Big Fish & Begonia (2016)

A 16-year-old girl travels to the human world in the form of a dolphin and forms a connection with a human boy.

Directors:

Xuan Liang (as Liang Xuan), Chun Zhang (as Zhang Chun)

Writers:

Daniel Chuba, Xuan Liang (story by)

Stars:

Guanlin Ji, Shangqing Su, Timmy Xu

3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Guanlin Ji	...	Chun (voice)
Shangqing Su	...	Qiu (voice)
Timmy Xu	...	Kun (voice)
Shulan Pan	...	Chun, old age (voice)
Yuanyuan Zhang	...	Feng (voice) (as Yuanyuan Xang)
Jiu'er	...	Kun's Sister (voice)
Lifang Xue	...	Chun's Father (Shu) (voice)
Jie Zhang	...	Chisong Zi (voice)
Xiaoyu Liu	...	Leizu (voice)
Zhongyang Baomu	...	Goumang (voice)
Yu Cheng	...	Tingmu (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
JB Blanc	...	Lingpo (voice) (as John White)
Johnny Yong Bosch	...	Qiu (voice)
Greg Chun	...	Houtu / Chun's Father (Shu) / Chisong Zi (voice)
Cam Clarke	...	Zhurong (voice)

Storyline

It is a world within our world, yet unseen by any human, and the beings here control time and tide and the changing of the seasons. On the day Chun turns sixteen, she is transformed into a dolphin to explore the human world. She is rescued from a vortex by a human boy at the cost of his own life. Chun is so moved by the boy's kindness and courage that she decides to give him life again. But to do this, she must protect the boy's soul, a tiny fish, and nurture it to grow. Through adventure and sacrifice, love grows, yet now she must release him back to the sea, back to life in the human world.

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Plot Keywords:

scene during end credits | brother sister relationship | anime | chinese anime | dolphin | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Xuan Liang and Chun Zhang's directorial film debut.

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Quotes

Lingpo: What brings you to the Island of Souls?
Chun: There's a soul I'm looking for: the soul of a human boy
Lingpo: What time was it he died?
Chun: It was two days before the wheat harvest.
Lingpo: You need to be sure of the date. Otherwise you're searching for a needle in a haystack. So many die every day.
Chun: I'm sure. It was my birthday.
Lingpo: I know what you're trying to do, girl, and it goes against the laws of nature!
Chun: I don't care. I've got to save him!
Lingpo: The punishment is harsh for those who defy nature, no matter who you are, so you *...
[...]

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Soundtracks

Big fish
by Shen, Zhou

User Reviews

Surprisingly good

Coming to this with very low expectations I was pleased to be surprised by the astounding quality of production in this animated film. The artwork is beautiful and the environments created are imaginative and vibrant. Attention to detail has really helped to make the experience breathtaking and immersive. Aside from various plot holes and areas lacking adequate explanation, the story is powerful and moving. Overall a very enjoyable family friendly film.

The only aspect that Big Fish and Begonia falls flat is the voice acting. The voices acting is still the typical Chinese children's program voices that sound very awkward in its more mature setting.

Details

Official Sites:

Funimation Films [United States] Official site

Country:

China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

8 July 2016 (China)

Also Known As:

Big Fish & Begonia

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

CNY30,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$85,557,721

Company Credits

Production Co:

B&T, Huoerguosi ENLIGHT MEDIA, Studio Mir

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1