The Tiger’s Apprentice (2024)
Release Date: February 2nd, 2024 (Paramount+)
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Director: Raman Hui, co-directed by Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun
Screenplay: David Magee and Christopher Yost
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon, Jane Startz Productions, New Republic Pictures
Based on: The Tiger’s Apprentice novel by Laurence Yep
Synopsis: At the heart of the story is Tom, a regular boy who, much against his desires, is catapulted into a fantastical adventure. This begins in the vibrant heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, where he resides with his peculiar grandmother. She is revealed to be the custodian of a mystical phoenix egg. Tragically, she falls in a fierce confrontation and is whisked away by a spectral carriage. In the wake of her departure, Tom is compelled to undertake an apprenticeship with an unconventional guide – a tiger named Mr. Hu. Together, they embark on a quest to master ancient spells, with Tom stepping into his grandmother’s shoes as the egg’s guardian. Their journey is bolstered by a diverse assembly of mystical beings, each emblematic of the Chinese zodiac signs. These creatures possess the ability to transform into humans while maintaining their original animal traits.
Cast (voices):
Brandon Soo Hoo as Tom Lee
Tom Lee (different from above) as Mr. Hu
Henry Golding as Master Wu
Lucy Liu as Nua Kua / Cynthia
Sandra Oh as Mistral
Michelle Yeoh as Loo
Bowen Yang as Sidney
Leah Lewis as Räv
Sherry Cola as Mrs. Lee
Naomi Wong as Naomi
Additional Information:
The film was originally planned for a theatrical release but was moved to streaming due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It features an original score by John Powell, known for his work on “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Kung Fu Panda.”
Where to Watch: Currently streaming on Paramount+.
* * *
[“Tian Mi Mi” playing on radio]
[fireworks exploding]
[singing along in Mandarin]
[baby coos]
[chuckles] Look who’s finally awake.
Just in time for your first fireworks.
[sighs] Aren’t they beautiful?
Just like you, my sweet bun.[giggles]
[static on radio]
Hmm?
That’s odd.
Oh, no. They found us.
Baby, hang on to your Binky.
Grandma’s got this.
[“Low” playing]
♪ Boots with the fur With the fur ♪
Look at the silly yaoguai.
Bye-bye, dolly!
[honks] [coos]
‘Bye-bye’is right.
Don’t worry, Tom. Help is on the way.
[growls] [giggles]
♪ She turned around ♪
♪ And gave that Big booty a slap ♪
So long, suckers!
♪ Shawty got low, low Low, low, low, low, low, low ♪
[giggles] Huh?
♪ She had them Apple bottom jeans ♪
♪ Boots with the fur With the fur ♪
♪ The whole club Was look in’at her ♪
[Tom] Meow, meow.
There you go. Nothing to worry about, see?
Come on. Come on.
Where are you?
[growls]
[clucks]
Excuse me. Watch out. Coming through.
Make way for the Pork Chop Express!
Who says pigs can’t fly?
Look who finally decided to show up.
Clear the path, Goat.[bleats]
Let’s go. You know the drill, Zodiac. Protect the Guardian.
Attack!
Eat feathers, yaoguai!
Kick and kick and kick.
Cute attack!
Horse, round them up.
[whinnying]
[Grandma] Ooh, that’s not good.
[Tiger] Mrs. Lee!
Tiger, no!
Wait for us!
[cackles]
[growls]
[“Damn Right” playing]
♪ One two fleeka You wanna pop my speakers ♪
♪ Three, two, three, better Blow your mama’s teeth out ♪
♪ I chew like I’m Pika Then I spit like I’m Nina ♪
[shouts]
[grunts] [students laughing]
Watch where you’re going next time, loser.
Maybe you can watch where you’re walking, winner.
[yelps] [students gasp]
I guess not.
You okay?
Yeah, I’m great.
Hey. You’re the new girl.
[chuckles] Been a girl for a while now.
I’m Tom. [Yelps] Okay, I’ll be right back.
[grunts] You are so dead.[students gasp]
Not just mostly dead, but actually, like, a hundred percent dead?
He’s not worth it, man.
Run away, freak!
This is a walk, not a run.
Anyone ever see his house?
The whole place is covered with this junk.
Magic charms and incense.
It’s his crazy grandma’s.
What is she, some kind of witch?
Okay, for real, can we leave my grandma out of this?
Or what?
[grunting]
Say, ‘My grandma’s a crazy witch.’
Your grandma’s a crazy witch?
Wait. No, no, no! Your… [students laughing]
This is what you get. You and your witchy grandma.
I told you, leave my grandma out of it!
[classmates gasp]
[screams]
You see that?
[exclaims]
[laughing]
You can see his underwear.
[chattering]
[panting]
[chattering]
[horn honks]
What is happening?
Yo! Fight Club![exclaims]
[thuds]
It’s okay. It’s just me.
Yeah. Well, you snuck up on me.[chuckles]
I’m Rav.
I’m Tom.
Yeah, you mentioned that earlier, right before you threw a dude into the ceiling. Hello?
You know, maybe it’s that protein bar I had this morning.
Wow. I gotta get one of those.
[chuckles] [horn honking]
Oh.
Wait for me?
Okay.
Hi.
I told her I’d walk home.
[“Imagine” playing]
Let’s go. Come on.
Got you.
♪ Put the studio In the mansion ♪
♪ Pull up In a new high fashion ♪
♪ Pull up just like ‘Ooh, you a baddie’ ♪
♪ Imagine ♪
So your grandma makes these?
Uh-huh.
Wow.
My foster mom, she loves these things.
My grandma’s actually got a whole story about how they ward off evil spirits.
Okay, stop right there. Evil spirits?
Sorry!
Coming through!
You know how grandmas always tell the craziest stories.
Yeah, actually, I don’t.
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… It’s all good.
[Rav] I finally hit the foster jackpot.
The place I’m at now is pretty rad.
That’s cool.
My grandma took me in when I was super little.
But she’s great.
You know, she can be… What? Weird and embarrassing?
Yeah. But she’s cool too.
[chuckles] I’d go live with a cool witch any day.
Do I have something in my teeth?
Nope. You’re good.
How ’bout now?
[coughs] [chuckles]
[Tom] Hey, Gigi.
Ooh, is that thing okay? Should she look like that?
Yeah, yeah. She just, you know, sleeps with her eyes open.
[snoring] [Tom] Bye, Gigi!
[Rav] Your eyes must be so dry, dog.
Please just turn back now.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Oh, come on, Tom.
I’m sure it’s fine.
Uh-huh.
People beat me up because of my totally normal house.
[Rav scoffs] It can’t be that bad.
Oh, dang.
[Tom] A lot of people leave oranges on our stoop because they think our house is a temple.
But on the plus side, free oranges.
[Mrs. Lee] Hey, Tommy!
Hey! Who’s your friend? She looks so cute.
Oh. Hi, Tom’s grandma.
Kill me now.
Ah Tom, you should invite her in.
All right. I’ll be right there, Ah Ma!
I’ll see you tomorrow.
[“Moon Represents My Heart” playing]
You know, your parents met in high school.
Ah Ma, chill.
She’s just a friend, okay?
She probably got scared off anyway by our crazy house.
Crazy amazing?
[sighs] At least she didn’t see the inside.
Tom, even if these charms seem silly to you, they are important to me.
I still don’t even know what they mean.
You don’t have to know to understand.
Ah Ma, you’re talking to me in riddles.
One day, you will see yourself for what you truly are and not what you appear to be.
And what does that mean?
[exclaims]
We talked about this.
Ah Tom, we don’t use these.
We use this and this.
We don’t have to fight.
Besides, you’re not too good at it.
The kid called you a witch.
So? Maybe I am a witch.
Ha-ha. Very funny.
This bully at school, he needs your compassion.
What? Why?
Because he himself was probably hurt at some point.
People are inherently good, Tom.
Our family has always believed this.
What family? It’s just you and me.
Your lineage goes back a thousand generations.
Our traditions live on in you.
Yeah, well, maybe we could try being a little less traditional for once.
Obviously, I’m proud of it or whatever.
‘Or whatever’?
[sighs]
I just wanna be normal.
[chuckles] Ah Tom, you are not normal.
Great. Thanks.
Our entire family is very not normal.
I’ve been waiting to talk to you about this for a long time.
But first, you must put the charms back up.
And then, we’ll talk.
[sighs] Okay, Grandma.
[Mrs. Lee speaks in Mandarin] Hurry up!
[person] You can’t just put them up like that.[gasps]
Whoa, dude!
There’s a system.
Who are you?
How long were the protective charms down?
Like, for five minutes, okay?
Do I know you, man?
No.
But I know you.
Whoa! Ew! Are you sniffing me?
Yeah. And you reek, kid.
[sniffs] No, I don’t.
Where’s your grandmother? Mrs. Lee, are you okay?
Dude. Okay.
Keep your shoes on. That’s not rude at all.
There we go. So you have tracking mud and all that stuff, okay.
[gasps] Hu!
Mei Ling.
It’s so good to see you.
No pinching necessary, all right? We spoke about this.
Tom, this is Hu, my old friend.
An old friend?
Like, what kind of friend are we talking here?
Platonic, hopefully.
Ugh, there’s no time for this.
I picked up the scent of fashu at the boy’s school today.
Magic?
I know. I felt it too.
He stinks of it. You could be in danger.
Calm down.
We were just about to have ‘the talk.’
Ew. Ah Ma, no, I don’t need the talk. I’m 15.
So the charms are down, the kid still doesn’t know who he is, and none of the Zodiacs have been following any of my protocols.
Tom, your fight today. What exactly happened?
I mean, this kid, he got all mad at me.
Huge guy, you know? Shoulders all puffed out. Kinda like you actually.
[mock chuckles] Cut to the chase.
It wasn’t me. This kid, he started it.
Did you finish it?
What?
Did anything strange happen?
Yeah… No, not really.
Other than when I threw him into the ceiling.
Oh, boy.
Wait. Nobody saw you, right?
No, no, not really. Just about a hundred kids or so.
Oh, we gotta get out of here.
Grandma, who is this guy?
[chuckles] ‘This guy’?
I’m a Warrior of the Circle of Twelve, sworn to protect the Guardian of the Phoenix.
Ah Ma, like from the kids’ stories?
I’m a Zodiac.
Okay. Hi. I’m Tom, House of Lee.
Lactose-intolerant and guardian of a Steph Curry rookie card.
‘Kids’stories’?
I wanted to give him time.
Time for what?
Seriously? Guys! Hello! I’m right here.
We know, kid. We know you’re here.
Dude, what is your problem?
Everybody knows you’re here!
Does anything you say make sense?
[muffled] Everything I say makes sense.
Something’s here.[rumbling]
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, earthquake!
Nope.
Put on your shoes, Tom.
[gasps] How did you do that?
Whoa.
Ah!
Ah Ma.
Oh, yeah!
I’ll cover the front, you get the back.
No. This is powerful fashu.
You and Tom need to go.
What? No!
Get him to safety. He needs you, Hu.
Tom. Tom, look at me.
I promise I’ll explain everything,
but right now you have to go with Hu.
I’m not leaving you.
Loo.
Go! Now!
No, wait… Go!
Whoa!
[Loo] Mrs. Lee.
Loo.
We can make this easy.
You know what I want, old woman.
Then come and get it.
Go!
Bring me the Phoenix.
[growling]
How precious. [chuckles]
[Tom] Grandma!
Whoa. Whoa.
Oh, whoa! No, no, no, no, no!
Back off!
Huh?
Oh, I really missed doing that.
What happened to your pants?
Oh, great. More yaoguai.
What the heck is a yao… [exclaims]
No Zodiac Warriors to protect you now.
Just you and me.
Unless you prefer I start with your darling grandson.
Stay away from him!
[grunting]
Come on! Come on! Giddyap, tiger! [Screams]
Say that again, and I will eat you.
No, no, no, no. Wait, wait, wait! Hold on! [Screams]
[roars]
No, no, no! Oh, my gosh!
No, no, no! Get off my…
Ow! Watch what you’re kicking.
Oh!
[screams]
Tiger! Tiger, help!
[screams]
[grunts]
[chuckles]
[grunts] [cackles]
Look at you, so fragile now.
So old.
Do you need a hand?
[shouts]
I’ll give you two!
[groans] Right on a used diaper.
[Tom] Ah Ma!
Ah Ma!
Ah Tom, are you okay?
[grunting]
You think I’m so easily defeated?
I’ll take that.
No! Let her go!
Not while I’m Guardian!
Ah Ma.
[Tom] What?
What is that?
[Hu] The Ghost Cart.
Comes to carry away the souls of the great and the noble.
Ah Ma!
Come on, kid. Keep up.
Quick, inside.
I have to alert the others.
What good is that gonna do? No. No, we need to…
Why are we in a junk shop?
Antique shop.
Not junk.
I live here.
I’ve been here watching over you.
You and those monsters…
Yaoguai. Loo’s creatures. Vicious little creatures.
They were just crazy stories my grandma told me when I was little.
Well, they’re not stories, okay?
Not stories, kid.
[grunts]
Your grandmother was a Guardian, Tom.
One of the best.
She gave her life to protect that.
Her necklace?
It’s the Phoenix.
Ever since goddess Nu Kua used the Phoenix to create humanity, dark forces have been trying to capture it.
Whoa.
Now the duty of protecting it is yours.
What? That’s not…
I have to go home. I have school tomorrow.
And Grandma, she’s…
You can’t leave, kid.
It’s my job.
I don’t even know you, man.
If you’re a Zodiac Warrior, I thought your job was to protect Ah Ma!
Tom… You left her there! You could’ve saved her.
Hey.
I gotta get out of here.
Stop. No, no.
You can’t go… Wait.
Get off of me!
No, no, no. You need to know about…
[grunts]
[panting]
…the exit spell on the door.
[sighs]
Mrs. Lee put you in my care.
That makes you my apprentice.
There’s a room upstairs. Why don’t you take it?
Fine.
Dumb tiger.
[sighs]
[siren wailing in distance]
This can’t be happening.
Just a junky necklace.
[sighs]
Whoa!
Come on!
[screams]
Who dares wake the Empress Nu Kua?
Um, Tom?
Oh, it’s you.
You walk two worlds now…
the mortal world and the world of magic.
[screams, panting]
Okay.
I really am losing it.
I thought she was gonna be okay.
I’m sorry, kid.
[sniffles]
[clears throat]
I don’t know what they put in incense these days, but it really irritates my eyes.
Yeah.
Yeah, me too.
[snoring]
[sighs]
Psst. Hey. Tom?
Tom. Kid!
Wake up already!
Ow. Cut your nails.
[roars]
[panting]
What the heck? Is that how you wake people up?
Well, next time I’ll sing you a song.
Now, come on. Time to get to work.
Work? I don’t know what you’re thinking with all this apprentice stuff, but I’m not waxing cars for you, man. Whoa.
I know it’s cool. Come on.
I need to see what I’m working with.
Try to hit me.
What? For real?
Unless you don’t think you’re up for it. [Roars]
[grunts] Oh, it’s on, fur face!
You’ll have to do better than that.
You think a yaoguai is just gonna stand there and wait for you?
So, I can’t hit you.
Is that the big point you’re trying to make?
No. The point is, you’re missing the point.
Exactly how many times did you try to strike me just now?
I don’t know.
Eight.
And how many times did you check to make sure that the Phoenix was still with you?
Not once.
That’s the point I’m trying to make.
Rat![squeaking]
[gasps]
I told you to stay out of my wallet!
Get over here!
No, no, no, no, that thing’s ex…
[crashing] You’re gonna pay for that!
That’s what you get!
How many years of… [exclaims]
Stop stealing my stuff!
Hi there!
Oh, my gosh! Did you see that? I did it!
The thing! I did the thing, the bow, bow, bow!
Don’t get cocky. That was a defensive fashu.
It’s reflex.
Tom, this is Rat.
Wait. He’s a Zodiac.
He’s like you.
Are you trying to insult me?
Sidney’s my name. Acquisitions is my game.
[laughing]
Acquisitions?
You’re a thief.
Thief?
You stole my Ming dynasty sword.
Make sure he didn’t
steal your watch.
I don’t have a watch.
No problem. I got a bunch. Want one? I’ll give you friend prices.
[Hu] Sidney, what are you doing here?
Oh.
And we’re going with rat again. Okay.
Hu, that’s what I came to tell you. I saw Loo last night.
What?
What?
Sid, that’s not possible.
We saw her die.
I was out wandering around the old high-rent district
by the sea cliffs.
They got the most exquisite trash.
I found a primo clam chowder in the gutter.
And then, out of nowhere, there’s Loo!
It was at this abandoned mansion, and I thought, ‘Now, is she here for the clam chowder too?’
She looked disgusting.
And I don’t just throw that word around.
She crawled into this creepy fountain, and the water, Hu, it healed her!
Obviously, I came straight here.
I know that place. What are we waiting for? Let’s go get her.
What? No!
Why not?
Because you’re gonna get yourself killed.
Loo isn’t just another yaoguai.
She’s as powerful as a Guardian.
She can access the darkest magic.
We should go to the temple and get the rest of the Zodiacs.
Exactly! Let’s do that. Team Zodiac assemble!
I work better alone.
Come on, Hu. You know it’ll be safer for him
with all of us together.
[sighs] [yelps]
Fine. We’ll go get the Zodiacs.
Yes!
Yes!
I already regret this.
[sighs]
You gotta be kidding me.
Hey.
Got a little new Guardian gift for ya.
Whoops! That’s not it!
Found that on the bus, so you know it’s good.
You might need this.
Now, remember, you didn’t get this from me.
Whoa.
Is that Ming dynasty?
Sweet!
Chinatown is the most delicious place in the world!
[sniffs] Excuse me.
Oh. Mmm.
Do you smell that?
Rotting fish, splattered soy sauce.
[patron screams] [waiter shouts]
[yelps] Rude!
Is that moldy ginseng?
Dumplings! Can you believe someone threw these out?
Come on, Rat.
[Sidney] Yes! [Chuckles]
There it is.
Wait, we’re getting dim sum?
[Hu] Not everything is what it seems, kid.
[Sidney shrieks]
It’s only one of them.
I’m pretty sure I can handle…
Crap.
Not everything is what it seems, right?
[Hu] Oh, yeah.
Mess with the Tiger, you get the claws.
What? That’s not a thing.
Yes, it is.
No, it isn’t.
No one says that.
Tigers do.
Whoa.
Oh, you!
[chuckles] What?
Ah. Come on. Let’s do this!
Show-off.
[roars]
Yeah, yeah, you can fly.
Yo! That was incredible!
Gentlemen.
Mistral.
I was doing just fine without you.
Yes, I saw.
It’s good to see you, rodent.
[giggles] She called me ‘rodent.’
[Mistral] Thomas Lee.
It will be my honor to protect you and guide you.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Mrs. Lee entrusted him to me.
So I’ll be the one watching over and guiding him.
Oh. Like you guided him into this trap?[mock laughs]
Okay, look, I’m taking the kid to the temple.
Good idea.
You can probably find him a master there with fewer trust issues.
You know what? Nobody asked you.
Asked me what? To save you?
You’re welcome, by the way. [blows raspberry]
Dragon just can’t help herself, can she?
[chuckles] Oh, same old Hu.
What’s the saying about the tiger and his stripes?[cackles]
You’re hysterical.
I know.
Hmm?
Cynthia!
We are closed.
What?
Ooh.
Tell me more about how you have all this handled.
Cynthia, it’s me, Tiger.
It’s Hu.
Open the door. [chuckles]
You’re embarrassing me out here.
Closed!
This is Zodiac business.
And this is dim sum business.
And we open in three hours.
Nicely done.
Does anybody like you?
I know how to deal with this.
Mmm.
In exchange for entry, I offer you this 65-year-old wild ginseng.
Hey, Rat, no more stealing soy sauce.
Are you sure you’re not confusing me with another talking rat?
[Mistral]
Will a hundred bucks do?
Oh!
We just opened! Come in.
[grunts] Not a word.
You’re welcome.
[chuckles]
Oh, that smells so good. Could we, like, stop and get a char siu bao?
Nope.[Mistral] Forgive Hu.
He doesn’t understand humans.
Or feelings. Or the modern world.
Or much of anything, to tell you the truth.[chuckles]
Boy reeks like armpits and new magic. Who is he?
He’s under my protection.
Our protection.
Zodiacs.
Hmm, so what’s going on here?
The Temple of the Twelve is inside a freezer? Really?
[chanting in Mandarin]
[chanting continues]
[mumbles]
It’s been a minute.
Hey, thanks for the bun.
You needed it. Too skinny!
Oh. She’s a frog.
Whoa.
[Sidney] Welcome to the Temple of the Twelve.
Ooh. So this is like your magical fortress?
You ain’t seen nothing yet.
[buzzer blaring] [sighs]
And now, introducing our starting lineup.
What are we, a basketball team?
Let Rat do his thing.
Presenting the amazing,
the astonishing Zodiac Warriors!
First up, here is your wake-up call from Mr. Early Bird himself…
[crows]
[Sidney] …Rooster!
Feathers of fury!
Whoa.
Pawing his way into your heart, you gotta love him, stinky breath and all,
Dog!
Slobber tsunami!
[Sidney] Next is the big guy, all muscle and tussle,
the unstoppable Ox! [bellows]
Put your opposable thumbs up for the simian sorceress herself: Monkey!
The lean, mean shrinking machine!
[chuckles] [whoops]
She puts the pork in chop and the belly in flop! Pig!
The ham slam!
Bringing the heat, she’s the maniac of pyro.
Give it up for… Too hot to handle.
[Sidney] …Dragon!
That’s not bad, actually.
Don’t encourage this.
[Sidney] If you said it, she’s heard it.
The adorable Rabbit!
Cute attack!
[Sidney] She’s flexible, she’s fanged, and you definitely don’t want to find her in your sleeping bag!
Snake!
Let’s snuggle.
The thoroughbred of speed: Horse!
Maximum horsepower!
[Sidney] Our explosives expert, the ‘baaa’of boom…
[bleats]
[Sidney] Goat!
Whoa.
And he’s serious, he’s complicated, he’s selfish…
[chuckles] [sighs]
That’s it. Show’s over, Rat.
I’m bringing them in.
[buzzer blares]
Rude.
[Sidney] Huh. That’s weird. Usually, there’s all 12 of us.
This is it?
This is barely a petting zoo.
Who’s the kid?
This is Tom.
He’s the Guardian now.
Hey.
New Guardian, huh? [chuckles]
Are you pulling my feathers?
Look at this kid. He’s barely hatched.
Says a chicken.
I’m a rooster! You hear me?
A rooster!
Will you knock it off?
Last time we clucked, you said
you could protect the Guardian all by yourself.
Isn’t that right, Goat?
[bleats] [explosion]
No explosions indoors.
Are you guys gonna help me? Loo has to pay for what she’s done.
Kid, this isn’t about revenge. That’s not what Guardians do.
Well, maybe they should.
You’re staying here in the temple.
We’ll deal with Loo.
What? No!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did I miss a meeting where someone put Mr. Whiskers in charge?
Believe me, drumsticks, I don’t wanna be here with you either.
Drumsticks?
I’ll show you what drumsticks taste like!
Do I need to knock you two down a size?
Guys. Hey. Hey!
Fine! If you want me to show you…
That’s adorable.
Not helping, Naomi.
Think you’re so big and tough?
Roosters take out cats all the time.
Thousands of years old, and you still behave like children.
[laughs] So tiny. And so angry.
You’re one peck away from death. The death peck.
Well, you’re lucky you’re not lunch.
Hey! Where’s Tom?
Where’d he go? Rabbit?
Okay. I hear running.
Into the alley and…
The kid totally ghosted us.
Yeah, he’s gone.
Come on. We can’t lose him.
[sighs]
[twig snaps]
[squeaks]
Sorry.
Wait, you don’t talk too, do you?
[squeaking] Of course you don’t.
Squirrels don’t talk, just tigers and rats and monkeys and dragons.
[doorknob rattling]
Whoa!
What the…
[screeches]
Tom!
[Sidney] If I had known this place
was so nice on the inside, I would have robbed it a long time ago.
It’s all an illusion.
There’s dark fashu at work here.
[inhales, exhales]
Let’s split up. We can cover more ground that way.
No. We’re stronger together.
Fine. We’ll stick together.
But separately.
How is that sticking together?
Huh?
[“Hello” playing]
Am I the only one who’s hearing this?
Everybody can hear it, furball!
I’m so happy for you, but it sounds better in my ears.
♪ Look at us, yeah What’s your score? ♪
♪ Can’t help but look ‘Cause we’re gonna blow ♪
♪ Jumping the mic Like it’s up in the show ♪
♪ We say hello Hello, hello, hello ♪
[Sidney] Man, this is a long hallway!
[bleats]
♪ You lose your mind ♪
♪ We say hello Hello, hello, hello ♪
♪ Hola, hola, konnichiwa ♪
[Rooster] Goat!
[Naomi] The other Zodiacs!
Loo must have captured them.
Listen up! My ears got this!
[shouts]
[grunts]
Go! Find the others!
I’m on it.
[clucking]
Okay, umbrella!
Get ready for some wings!
Rav?
Rav?
[grunts]
Tom! Hi. Um…
What are you doing here?
I’m living in here.
Is that a sword you’re carrying? What is this, cosplay?
You never mentioned you lived in a haunted mansion.
Haunted?
[Loo] Rav.
Aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend?
Yeah, sorry. This is Tom.
Tom, this is my foster mother, Loo.
Loo? [chuckles]
[shouts, screams]
[Rav] Tom! What are you doing?
Hello, Thomas.
You are truly a delight.
What the heck?
What are you?
[chuckles]
Go!
He’s wearing a necklace, Rav. [gasps]
I can’t stop!
[Loo] Bring it to me now.
Tom, I…
The necklace, Rav?
He’s not wearing one.
What?
He doesn’t have anything! Just let him go!
Enough!
Rav!
Where is the Phoenix?
[Hu] Tom!
Tom!
I’ve been searching for the Phoenix for a thousand years, Thomas.
Tell me where it is, and I’ll spare you.
You and sweet, stupid Rav.
Tell me where it is!
Okay, okay. Please, wait.
Wait.
It’s under a rock on my porch.
Wait, wait. No, no, it’s actually inside my pocket.
Unless it’s inside my sock…
You think I’m a fool?
No. For sure it’s in my hat.
Wait, I’m not wearing a hat.
[grunts]
Tom!
[grunts] [roars]
Tiger.
Dragon.
Rat.
Where’s Monkey? [Cackles]
Ah, perfect.
When the last of you Zodiac die here with young Thomas, there will be no one left to stop me from finding it.
[Zodiacs exclaiming] [cackles]
[Sidney] What’s happening?
Everyone hold on to something!
Whoa!
Ow! Sidney! Is that my sword?
What?
Uh, everyone can swim, right?
[Sidney] Swim? Yes. Breathe underwater? No!
[gasping]
[panting]
Guys, I think I found a way out, but I might be the only one who can fit.
Oh, I’ll make us fit. Everyone, hold tight!
Come on!
Okay.
[gasping]
Um, Naomi, does this shrinking spell have an expiration date?
Holy shrimp fried rice!
I feel so weird.
We may have a problem!
Hurry, Dragon!
Oh.
What?
[all screaming]
[all grunt]
Well done, Naomi.
Guys? Guys?
Anyone?
Tom, I…
Thank you for saving me.
[grunts] I can’t see! It’s all darkness!
Oh, is this the end?
Phew! Well, that went great.
[low growling]
[Hu] Yaoguai.
Tom, now this is very important. Where’d you stash the Phoenix?
Someplace lucky.
I-I hope.
In a bowl of fortune cookies?
Super smart, right?
I guess it’s ‘fortunate’ nobody ate it!
[laughs] [sighs]
[laughing]
[shrieks, laughs]
I thought it was funny.
[Tom] I’ve seen place mats like these all my life.
And the whole time, they were based on you guys.
Loosely based.
Look at this.
What is this, a sausage? With legs? [Scoffs]
I do not have facial hair.
I do. And I look good. [chuckling]
[sighs] I miss Pig.
[Sidney] I miss them all.
They’re our family.
We gotta save them.
Whatever I need to know to be a Guardian, you have to teach me.
Please.
The Guardian always trains the next Guardian.
[sighs]
Look, the kid’s right.
Without Mrs. Lee, we don’t have much choice, do we?
Your job is to connect with the Phoenix.
Mistral?
Whoa.
Clear your mind of all distraction.
In order to see the Phoenix, you must focus, Tom.
The power of the Phoenix is the greatest in this universe.
In the right hands, it creates.
And in the wrong hands, like Loo’s, it destroys.
So what happens if she gets it?
She’ll unleash its power on Lunar New Year, when the chi is at its most potent.
Then use the Phoenix to destroy all of humanity and reign over the world in darkness for all of eternity.
Okay, that does sound bad.
[Hu] If it were ever unleashed, no one could touch it and survive, not even a Guardian.
But it’s okay to wear it around my neck, though. Got it.
[Cynthia] Steamed dumplings. Very delicious.
I’m not hungry.
Eat it!
I mean, mmm.
Tom, pass me the soy sauce.
Without your hands.
How?
Chi lines.
You know, it’s like strings of magical energy that are everywhere.
You just grab on to one.
Like this.
Oh.
[chuckling] Yo!
[chuckling]
Can you see the Phoenix?
No.
I’m easily scared of everything,
so protection spells come in handy. [Yelps]
Protection spell! [Chuckles]
Protection spell.
[gasps]
Nope. Can you teach me to blast stuff with fashu now?
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
What did you say? Fashu.
[laughing]
[Mistral] Feel the chi inside you.
And let it flow.
Terrible idea.
[laughing] Fashu?
Fashu.
Yeah, fashu.
Fashu!
Fashu?[Hu] Your intonation’s all wrong.
No.
[Tom] Yo! Did you see that?
Fan… Fan-shu.
You just said ‘sweet potato’!
‘Sweet potato’!
[laughing]
[Tom] Yeah!
[Cynthia] Dessert!
Yes! [gasps]
Really?
No.
Yeah!
[exclaiming]
[yowls]
[laughs]
[sighs]
All of this amounts to nothing if you can’t see the Phoenix!
Hu.
Whatever!
I’m sorry I can’t connect with the magic bird better, okay?
All the stories Mrs. Lee told you about the Guardians and the Zodiac weren’t just to get you to sleep.
She was teaching you, Tom.
I told you, I didn’t know I…
You don’t need to know to understand.
How about we all take a break and cool off.
Fine!
Fine!
[sighs]
He hates me.
Is that what you think?
Hu gave his life for you.
What?
That night on the bridge. You were just a baby.
[screams]
[roars]
[grunting]
[Mistral] Hu saved your life at great cost.
The Ghost Cart was coming for him.
Only by giving him a part of her soul, by joining it with his, was Mrs. Lee able to save him.
There’s a part of my grandma’s soul inside Hu?
You can see it sometimes. It’s in the eyes.
[Sidney] I’m impressed. He’s really coming along.
It’s not enough, and you know it.
Without a Guardian to teach him how to connect with the Phoenix, none of the rest matters.
We’re doing our best, Hu.
But we’re not Mrs. Lee.
[Hu] I’ve been watching him a long time.
You want to know why he can’t connect with the Phoenix?
‘Cause he doesn’t know who he is.
Maybe he never will.
[“Void” playing]
♪ Hello, friend from the road ♪
♪ I wanted to write a note ♪
♪ To let you know that All in all ♪
♪ It ain’t all what it seems ♪
♪ I feel like I’ve hit a low ♪
♪ One I’ve never hit before ♪
♪ Lately, I been feel in’small As the salt in the sea ♪
♪ Oh, it’s so much to do In so little of time ♪
♪ I feel like I fell A little behind ♪
♪ Hold up, hold up, hold up ♪
♪ It seems so out of reach To place upon the bay ♪
♪ Whoever thought I’d get there anyway? ♪
♪ Hold up, hold up, hold up ♪
♪ I find it hard to get ♪
♪ Way too hard to live ♪
I’m home, Ah Ma.
I don’t understand.
Why didn’t you tell me?
How am I supposed to do this without you?
[floor creaking] [gasps]
No. No, that’s impossible.
Are… Are you…
Is it really you?
Did you think they could get rid of me that easily?
Ah Ma.
What happened? Where did you go?
A bedtime story for later.
Now tell me, do you still have my necklace?
[chuckles]
You never should have given it to me.
I am no Guardian. I can’t even see the Phoenix.
It’s okay, Tom. Everything’s going to be okay.
I’ll take it now.
[Rav] It’s not her!
[Tom] No!
[gasps] [Tom] Leave her alone!
Oh, look at you. Somebody’s been learning.
And you. So ungrateful.
You disappoint your Mama Loo.
Yeah? You were a terrible mom!
[screams]
And your cooking sucked!
Let’s go!
Go, go, go!
Okay!
[exclaims] [grunts]
[grunting]
[cackles]
Thank you, Thomas.
I can’t believe he did this again.
Why does he keep running away from me?
Oh, does he? Or do you keep pushing him away? Hmm?
That’s not true at all.
Oh, really?
I’ve had about enough of… Ha!
Typical cat behavior.
What? I don’t…
Fiercely independent? Territorial?
Should I even mention the excessive grooming?
Hey.
A cat won’t come to you when you call them.
They want everything on their own terms, when it suits them, even with the people they truly care about.
Am I wrong?
No.
I pushed them all away.
Tom, the Zodiac, you probably the most.
But you wouldn’t leave me, Dragon.
Why is that?
[sighs] I guess I’m just a cat person.
[door opening]
Tom!
I lost it.
Loo has the Phoenix.
[gasps] [gasps]
[sighs]
[sighs]
I thought maybe if I went back to our house, I could understand why she didn’t tell me, and I just found this.
Wow. I gave that to you when you were just a baby.
You did?
I’ve been watching over you your whole life.
Ever since that night on the bridge.
We knew Loo would be back.
So your grandma and I decided to hide you, to protect the bloodline.
And it worked…
Until I threw that kid into the ceiling?
And pulled down the protective charms.
But you didn’t know.
I let Loo take the Phoenix.
That’s on me. [clicks tongue]
I’m sorry I wasn’t the best mentor.
But what I’m finally realizing after a thousand years is what matters most, and that’s how you move forward.
I don’t know if I can be who you need me to be.
You already are.
It’s in your blood.
You come from a thousand generations of Guardians, Tom.
Your grandma gave you the necklace.
She believed in you.
All right.
How do we find Loo?
We find the Phoenix.
[crowd chattering]
Loo’s waiting for sundown, when the energy is at its peak.
[cheering]
[Hu] All right, reach out and find that Phoenix.
[screams] It’s too much.
Tom, focus.
I can’t. I’m losing it.
Just breathe. Find something to hold on to, something to anchor yourself.
It’s okay. You’re okay.
Loo!
Thomas, just like your grandmother.
Persistent to the end.
[crowd screaming]
Whoa!
Hey!
[retches]
Face full of monkey paw!
Tear the animals apart.
Naughty, naughty yaoguai!
Oh, now your hand is a dumpling!
Mind if I borrow this?
Huh?
Bye. Thanks!
Yeah!
[roars]
[screams, yelps]
Protection spell!
[Loo] Protection spell? [cackles]
If only you were there to protect your grandmother.
[roars] Monster!
Hang on!
No!
[Mrs. Lee] Ah Tom.
Ah Ma.
Tom!
Tom!
[cackles] No! [Shouts]
Hu!
I just can’t seem to stop taking away all the people you care about.
[grunts]
[yelps]
Poor Thomas.
Do you know why I didn’t kill you that night on the bridge?
Even then, I saw it in your eyes.
You were no threat, because you were no Guardian.
No, that’s just another lie. Hu saved me that night.
Well, where’s your tiger now?
Hey! Loo’s umbrella!
Quick, grab it! We gotta free the other Zodiacs!
This is crazy! This is crazy!
I got it. I got it.
No!
I got it! Chasing an evil umbrella through a swarm of monsters.
This is fine!
Naomi! A little help here.
[screams]
This is how you help?
You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment.
With the power of the Phoenix, I can remake the world without humans, and I’ve saved you a front-row seat.
[crowd grunting]
Anytime, Naomi!
Let my friends go, you stupid umbrella!
[chanting in Mandarin]
All right, Zodiacs. We got a Guardian to protect! Together.
Let’s do this!
[bleats]
Tom? [Gasps]
No. No!
Look at it, Thomas. Isn’t it beautiful?
We’re coming, kid!
[Horse] Way ahead of you, Tiger!
Giddyap! [Laughing]
I’ll show you who’s in charge!
Cannonball!
[Dog barking]
Throw me another one!
Yeah, that’s right.
Can you hear that?
[bleats]
Hu! Yeah! Zodiac up!
Whoa.
[screams]
Whee!
Whoa!
Monkey foot! [screams]
[crows]
Hi-yah!
Goat!
[chuckles]
[grunts]
[cackles]
You’re too late!
Enough!
Now I end this once and for all.
Come, Thomas.
You can die fighting just like your grandmother did.
[cackles]
We don’t need to fight.
What do you think you’re doing, boy?
We don’t need these.
We need this.
And this.
I understand now, Ah Ma.
Come, boy. Fight me.
Tom.
I see the Phoenix.
No!
[screaming]
Shh. Hey.
It’s okay.
I’m here to protect you.
In your hands, the Phoenix destroys!
No!
But in the right hands…
[groaning]
[sighs]
[sighs]
Tom! Wake up!
Tom, do you hear me?
Guys, he’s not breathing.
[whimpers] [sniffles]
Tom?
Come on, stay with us, buddy.
No. No!
We just can’t let him die.
Nu Kua?
Do it.
Okay, quick!
It’s gonna take all of us together.
Thank you, my friends.
Empress! I seek your help!
Empress!
My apprentice, he sacrificed himself to save the mortals.
[Nu Kua] The boy is beyond healing.
[Hu] But not beyond saving.
Look down, Tiger. Tell me, what do you see?
Water. An ocean.
[Nu Kua] The Sea of Tears, where all souls go at the end.
Take mine instead.
Merge our souls as Mrs. Lee did for me!
You could die along with him.
I’m not afraid.
I see that.
Your spirit has never been subtle, Tiger.
[sighs]
Repeat these words.
‘With my blood, I join you.’
With my blood, I join you.
‘With my breath, I bind you.’
With my breath, I bind you. [Roars]
[sighs] Hey, kid.
What happened to you?
What do you know?
I guess a tiger can change his stripes!
Great. Now I’m gonna be hearing that one forever.
So you couldn’t let me die, huh?
Yeah, let’s not make some big fuss about it.
[Hu] Thomas Lee, we name you Guardian.
[cheering]
Nice work.
Congratulations.
You’re gonna do great, kid, the sooner you listen to everything that I say.
They grow up so fast.
[blows nose, sobs]
Is he your fiancé?
What? No. We’re in high school.
[chuckling] It’s not too late.
There’s just one more thing I have for you.
A sacred gift.
Uh, cool. It’s empty.
What?
Hmm, okay, okay.
It’s like a metaphor, isn’t it?
Sid.
What? Oh, sure, blame the rat. I see how it is. [Exclaims]
I have no idea how it got there.
I-I-I made you a key to my shop.
That’s your sacred gift?
I figured you’ve got more training to do and you’re gonna need somewhere to stay, so maybe it would make sense if you, I don’t know, consider it your…
Home?
Yeah. I mean, if you want.
Well, I do have a piece of your soul in me, so I guess that kind of makes us family.
[chuckling]
Okay, I knew we were gonna need tissues. You big softy.
I’m proud of you, Hu.
It’s whatever they’re putting in the incense these days.
Yeah. Good cover.
I get that you’re, like, old-school, but it’s okay to have emotions.
[titters]
You’re about to see some emotions, apprentice.
Apprentice? Guardian.
You’ve still got a lot to learn. [Chuckles]
[chuckles] I’m sorry.
Were you the one who grabbed the actual Phoenix and saved the world?
I don’t think so![Hu] I’m the one who saved your sorry butt over and over.
[Tom] Did I ask for your help? I had it back there.
[“Eye of the Tiger” playing]
[Tom] ‘Eye of the Tiger’? You gotta be kidding me.
[Hu] It’s a classic.
[Tom] That’s not the point.
[Hu] What?
You’re a tiger.
So what?
[Tom] Are you really not understanding how this is…
[Hu] This song is written for me.[Tom] Let me just…
Do not touch that. Just let me play my music.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah. That’s my jam.
You really need to get out more.
And you need more training.
Whoa! [Screams]
Okay, hold on!
Hu enjoys this far too much.
Five bucks the kid aces it.
You’re on.
Just FYI, I don’t have money.
Whoa. Hey, what are you doing? [Screams]
Whoa! Stop! No! Wait! Hey. No. No.
[gasping]
[shouts, grunts]
Cool.
Okay, we’re not sharing the same litter box.
[“Eye of the Tiger” continues]
♪ Rising up Back on the street ♪
♪ Did my time, took my chances ♪
♪ Fly away Now I’m back on my feet ♪
♪ And that keeps me dancing ♪
♪ So many times It can happen too fast ♪
♪ Change your passion For glory ♪
♪ Don’t lose your grip ♪
♪ On the dreams of your past ♪
♪ You gotta tell them To instruct me ♪
♪ It’s the eye of the tiger It’s the thrill of the fight ♪
♪ Moving to the pulse Of our rivals ♪
♪ If they come to me In the middle of the night ♪
♪ I’ll be watching With all of the eye ♪
♪ Of the tiger ♪
♪ Of the tiger ♪
♪ Of the tiger ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Of the tiger ♪
♪ Fly high I feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ In the sky, yeah ♪
♪ Feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ Can’t deny I feel like I’m on top of the world ♪
♪ Fly high I feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ In the sky, yeah Feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ Can’t deny I feel like I’m on top of the world ♪
♪ I survive ’cause I ♪
♪ Came from the bottom Now I’m on the mountaintop ♪
♪ Came from struggle One that caught me ♪
♪ Now, like rock ‘n’roll I rock it ♪
♪ This is all I got I don’t need to be specific ♪
♪ Want the stars on my spaceship Feeling futuristic, ah ♪
♪ I like nice things They like me too ♪
♪ I dream so sweet I feel so new ♪
♪ It’s what I say When I want you ♪
♪ Fly high I feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ In the sky, yeah Feel like I’m on top Of the world ♪
♪ Can’t deny I feel like I’m on top of the world ♪
♪ I survive ’cause I feel Like I’m on top of the world ♪
♪ I don’t really care What they say about me ♪
♪ Leave ’em like the seas I’ll whoa, whoa ♪
♪ I don’t really care What they say about me ♪
♪ Leave ’em like the seas I’ll ♪
♪ Feel like I’m on top of the world ♪
[“Pleasures” playing]
