Vertigo Releasing has unveiled a new trailer for the Spanish-Chinese animated feature Dragonkeeper, which it is presenting on 400-plus screens across the U.K. & Ireland from September 27. Directed by European Film Award winner Salvador Simó (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles), the family fantasy-adventure is produced by Ilion Animation Studios (Wonder Park, Planet 51) and China Film Animation.
Synopsis: In ancient China after a clash with the humans, dragons are banished from the kingdom. Many years later, innocent and freedom-yearning orphan, Ping, is looking after the last two dragons when she discovers that one has sadly died, and the other is guarding a precious and rare dragon egg. As palace guards arrive the remaining dragon, Danzi disappears, and before Ping has the opportunity to explain what has happened, she is mistaken for an accomplice and must run away herself. Danzi and Ping escape from the palace together and must return the dragon egg to the ocean to save all dragons from extinction!
The English-language voice cast features Bill Nighy (Love Actually) as the voice of the dragon, Danzi; newcomer Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping; Anthony Howell (Elden Ring, Diablo IV); and British comedian Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz).
Written by Carole Wilkinson, Pablo Castrillo, Ignacio Ferreras, Rosanna Checchini and Wang Xianping, Dragonkeeper is based on the first of six novels in Wilkinson’s popular, multi-award-winning literary saga of the same name. Early visual development on the adaptation was carried out under the direction of Klaus collaborators Sergio Pablos (Rio, Despicable Me) and Borja Montoro (Zootopia, Moana).
In North America, Viva Pictures released Dragonkeeper in theaters earlier this year and has issued a home video release, available now.
