Behold! The ancient Chinese kingdom of Sanxingdui, where a colorful team of superheroes needs the help of one orphan against a conqueror who knows no bounds. But is this American orphan to be trusted?
Directed by Sean O’Reilly and inspired by a real archeological discovery of bronze masks in the 1980s, Heroes of the Golden Masks is not a letdown by any means; it just doesn’t have enough thunder in its lightning storm to stir the emotions beyond its brief running time. There is an incredible spirit of creativity guiding it. I just wish there was a bit more meat on its bones because there is an impressive mythos at work here.
The heart by screenwriters Xiaoming Yao, John Wilson, Dennis Edwards is in the right places as they adapt the source material from Scotsman John Wilson, but there is a vacuum when it comes to getting the audience involved as Charlie, an American orphan, gets magically whisked away to the ancient kingdom of Sanxingdui and is introduced to the superheroes - featuring a two-bodied snake, a hellish-looking yak, a zombified crocodile and a flying tiger, and their golden masks which gives them their powers.
But Charlie needs a lot of help. His mind is still stuck in Chicago and he falls back on survival too easily, forgetting that it is not just about him anymore. One of them must teach this boy to be a hero; yet forces beyond their control appear in the form of Kun-Yi (voiced by Ron Perlman) and the challenge is on!
The cast - which includes Patton Oswalt, Ron Perlman, and the late Christopher Plummer in his final, completed role - is impressive. The animation is bright and creative. Yet, Heroes of the Golden Masks fails to land a satisfying punch due to its short running time and its rather lighter-than-air handling of Chinese mythology. Take those reasons and the fact that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is still dominating the animation market and you know EXACTLY where the kids are going to go. 
But CG Bros Entertainment, Arcana Studios, and Golden Image Cultural Communication Inc have an interesting film on their hands; hopefully, it finds an audience because the worldbuilding here is impressive and, if I am being honest, unique thanks to the selfish nature Charlie must overcome and those interesting magical masks.
Now streaming from Gravitas Ventures, Heroes of the Golden Masks also features the voices of Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon : Sword of Destiny), Byron Mann (Skyscraper), Osric Chau (2012), Kiefer O'Reilly (The Mighty Ducks:Game Changers), and its director Reilly. Fast and furious has a new meaning with this one.
Heroes of the Golden Masks will premiere on digital June 9 from Gravitas Ventures.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
Director: Sean Patrick O'Reilly
Writer: Xiaoming Yao; John Wilson; Dennis Edwards
Cast: Ron Perlman; Natasha Liu Bordizzo; Christopher Plummer
Genre: Family | Animated
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Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Official Site:
Release Date: July 9, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Sean O’Reilly’s adventure-packed animated treat centers on Charlie, a wise-cracking, homeless, American orphan who is magically transported to the ancient Chinese kingdom of Sanxingdui, where a colorful team of superheroes need his help to defend the city from a brutal conqueror. Charlie joins the heroes, and secretly schemes to steal the priceless golden masks that grant them their powers.
