REVIEW: ‘The Tiger’s Apprentice’ Is Action Fantasy Through And Through

Animation is thriving, and Paramount+’s latest original film, The Tiger’s Apprentice, is an example of that. Tackling grief and belonging, The Tiger’s Apprentice offers stellar animation from Mikros Animation and a fair amount of heart. The film is directed by Raman Hui and co-directed by Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun. David Magee and Christopher Yost wrote the film, based on the novel of the same name by Laurence Yep.

The Tiger’s Apprentice follows Chinese-American teenager Tom Lee (Brandon Soo Hoo) in San Francisco after he loses his grandmother. When he discovers that he is part of a long lineage of magical protectors known as the Guardians, his life changes forever. Detached from this history and his place in the Chinese Zodiac, he must rely on the guidance of a mythical tiger named Hu (Henry Golding) to save the world.

Where the Guardians use magic to keep humanity safe, Loo (Michelle Yeoh) is a powerful force that is set to use magic to destroy humanity. To have a fighting chance against Loo, Tom must reunite all twelve Zodiac animal warriors and master his own newly discovered powers.

To call the cast of The Tiger’s Apprentice star-studded feels like an understatement. It features voice-over work by Brandon Soo Hoo, Henry Golding, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Kheng Hua Tan,  Sherry Cola, Jo Koy, and Greta Lee. While some still have issues with on-camera actors taking on voice-over work in animated features, this cast is electric. And with such a large ensemble, no one gets lost in the process. Instead, every single cast member lends their talent to bring their characters to life. Through their efforts, the film transforms into something entirely empathetic and adventurous.

One of the most intriguing elements of animation is the creativity put into adapting the different animals of the zodiac. Instead of going with renditions that you would expect, the team at Mikros Animation and Paramount Animation have created characters that embody personalities as defined by the zodiac and not just the animal traits or characteristics you would expect. While Sandra Oh as the Dragon Guardian Mistral and Michelle Yeoh’s Loo, the film’s antagonist, are phenomenal, it’s Golding’s Hu that steals the show.

Hu is a difficult mentor. Instead of showing his empathy, Hu is harsh. He pushes Tom out of his comfort zone and doesn’t make anything easy on his young charge. But Hu’s love is deep. Tom is uncertain of his connection to Hu. However, over the course of The Tiger’s Apprentice, he learns how much the tiger has been a part of his life. Instead of forcing Tom to learn from him, Hu gives Tom what he needs to learn on his own path. Only to be pulled together to the same one as he is on.

Tom and Hu are the emotional core of the film as we explore Tom’s life and past. We see who he has lost and loved and how alone he has felt since his grandma’s death. While the film’s villain is run of the mill, Tom’s heroic journey is refreshing to see. Tom is allowed to be a kid, and a complicated one at that. Both American and Chinese, Tom doesn’t just have to learn about the larger magical conspiracy he’s been pulled into but also the cultural history that will save him.

If there is any issue at all with The Tiger’s Apprentice, it’s in how the film is paced. Right before the third act, there is a climactic battle with Loo. It’s large and has an emotional weight that makes it feel every bit of an ending. However, the film keeps going, embracing the training montage to show Tom accepting his destiny and his heritage. It’s not a bad segment of the film. It is just oddly placed with the amount of buildup and action in the sequence preceding the film’s third act.

Given that the book that the film is based on is part of a trilogy, there was enough to expand into a series. Each episode could focus on pulling the Guardians together. This is especially true with how quickly elements develop in the film. Better suited for an animated series, there is still a lot to love about the film. With that fact, it would be amazing to see two more films based on Yep’s books.

That said, pacing doesn’t undo any of the film’s charm or its importance. The Tiger’s Apprentice is a brilliant take on the hero’s journey. It successfully uses Chinese mythology to map Tom’s course through the narrative. An action fantasy story through and through, this family-friendly film showcases the creativity audiences can find in cultural stories to explore complex feelings of belonging and loss.

The Tiger’s Apprentice is streaming now, exclusively on Paramount+.