Overview
A magical journey beneath the waves reveals the power of love and sacrifice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- dreamy
- wistful
- romantic
- reflective movie night
- anime fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s richly rendered blend of animation styles and its bighearted, surprisingly complex fantasy tale.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The unseen beings govern time, tides, seasons, and the passage between their world and the human realm.
Chun risks her own safety and happiness to return Kun's soul to human life.
Critics specifically praise its richly rendered blend of animation styles, while the film combines anime-influenced imagery with Chinese fantasy design.
Chun's sixteenth birthday transformation initiates an adventure that forces her to confront love, death, responsibility, and separation.
Films like Big Fish & Begonia, and why
Spirited Away
mythic coming-of-age fantasy, fluid animation, and themes of sacrifice and transcendent love
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
animated fantasy romance shaped by transformation, otherworldly rules, and emotional self-sacrifice
A Silent Voice
poignant supernatural coming-of-age story centered on love, loss, and releasing someone to their fate
White Snake
lush animated fantasy with Chinese cultural mythology, family bonds, and bittersweet emotional stakes
Movie Details
- Directors
- Liang Xuan, Zhang Chun
- Release Date
- 2016-07-08
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (502)
Cast
- Ji Guanlin
- Pan Shulan
- Su Shangqing
- Timmy Xu
- King Shih-chieh
- Jiu'er
- Xang Yuanyuan
- Xue Lifang
- Ajie
- Yang Ting
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Big Fish & Begonia about?
- A headstrong girl from a hidden supernatural realm nurtures a boy’s tiny fish-soul through sacrifice, hoping to restore him to the human world.
- What is Big Fish & Begonia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Big Fish & Begonia as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Big Fish & Begonia violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Big Fish & Begonia as mild.
- What did critics think of Big Fish & Begonia?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s richly rendered blend of animation styles and its bighearted, surprisingly complex fantasy tale.
- Which films are like Big Fish & Begonia?
- Films with a similar feel include Spirited Away, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, A Silent Voice, and White Snake.
- How long is Big Fish & Begonia?
- Big Fish & Begonia runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Big Fish & Begonia?
- In United States, Big Fish & Begonia streams on Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel.
