With The 8 Immortals Present, All Wishes Come True, Whether They’re Ready or Not for the Punchline

Although the tales of the 8 Immortals are part of the narrative in works like “The Journey to the East” and “Yellow-Millet Dream,” to give them their own animated special in All Wishes Come True gives newcomers a glimpse at what they’re capable of, and it’s a great adventure to boot too!

All Wishes Come True Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

I find Cineplex Movies‘ lack of faith disturbing. When All Wishes Come True! (八仙; lit. translation: The 8 Immortals) isn’t getting an even distribution across North America, and the chain may not be confident it can draw regular crowds in Canada. I can’t say I blame them. Nor can I speak to how the film is performing in other parts of the world. Usually, unless a Chinese production has a big name like Jackie Chan that audiences recognize, crowds aren’t guaranteed to flock to it. For writer/director Zhengyang Mu, a relative unknown, perhaps the film needs new posters that read, “From the studio that brought you Kung Fu Panda 3 and Abominable…”

That might help folks who are unsure about the film decide to see it. A few moments echo Pearl Studio‘s previous work and DreamWorks‘ design philosophy, making this movie an easier sell. The humour is evident, and everyone understands the Ocean’s Eleven reference. Who doesn’t want to see that? There’s also the promise of an animated action-adventure about the Eight Immortals, technically soon-to-be immortals, who must prove their worth as new heroes while the current ruling dynasty sorts itself out. This introduction establishes how they rose through the ranks and challenged the norm.

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The Search for Gluscap Proves Not Every Giant Is Paul Bunyan

Brandon Mitchell’s Adventures of the Pugulatmu’j: The Search for Gluscap expands Mali and Puug’s journey with richer Mi’gmaw mythology, environmental themes, and folklore-driven adventure.

The Search for Gluscap
Available on Amazon USA to purchase

Portage & Main Press

When exploring Brandon Mitchell’s Adventures of the Pugulatmu’j graphic novel series for young readers, it’s best to begin with the first volume. I had to find a copy to understand how it all started before diving into volume two, The Search for Gluscap, which came out last month (May 5). In particular, I wanted to learn how Mali first met Puug, a guardian of the woods. Without that context, jumping in with a later volume is not quite the same as watching a film series, where important events are often recounted early in the narrative.

What makes this series appealing is how naturally it presents Mi’gmaw culture and daily life in New Brunswick, where the tale takes place. Rather than treating tradition as something distant or historical, Mitchell shows a living world where ancient beliefs remain intertwined with the present. The series also trusts that readers have been following the story since book one rather than pausing to repeat key details. Once I realized that within the first few pages, I knew I had to stop, find the first volume at a local library, or simply buy it.

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What’s Next for Light Chaser Animation in 2026?

While international audiences wait, Light Chaser Animation is quietly building a Lord of the Rings-scale adaptation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms alongside a new Water Margin film.

Light Chaser Animation Studios Logo For those living outside of China, no, Light Chaser Animation Studio isn’t resting. Instead, they have two films slated for release this year. While international audiences are still waiting for wider access to Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (2025), local coverage suggests they are planning even more ambitious storytelling. The executives aren’t especially concerned about global reach, knowing that domestic success remains the priority.

When their next project is a large-scale animated adaptation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in three parts, it’s safe to say they have Lord of the Rings-scale ambitions. The first entry, often referred to in domestic coverage as Three Kingdoms Part One: Struggle for Luoyang, is currently in production and targeting a summer 2026 theatrical release in China. The film is positioned as the opening chapter in a longer narrative arc, centred on the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty and the power struggles that followed. Visually, the style echoes Chang’an.

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When the Sun Sleeps: Winter Solstice in Asia (Part Three)

Across Asia, winter-solstice folklore treats the longest night as a test of humility and endurance. From Siberia’s frost bull to Japan’s snow spirits and Korea’s red-bean rituals, these traditions frame cold as a force to respect, not conquer, and renewal as something you earn.

Winter Solstice in AsiaBefore electric light banished the shadows, winter across the colder reaches of Asia was a time for vigilance and reverence. The Winter Solstice—the year’s longest night—was more than an astronomical marker; it was a reminder of nature’s power and the fragile balance between survival and oblivion. Winter Solstice in Asia is looked at differently.

In many regions, stories emerged to give shape to the cold: spirits, demons, and deities who ruled when the world froze. Some brought famine, others discipline, and a few offered protection through ritual and respect. These myths were not merely superstition; they were survival guides, moral codes, and poetic reflections of human resilience. In this continuation, specific traditions will also be observed.

Though much of Asia does not celebrate Christmas, winter remains a time for remembrance, purification, and renewal—the same primal emotions that inspired Europe’s own solstice monsters.

Chysh Khan
(Sakha / Yakut Republic, Siberia)

Chysh KhanTo the Yakut people of Siberia, Chysh Khan—the “Bull of Winter”—emerges from the Arctic Ocean as the cold’s living spirit. His breath freezes rivers, his hooves mark the frost, and his retreat brings spring. Even the horns have meaning: his first horn represents the great frost and second the deep cold.

Today, he’s celebrated in Yakutian winter festivals as a personification of endurance, a being both feared and honoured. In the world’s coldest inhabited lands, he remains a god of survival.

Further reading: The Bull of Winter According to Tourism.arctic-Russia

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Winter Solstice Legends: So Who Rules Them All? (Part Two)

Before Christmas and commerce, the winter solstice legends included more than the usual creatures that go bump in the night. From Krampus to the Yule Cat—there’s many more who flit in the night, to celebrate winter’s dual nature: cruel yet cleansing, dark but also full of renewal.

Winter Solstice Legends - Holiday Horror 2025 EditionNo list can ever be complete without mention of the first entry who—at least in terms of media appeal—pulls the reins. Out of all the darker Winter Solstice Legends, Krampus has become the most acknowledged in modern Western pop culture! Whether he is parodied or turned into a true icon of terror, the purpose varies.

That’s because of his allure and how media has embraced him as an icon for those who don’t really celebrate the modern-day notion of Christmas or just want to be anti-establishment. But there are others who exist alongside him, whom we will explore in a separate article. They all get acknowledged, whether locally or in different regions around the world.

Belsnickel
(Germany / Pennsylvania Dutch)

Belsnickel

Clad in tattered furs, Belsnickel visits before Christmas carrying a whip and sweets. He tests children’s manners, rewarding the polite and chastising the rude. In North America, he remains part of Pennsylvania Dutch custom, a rustic, moral counterpoint to Santa Claus. As for why he’s such a fixture in this part of the United States, the best way to find out is either to go there to witness events yourself, or….

Further reading: Christmas in Pennsylvania by Alfred Shoemaker, or this report on Pennlive.com.

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Winter Solstice Legends. Exploring Their Wild Magic and Legendary Status (Part One)

Before Christmas and commerce, the winter solstice legends included more than the usual creatures that go bump in the night. From Krampus to the Yule Cat—there’s many more who flit in the night, to celebrate winter’s dual nature: cruel yet cleansing, dark but also full of renewal.

Holiday Horror and Winter Solstice LegendsLong before malls blared carols and Santa slid down chimneys, winter belonged to stranger things. From the shadowed Alps to the frozen fjords, there are other entities said to roam the land. Throughout Europe, some were mortal, others were spirits, and maybe one or two were fae. These Winter Solstice Legends existed in legend and folklore as a friend to Saint Nick, or perhaps served as a gentle reminder of Winter’s power, or perhaps why one must be kind to others!

As avatars of them perform in festivals, their true presence manifests in the songs and stories told over the warm fire. Whether in the comfort of a home or in camp, just what’s revealed keeps some thoughts safe. And in what I hope is a comprehensive list, what I offer is what I’ve learned so far about these legends.

The Caganer
(Catalonia, Spain)

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20181216-spains-beloved-scatological-christmas-customOften hidden in plain sight, the Caganer turns the act of searching into part of the ritual; finding him is said to bring luck, while failing to include him invites misfortune or poor crops. His origins likely trace back to 17th- and 18th-century Catalonia, when peasant realism and earthy humour seeped into religious art as a quiet counterbalance to idealised piety.

By squatting at the margins of the holy scene, he affirms that divinity does not float above daily life but is embedded within it, bodily, messily, and without shame. In this sense, the Caganer functions as a solstice figure in disguise, anchoring cosmic renewal to manure, labour, and the cycles of the land. Modern versions depicting politicians, celebrities, and pop-culture icons extend the joke further, democratising the sacred moment and reminding everyone, saint and sinner alike, that nature makes equals of us all.

Futher Reading: BBC Report: Catalonia’s Beloved Scatological Christmas Custom

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