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February 22, 2024

Paramount+ Releases Delayed Animation Fantasy, THE TIGER’S APPRENTICE – Scored by Steve Jablonsky

THE TIGER’S APPRENTICE is a 2024 American animated fantasy film based on the 2003 novel The Tiger’s Apprentice by Laurence Yep. Produced by Paramount Animation and Jane Startz Productions, it is directed by Raman Hui and co-directed by Paul Watling and Yong Duk Jhun from a screenplay written by David Magee and Christopher Yost. The film stars the voices of Brandon Soo Hoo, Henry Golding, Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, and Michelle Yeoh.

Premise: Tom Lee, a Chinese-American boy, after the death of his grandmother, has to be apprenticed to the talking tiger Mr. Hu and learn ancient magic to become the new guardian of an ancient phoenix.

Cartoon Network had originally opted to produce a live-action/CG hybrid television film adaptation of the novel in the late 2000s, but it never came to fruition. Paramount later acquired the rights for an animated film in March 2019, with Carlos Baena attached as director, and Mikros Animation providing animation. Much of the voice cast was revealed between 2020 and 2022, following Golding’s casting in July 2020. Hui later replaced Baena as director in January 2022.

Steve Jablonsky composed the score (TRANSFORMERS series, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER PETS, DEEPWATER HORIZON, ENDER’S GAME, YOUR HIGHNESS, STEAMBOY). His music captures the spirit of the thrilling animated adventure with a soaring full orchestra, pulsing synths, vocalizations and a variety of Chinese instruments. Notes Jablonsky: “My main goal with this film was to find the right balance between the deep cultural history represented by the characters and the modern approach the film takes to telling their story. I hope the resulting mix of orchestra, synthesizers, percussion, Chinese instruments and vocals matches what the film is trying to say.”  He adds, “I played most of the synth parts on this score but I was fortunate to record LA’s finest musicians; full orchestra, percussion, vocals, plus a variety of Chinese instruments including Dizi and Erhu. This tremendously talented group really brought the score to life.”

The film was originally planned for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, but after several delays, the film was released on Paramount+ on February 2 of this year.

Watch the film’s trailer: