Big Fish and Begonia anime review
In a mystical realm, in between Earth and the afterlife, there exists a world full of magic and wonder. In it, beings are endowed with supernatural powers which helps them control the weather, and the natural order of things, in the human world. When teenagers reach their coming-of-age day in this realm they are sent to the human world as red dolphins so that they may experience it for themselves and learn about the effect their powers have — 16-year-old Chun is one of those sent.
Her mother warns her of the danger of men, but once she arrives on Earth she encounters a human boy named Kun who loves the sea and all its creatures. While she is wary of him at first, she becomes drawn to him and, when a storm puts her life in danger, is amazed when he decides to help her even if, by doing so, he loses his own. Wracked by guilt over his death, Chun decides to travel to the afterlife and trade half her lifespan with the one-eyed soul keeper to take Kun and nurture his soul back to life. The selfless act sees a drastic change in her world, though, and soon she faces the wrath of her peers as they blame Kun, whose soul takes the form of a dolphin, for the apparent apocalypse and desperately try to kill him.
Loosely based on several Chinese folktales and classic stories, Big Fish & Begonia is an epic fantasy which charms viewers with its stunning animation and enchanting narrative. Full of fantastical creatures and stunning backdrops, the film is reminiscent of the captivating otherworldly appeal of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, and that similar feel helps make it even more entrancing, drawing viewers in with ease.
While it is beautiful, the transition from 2D to 3D animation is not seamless and some scenes are a little disjointed as a result. When the story reaches its climax, the narrative also becomes unnecessarily complex, pitting many characters against each other with little explanation and featuring several ‘endings’ before eventually reaching its end. While this doesn’t dampen the appeal of the film, it does make it a little hard to keep up with the plot at its most tense moments.
Big Fish & Begonia features a captivating story all the same, and with its stellar animation, it proves to be a great tale of love and loss. The film’s mystical origins help to strengthen its charm as a film, and the beautiful characters and visuals are unforgettable. It will draw you in and stay with you long after the narrative draws to a close.
INFO
Directors: Liang Xuan and Zhang Chun
Release: 18 April 2018
From: National Amusements
Format: Theatrical Release
Age Rating: PG
Review by Roxy Simons
