Wish Dragon

Din is a resourceful teenager who longs to reconnect with his childhood friend Lina, who seems to have moved on into a different world. When Din discovers Long, a long-imprisoned, fast-talking wish dragon, he gets a chance to make three wishes that might bridge their gap. The film follows Din's attempts to use wishes to change his fortunes and win Lina's attention, while Long offers comic counsel and unexpected emotional depth. Their partnership leads to adventures across a bustling city, tests of character, and reminders that shortcuts can carry costs, all delivered through lively animation, action set pieces, and a touch of romance. He also encounters quirky allies, comic setbacks, and achieves a clearer sense of what family really means.

Directed by Chris Appelhans and created from ideas by Radford Sechrist and Josh Lieberman, Wish Dragon premiered in 2021 as an animated family comedy, featuring voices from Jimmy Wong, John Cho, Constance Wu, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Jimmy O. Yang.

As a title aimed at streaming audiences rather than a wide theatrical rollout, it did not produce notable box office totals, instead reaching viewers through digital platforms and home viewing rather than ticket sales, where it found a wider audience.

Wish Dragon drew attention for updating a classic wish-story into a contemporary, Chinese-inflected setting, sparking conversations about cultural representation in family animation, modernizing mythic elements with humor, and introducing viewers to a Shanghai-infused backdrop in a globally accessible package. It helped prompt discussions about representation and accessibility in family animation.

Critics and audiences gave the film generally warm responses, reflected in its IMDb-style vote average of 7.854/10 from 1430 votes. Reviewers noted its playful humor, emphasis on friendship, class and identity, and the way wishes force characters to reckon with what matters most. Performances and visual flair got frequent praise.