WFG RATING: B

Viva Kids presents a China Film/Movistar Plus+/Atresmedia Cine/Guardian de Dragones AIE production. Directed by Salvador Simo and Li Jianping. Produced by Larry Levene. Written by Carole Wilkinson, Pablo Castrillo, Igancio Ferreras, and Rosanna Checcini; based on the novel by Wilkinson. 

Starring the voices of Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffiths, Bill Bailey, and Anthony Howell. 

A young girl discovers what’s in store for her in this animated family film based on the novel by Carole Wilkinson.

Ancient China. In a world where dragons and humans coexist, the dragons are becoming extinct thanks in part to the kingdom feeling the creatures cannot be trusted. However, from the moment she was born, Ping was destined for greatness. Now ten years old, Ping meets an ancient dragon, Danzi, who entrusts her as the protector of what is believed to be the Pearl of Longevity. The pearl becomes the target of the emperor’s trusted officer Diao, who has a means to use the pearl to usurp the throne for himself. However, Ping knows the pearl’s real secret. It is the last dragon egg and she will do whatever it takes to ensure its safety. 

This Chinese-Spanish animated film is quite a fun adventure that seems to be a by-the-numbers one in terms of seeing films set in ancient China in the martial arts genre combined with that of the world of dragons and their protectors. However, where a good amount of today’s animated films mostly rely solely on star power, this one only has one major name in the cast and that’s Bill Nighy in the role of ancient dragon Danzi, who speaks to our protagonist Ping via telepathy.

Ping, voiced by Mayalinee Griffiths, is the reluctant hero who goes from enslaved girl to protector of the last dragon, mistaken by the kingdom as a pearl that grants life everlasting. This of course brings to mind the antagonist Diao, a loyal follower of the emperor who actually sees the “pearl” as an opportunity to take over the kingdom for himself. Much like Cao Cao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms wanting to usurp the throne from the emperor for his own evil gain. This leads to the whirlwind adventure with Ping even having a required sidekick a la Mushu with a mouse named Hua Hua. Nevertheless, despite the predictability, it is still a fun animated film guaranteed to please the family dynamic. 

Dragonkeeper is a fun family animated adventure that may have that sense of predictability, but nevertheless, holds its own.