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Home - Reviews - Dragonkeeper (2024) – Review

Dragonkeeper (2024) – Review

“Dragonkeeper” focuses on a young girl who is tasked with rescuing a baby dragon, and discovering her true fate, not the assumed one of being a servant.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted onJuly 12, 2024 6:32 PMAugust 12, 2024 6:48 PM Hours Updated onAugust 12, 2024 6:48 PM
Title Card, Dragonkeeper

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • Plot Summary
    • Noted Cast and Characters Of "Dragonkeeper"
      • Master Diao
      • Danzi
      • Ping
      • The Emperor
      • The Prince
      • Wang Chao
    • Content Information
  • Review
    • Highlights
      • You Get Invested In Ping's Journey
      • The Villain's Reasons Are Understandable
    • On The Fence
      • It Does Leave Some Storylines Unresolved
      • The Animation May Look Dated To Some
  • General Information

Plot Summary

In a fantasy world where necromancy and dragons exist, a war against magical people and creatures has ended, and the Emperor has fought against any with powers beyond his. But, as he has aged, he has sought out magical items to extend his life, including extracts from what remains of the dragons he fought to extinguish.

Enter Master Diao, who travels to the mountains where dragons like Danzi live. Master Diao seeks out an egg Danzi’s partner produced to use its power. But, a girl named Ping, who is what is known as a Dragonkeeper, stands in the way of Master Diao’s plan, and the Emperor’s desire for extending his life.

Noted Cast and Characters Of “Dragonkeeper”

  • Bill Bailey as Wang Chao and Anthony Howell as Master Diao

  • Bill Bailey as Wang Chao

  • Bill Nighy as Danzi and Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping meeting for the first time

    Bill Nighy as Danzi and Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping

  • Felix Rosen as The Prince after Ping smacks him

    Felix Rosen as The Prince

  • Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping with the dragon egg

    Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping

  • Paul McEwan as The Emperor looking sickly
    Paul McEwan as The Emperor
  • Bill Nighy as Danzi and Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping meeting for the first time
  • Felix Rosen as The Prince after Ping smacks him
  • Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping with the dragon egg
  • Paul McEwan as The Emperor looking sickly
  • Character’s NameActor’s Name
    Master DiaoAnthony Howell
    DanziBill Nighy
    PingMayalinee Griffiths
    The EmperorPaul McEwan
    The PrinceFelix Rosen
    Wang ChaoBill Bailey

    Master Diao

    Master Diao is a subordinate of the Emperor who usually focuses on plants and bugs. However, after their mother’s death, they pursued ways of longevity beyond what the Emperor desired such gifts for.

    Danzi

    Danzi is one of the last dragons in existence. In his latter years, he finds himself trapped and then has to go on an adventure with a young child to save the child of the last dragon emperor.

    • The actor is also known for their role in “Living.”

    Ping

    Ping is a young orphan raised by an older woman in the mountains. She was very settled into the idea that she would live her life as a servant. However, when it’s discovered that her lineage is that of the Dragonkeepers, Danzi forever changes her life.

    The Emperor

    The Emperor may have prestige from currently having the kingdom at peace, but with his death imminent, there is a level of desperation to stay alive.

    The Prince

    The Prince is around the age of Ping, but due to their privilege, is a total brat.

    Wang Chao

    Wang Chao is Master Diao’s minion who seemingly was a Dragonkeeper at one time, but due to the Emperor’s crusade against dragons, after winning the war against necromancers, he found himself subject to persecution, which Master Diao allegedly saved him from.

    Content Information

    • Dialog: N/A
    • Violence: Notable Fight Scenes
    • Sexual Content: N/A
    • Miscellaneous: N/A

    Review

    Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

    Who Is This For?

    • Those who love animated adventure films, featuring dragons

    Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

    Highlights

    You Get Invested In Ping’s Journey

    Something about Ping pushes the vibe of a Nickelodeon or WB11 kids show. She is scrappy, seemingly satisfied with her life as a servant until she realizes it could be so much more. And while this is by no means an emotional journey as she sees the world and what it has to offer, you can easily see this become episodic content as Ping and Dazai travel through the country in search of one of the last dragon eggs and encounter the world post the war that decimated the existence of dragons.

    Which, I should note, doesn’t really get done, as the film keeps a rather quick pace.

    The Villain’s Reasons Are Understandable

    Death is a terrifying thing. For Master Diao, he witnesses his mother’s death which anyone can tell you, if you are close to that parent, watching them die is traumatizing and add in being helpless in the situation, it makes it all the more worse. Then, when it comes to the Emperor, his son isn’t even a teenager yet. So, you know, between his advisors and others who may seek the throne, his death would not only cause turmoil in the kingdom but could threaten his son’s potential reign or his life.

    With that in mind, you can see why both would vie for control over the egg, and Master Diao would take things a step further and try to harness the egg’s assumed powers.

    On The Fence

    It Does Leave Some Storylines Unresolved

    “Dragonkeeper” is frustrating. A lot of characters and plots feel like they should be explored more, or you’d wish they were, but they are not. For example, Wang Chao, Master Diao’s minion, you’ll so badly wish his backstory was explored. On top of that, in terms of the Emperor’s son, the Prince, considering how the film ends, you’ll want to know what happened to him.

    Add in wishing to learn more details about the Necromancers and their war against humanity, which the dragons joined, it can feel like a lot of what would have made this an epic or really take “Dragonkeeper” to the next level was either sidestepped or minimized.

    The Animation May Look Dated To Some

    The studio behind “Dragonkeeper” isn’t Pixar, Disney, or Studio Ghibli. It has a CGI feel to it that looks like PS3-era graphics (maybe late-stage PS2). It isn’t an eyesore but because of the standards bigger studios have set, it can make those who are very much about the visuals of a animated feature feel like this is lesser than.

    General Information

    Film Length1 Hour 38 Minutes
    Date ReleasedJuly 9, 2024
    How To WatchStream Here or Official Site
    DistributorViva Kids
    Director(s)Salvador Simo, Li Jiangping
    Writer(s)Pablo Castrillo, Ignacio Ferreras, Carole Wilkinson, Rosanna Checcini, Wang Xianping,
    Based On Work ByCarole Wilkinson
    Genre(s)Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Youth Animation
    Content RatingRated PG

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    Dragonkeeper (2024) – Review
    Title Card, Dragonkeeper

    Movie title: Dragonkeeper

    Movie description: “Dragonkeeper” focuses on a young girl who is tasked with rescuing a baby dragon, and discovering her true fate, not the assumed one of being a servant.

    Date published: July 9, 2024

    Country: United States

    Duration: 1 Hour 38 Minutes

    Author: Amari Allah

    Director(s): Salvador Simo, Li Jiangping

    Actor(s): Anthony Howell, Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffiths, Paul McEwan, Felix Rosen, Bill Bailey

    Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Youth, Animation

    Summary

    “Dragonkeeper” is an undeniably entertaining film. However, you can tell a lot was cut from its source material, and this affects the product in a way that leaves you wanting more—sometimes, not in a good way.

    Overall
    79%
    79%
    • The Animation May Look Dated To Some - 74%
      74%
    • It Does Leave Some Storylines Unresolved - 75%
      75%
    • The Villain’s Reasons Are Understandable - 82%
      82%
    • You Get Invested In Ping’s Journey - 84%
      84%
    Sending
    User Review
    0/100 (0 votes)

    Pros

    • The Villain’s Reasons Are Understandable
    • You Get Invested In Ping’s Journey

    Cons

    • It Does Leave Some Storylines Unresolved
    • The Animation May Look Dated To Some

    Listed Under Categories: Reviews, Mixed (Divisive), Movies

    Related Tags: Action, Adventure, Animation, Anthony Howell, Bill Bailey, Bill Nighy, Carole Wilkinson, Comedy, Fantasy, Felix Rosen, Ignacio Ferreras, Li Jiangping, Mayalinee Griffiths, Pablo Castrillo, Paul McEwan, Rated PG, Rosanna Checcini, Salvador Simo, Viva Kids, Wang Xianping, Youth

    Amari Allah

    Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.

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