INTRODUCTION

Kung Fu Masters of the Zodiac is a 3D animated series presented by Fantawild Animation Inc. It is a fresh, innovative retelling of a beloved Chinese folk story. It involves The Circle of Twelve Sacred Animals who will come to characterize the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and focuses on their role in young Hoffen’s discovery of his true identity—and of his special mandate here on earth.

Kung Fu Masters of the Zodiac targets viewers between 8 and 16 years of age. Its protagonist, in some ways, may be seen as the quintessential Every Kid; but in the wake of personal tragedy, Hoffen is given to understand the unusual circumstances surrounding his own birth. Initially reluctant, he comes to embrace the reality that he is, in fact, the star-god Polaris made flesh, and that he has come to humankind with a mission that is anything but ordinary.

PLOT SUMMARY

Nian, the fierce “Year Devil” of Chinese folklore, has the power to alter the heavens. Now he aims to plunge the earth into perpetual darkness by engineering an unholy stellar configuration known as “Nine Stars In A Row”.

Into this grim scenario is born the incarnation of the star-god Polaris, expressly to defeat The Year Devil in due course. But to succeed, young “Hoffen” must first learn the deepest secrets of the martial arts from The Circle of Twelve Sacred Animals.

Nian destroys Hoffen’s village, and even swallows up his parents in a bid to intimidate the boy. But Hoffen, along with the first Sacred Animal—the Rat—quickly sets out to locate others in The Circle, and trains hard to prepare for battle with Nian.

At first, Hoffen is no match for the monster; a stinging defeat convinces him to seek and study under the remaining Sacred Animals, so that he can tame the beast in time.

PLOT SUMMARY

Chastened by his recent drubbing, Hoffen is no longer in a blind hurry to take on Nian. He wisely shifts his focus to perfecting the kung-fu skills being taught by his Sacred-Animal Masters.

While searching for Master Dragon of The Circle of Twelve, Hoffen is forced once again into combat with The Year Devil. The boy’s latest defeat at least brings him face-to-face with the wise Dragon, who has been held prisoner by Nian for some time.

Soon after meeting the Dragon, Hoffen comes into full power as the avenging star-god Polaris. He’s as prepared as he’ll ever be for the final showdown with Nian.

Hoffen uses kung-fu—and a whole lot of fireworks—to bring down this foul creature for good. The boy is finally reunited with his parents, and peace reigns once again.

For guiding the Star-Child on his earthly path, each Sacred Animal comes to represent a 12-month period in the 12-year lunar cycle known as “the Chinese Zodiac”.

3D ANIMATED KUNG-FU SERIES
Kung Fu Masters of the Zodiac

The story treats young Hoffen’s discovery of his heavenly pedigree; his mandate to find, and train under, members of The Circle of Twelve Sacred Animals; and his date with destiny as the conqueror of Nian, The Year Devil.

The powerful Nian’s evil designs on the globe necessitate the return of Polaris, the star-god, to do battle with him one final time. Polaris returns in the form of a child—little Hoffen—and in this form he will drill in the disciplines required for the total defeat of Nian.

Hoffen begins to prepare for the ultimate conflict after his parents are captured and his village is destroyed by Nian. With the blessing of the Kitchen God, Hoffen sets out with Rascal the Rat—an unlikely Master in The Circle of Twelve—in search of the other eleven animals in The Circle.

By the end of his adventure-filled odyssey, Hoffen has found the remaining Masters in The Circle of Twelve. Imbued with vastly differing skills and sensibilities, they all school the boy in preparation for his eventual showdown with Nian. They help Hoffen in the final face-off with The Year Devil, and the child-hero is reunited with his parents at long last.