Dragonkeeper (film)

Dragonkeeper is a 2024 Spanish-Chinese animated fantasy adventure film directed by Salvador Simó and Li Jianping, with a script written by Carole Wilkinson, Pablo Castrillo, Ignacio Ferreras and Rosanna Checcini. Matthew Joynes is the executive producer.

The film is an adaptation of Wilkinson's novel Dragonkeeper.

Plot
Set in Han Imperial China, the plot follows the adventures of enslaved girl Ping with ancient dragon Long Danzi. Dragons had been banished from the kingdom due to matters of distrust. Ping, an orphan, finds one of the last remaining dragon eggs. Now Ping must embark on a journey with her rat friend Hua and Long Danzi in order to fulfill her destiny, and return the dragon egg to the ocean and save all dragons from extinction.

English-language voice cast

 * Bill Nighy
 * Bill Bailey
 * Anthony Howell
 * Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping

Production
The project, an adaptation of the first novel of Carole Wilkinson's 6-book-saga, was reported in 2017 as a Spanish-Chinese co-production between China Film Group's China Film Animation alongside Spain's Dragoia Media, Movistar Plus and Atresmedia Cine. It boasted a €24 million budget.

Release
The film secured theatrical releases in Spain (by A Contracorriente), China (by China Film Group) and Latin America (by Imagem Filmes). Viva Kids bought the North American distribution rights to the film, whilst Hulu secured streaming rights for the post-theatrical window in the region. Dragonkeeper was scheduled to open in Spanish theaters on 22 September 2023. Afterwards, the Spanish release was postponed from 2023 to 2024. The film was selected as the opening film of the 27th Málaga Film Festival's official selection. The film's theatrical release date in Spain was rescheduled to 19 April 2024.