We really enjoyed this movie for its striking animation, fantastic and beautiful worlds, and likable characters. Although the original language and mythological themes are Chinese, the animation was done by Studio Mir, based in South Korea, which also worked on the Legend of Korra. Almost all of the Chinese animated epics deal with how the characters (often gods, spirits, or demigods) relate to heaven; in Big Fish & Begonia, the alternative universe is under the earth, or, more precisely, under the sea. We also noticed a lot of allusions to Studio Ghibli, above all Spirited Away, especially in some of the characters (for example the steward of souls was like a male version of the witch who runs the bathhouse). Plus the strong female lead character whose story is nevertheless closely tied to a romantic interest.

Chun is a girl that's pat of "The Others" -- more than human, less than god beings who manipulate our world, or something. She's at the age where she can visit our world as a red dolphin for 7 days and has to return... for reasons. While a dolphin she apparently falls for a boy, Kun, who saves dolphin-her but ends up dying.

Back in her world, she revives him as a baby dolphin along with her friend Qiu, who secretly loves her. She trades half her life to revive him, but I guess reviving him causes the apocalypse in her world, or something.

Anyway, she brings up dolphin Kun, her world goes all crazy, Qiu sacrifices his life to save her, she ends up dying to save her world, but doesn't die because Qiu saved her, but she has no powers and has to leave her world, or something.

Qiu dies, she and Kun return to our world, now both as humans, and I guess they live happily ever after.

End credits scene shows Qiu revived to take the role of, oh, I don't care anymore.

The story is just a mess. I felt no connection to any characters. Qiu's unrequited love for Chun could have been interesting, but it was telegraphed and forced. This movie felt like a chore to get through rather than something I enjoyed.

I assume this movie will be compared to Hayao Miyazaki movies and there simply is no comparison. Movies like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Ponyo just have that magic that this movie didn't capture.

Disappointing 4/10 for me. Maybe I was in the wrong mood for this movie? I'm usually not so far off the average IMDB rating.

The graphics, animations and scores were very stunning- in this aspect 10/10 however the story and character developement were lacking. chun and kun's relation were clearly lacking chemistry no matter how hard the director tried. as a result, they gave us a really annoying & selfish main character. at the end of the show, i felt sad and disappointed at the same time