The Chinese animated film All Wishes Come True held its Malaysian premiere in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, ahead of its nationwide release on Thursday.
The inspiration for the fantasy comedy is the classic Chinese folk tale "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea."
The film follows eight ordinary mortals before they become the legendary Eight Immortals.
The atmosphere at the premiere was upbeat. Moviegoers lined up early to collect specially designed, hard-cover ticket stubs that reveal a different Immortal, depending on the viewing angle.
There was also rubber-duck merchandise inspired by the film's characters. And a giant poster provided a perfect photo op.
It wasn't just the characters that struck a chord. From the storytelling to the voice acting, more than one moviegoer described the experience as a pleasant surprise.
"It's surprisingly good. I think it was fantastic. Whether it's the animation, the screenplay, or the character design, I think everything was done exceptionally well. It takes myths that people have known for a long time and presents them through a blend of action and comedy. I think that's truly rare," said a Malaysian moviegoer of Chinese descent.
That resonance wasn't limited to ethnic Chinese moviegoers.
"The film's message is -- you just do what you think is right, and that's enough. So, I was really moved, and I even cried a little. That's why I think this film is great. I'll probably watch it a second time, but I'll bring my friend along," said a Malaysian moviegoer.
The distributor also put extra effort into the premiere itself.
"For this premiere, besides printing specially designed tickets, we also custom-built a 'Heaven's Gate' arch and made life-size cutouts of the Eight Immortals characters for moviegoers to take photos with," said Xie Junjiang, executive director of Mega Films Distribution.
According to Xie, All Wishes Come True will screen in more than 110 cinemas across Malaysia, with over 600 daily showings.
The release adds to a growing list of Chinese films finding an audience in Malaysia in recent years, from the Ne Zha series to Kung Fu Soccer. Dear You, a Chaoshan (Teochew)-dialect film telling a moving story of homesickness and family ties among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, recorded its highest overseas box office in the country.
Chinese animation All Wishes Come True premieres in Malaysia
