Asian representation in animated film gets a major push in Paramount+ title, The Tiger’s Apprentice. The first thing that caught my eye here was the obviously excellent voice cast, including Brandon Soo Hoo (Incredible Crew, Tropic Thunder), Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favor), Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve), and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Crazy Rich Asians). Certainly, the assembled talent almost feels Avengers-level in its star power. Based on a popular children’s book, many elements of The Tiger’s Apprentice retread tired trope-fueled grounds. Additionally, the animation style leaves something to be desired in an era that treasures jaw-dropping visuals.
All his life, Chinese-American teen Tom Lee (Soo Hoo) has struggled with being an outsider. His tchotchke-obsessed Umma Loo (Yeoh) adorns the outside of their home with so many garish charms that people view her as a witch. Now, on the cusp of finally having the “big talk” with Tom about his heritage, an evil force arrives right on their doorstep. The threat also brings mythical half-tiger-half-man Hu (Golding), claiming to be a Guardian for Tom, and upends Tom’s entire existence. Dark forces will stop at nothing to get Tom’s necklace, an ancient artifact called “the Phoenix.”
The Tiger’s Apprentice follows in the footsteps of many similar movies, developing its mythology based on the twelve zodiac signs to set itself apart. As a character, Tom is a little undercooked. The other Guardians however are decidedly more interesting. Hu shines as a sassy, almost brotherly-type figure constantly at odds with Tom’s nature and opinions. Nerdy thief Sid (Bowen Yang) is another humorous highlight. Clocking in at just over an hour and twenty minutes, the breezy pace of this animated flick makes it easy to recommend for those with short attention spans.
Those craving richer subtext or textured animation may leave disappointed that The Tiger’s Apprentice plays it safe on both counts. Then again, I suspect the majority of the concerns probably come from the source material itself. The story charms and delights from time to time—an intimate moment of mourning between Tom and Hu shines, with Hu lamenting about what they “put in incense these days” as tears flow. Though the runtime does not allow for many of these types of moments, their presence at all seems worthy of recognition. A cast this wonderful probably needed more substance—The Tiger’s Apprentice ultimately fails to craft a believable world worthy of revisiting.
Get recruited as The Tiger’s Apprentice exclusively on Paramount+, streaming February 2nd.
