relatable to contemporary audiences by emphasizing their human qualities before their transformation into legendary figures.
The film is also moving toward international distribution. Its rollout includes planned August releases in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Chinese cinema has increasingly explored the combination of traditional culture with modern animation and contemporary storytelling. The performance of “All Wishes Come True!” further demonstrates the potential for locally rooted mythology to reach both domestic and international audiences through creative reinterpretation.
