The Mainland Chinese animated hit All Wishes Come True! arrived in Hong Kong cinemas on August 20. Since its summer release on the Mainland, the film has won over both critics and audiences, grossing over RMB 1.6 billion by August 16. In an exclusive interview with Bastille Post, the filmmakers described the story as one of eight mortals challenging the gods, a tribute to the power of ordinary people.
Mainland animated comedy “All Wishes Come True!” hit Hong Kong cinemas on Thursday, August 20. Director Mou Zhengyang (left), executive producer Ying Xujun (centre), and producer Cao Linlin (right) attended the premiere. Photo by Bastille Post
Director Mou Zhengyang, Photo by Bastille Post
Director Mou Zhengyang has always had a deep fondness for traditional Chinese mythology, and among its many figures, the Eight Immortals hold a special place. In his view, they are not immortals by birthright, but rather a group who have, across the ages, consistently stood up for mortals. After delving into ancient texts and folklore, he discovered that the Eight Immortals stories are remarkably rich and adaptable, which ultimately led him to build his film around them.
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Mainland animated comedy “All Wishes Come True!” hit Hong Kong cinemas on Thursday, August 20. Director Mou Zhengyang (left), executive producer Ying Xujun (centre), and producer Cao Linlin (right) attended the premiere. Photo by Bastille Post
Director Mou Zhengyang, Photo by Bastille Post
A film still from “All Wishes Come True!”
A film still from “All Wishes Come True!”
The character "Han Xiangzi"
Director Mou Zhengyang, Photo by Bastille Post
The character "Tieguai Li"
Executive producer Ying Xujun, Photo by Bastille Post
Executive producer Ying Xujun, Photo by Bastille Post
The character "Cao Guojiu"
Producer Cao Linlin, Photo by Bastille Post
Producer Cao Linlin, Photo by Bastille Post
The character "He Xiangu"
A film still from “All Wishes Come True!”
The script underwent several years of painstaking development and polishing. Since AI was still in its infancy during both story development and post-production, every keyframe, camera movement, and animated sequence was crafted manually. “It was a clumsy way of working,” Mou conceded, “but everyone poured their heart into it. Animators, martial arts directors, and even I wore many hats — that, to me, is the spirit of ordinary people.”
A film still from “All Wishes Come True!”
The character "Han Xiangzi"
Mou revealed that casting the voice for Han Xiangzi alone took three attempts. The character is a teenager in the film, so a youthful, innocent voice was needed. “We first chose a boy who was going through puberty. But the animation production cycle is long, and puberty only lasts a few months. When we needed to re-record some dialogue, his voice had already deepened. We picked a second boy, but by the time of additional dialogue recording, he had also grown up. So we had to find a third.”
Director Mou Zhengyang, Photo by Bastille Post
Mou admitted that the biggest challenge in making All Wishes Come True! was the sheer number of characters. First and foremost, balancing their screen time was no easy feat. “From camera language to character performance, a single shot required extensive framing to fit all eight characters, and each of them needed to deliver nuanced acting. Perhaps only two or three were the main characters, but the others still had to support the scene.”
Secondly, leaving a lasting impression on the audience meant giving each character distinctive symbolic traits to highlight their personality and make them memorable. “It’s extremely difficult to present all of this within a two-hour film, but the result was acceptable. A few key characters carried the core thematic weight, while the others were still compelling enough to stand out. In the end, all eight came together, and each one felt like a protagonist.”
The character "Tieguai Li"
When asked about his favourite character, Mou said he is most drawn to Tieguai Li. All Wishes Come True! is a story about ordinary people, he explained, with an emphasis on everyday life and humanity — and Tieguai Li, with his down‑to‑earth presence, is the richest and most layered of them all. “Tieguai Li is a beggar, wandering the world, clear‑headed and sharp. He says what he thinks and does what he wants. I really admire his outspoken, decisive, and responsible nature. He may be glib, but when it counts, he steps up, like when he brings back the disheartened Zhongli Quan, or joins the others without hesitation in the pursuit of Yang Jian.”
He also revealed the story behind the exclamation mark in the film’s title: “The movie is fast‑paced, exciting, and exhilarating. The exclamation mark fits its energy perfectly. I hope that when audiences recommend it, they’ll say it with the same punch — ‘All Wishes Come True! is great!’”
Executive producer Ying Xujun, Photo by Bastille Post
To cater to Hong Kong audiences, a Cantonese-dubbed version was specially produced for the film, with every voice actor handpicked by the director, presenting the filmmakers' dedication. Executive producer Ying Xujun noted that Hong Kong is a key film market in Asia with a strong animation audience, and that All Wishes Come True!, rooted in traditional Chinese culture and powered by the country’s most advanced animation technology, builds a vast and magnificent world that blends comedy, warmth, and emotional resonance.
She said the production team never set a box office target, but instead channelled all their energy into telling a compelling story and creating quality animation. “Seeing the box office climb is certainly gratifying,” she said, “but it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the growing number of viewers. It means that All Wishes Come True! is being seen, appreciated, and recognised by more audiences around the world.”
Executive producer Ying Xujun, Photo by Bastille Post
The character "Cao Guojiu"
Ying herself is most drawn to Cao Guojiu. Born into royalty and raised in privilege, he is proud and somewhat arrogant, yet highly skilled at navigating pressure, deftly easing the demands of superiors while still getting things done. Among the Eight Immortals, he takes on a paternal role. “There’s a scene where the group makes up after an argument,” she said. “He had actually cooked a pot of fragrant porridge for everyone, using a meal to bring them back together. When a crisis hits, his kind nature shines through. When facing Yang Jian, he takes Zhang Guolao and Lan Caihe and escapes, as a responsible and endearing hero.”
Producer Cao Linlin, Photo by Bastille Post
Producer Cao Linlin, Photo by Bastille Post
Producer Cao Linlin believes that good stories transcend borders. Judging from audience feedback, she said, people’s understanding and expectations of the story are remarkably consistent. In her eyes, culture, at its core, speaks a universal language, and there is no fundamental difference in how traditional mythology is interpreted. She personally favours He Xiangu, describing her as outstanding, independent, and unwavering in her ideals. “There’s a fight scene in the film where she takes on seven men who are stronger and older than her without flinching; we call it ‘He Xiangu taking on seven by herself.’ She moves forward with determination for her goals and for the kindness in her heart, while at the same time being playful, cute, cool, and stylish. She is indeed a wonderfully full and layered character.”
The character "He Xiangu"
