Chinese animation makes a confident play for art and relevance with “Big Fish & Begonia,” a swell of myth, nature, adolescent turbulence and fantasy intrigue that impresses more often than it organically dazzles, and yet succeeds mostly because of its beating heart.
It’s impossible not to think of Japan’s animation deity Hayao Miyazaki when watching this movie’s lyrical flourishes — morphing creatures, magical worlds, a little “Spirited Away” here, a little “Ponyo” there — but there’s also a concerted effort on the parts of directors Xuan Liang (who also wrote it) and Chun Zhang to establish their own alchemic wonder. Where Miyazaki’s wisdom kept his prodigious imagination in the service of intimacy, “Big Fish” is daringly, if haphazardly, epic with its vision and feelings. The urge to awe may feel self-conscious at times, but it’s rarely not heartfelt, even when it’s skirting the edge of incomprehensible.
Detailing the story’s intertwined human and spiritual worlds takes some time in the early going, but the set-up’s basic gist is that life on earth is tied to the movement of the oceans, which are controlled by beings in a sky realm. The story centers on one of these otherworldly figures from above, a 16-year-old girl named Chun who is eager to explore the human world through an established ritual — one involving a massive whirlpool-like water portal — that allows an “other” to visit life below in the form of a red dolphin.
The trip can only last seven days, however, and mustn’t involving direct interaction with humans, due to the prevailing belief that they’ve made a mess of things. (And who can blame them, especially when it comes to sea mammals?)
Chun defies the rules, though, and initiates a wordless dolphin-girl connection with a kind fisherman’s son who shows an abiding respect for aquatic life. When Chun gets trapped in a fishing net, the boy saves her, but drowns in the process. Distraught and eager to right this wrong, Chun returns to her world with one of the boy’s possessions — an ocarina — and looks for a way to bring him back to life. This requires bargaining with the soul keeper, a wily, mahjong-playing figure who demands half of Chun’s life in return for the chance for her to nurture the boy’s soul, manifest in their realm as a baby dolphin, into adulthood, after which he can return to the human world.
Chun’s selflessness isn’t seen as such by the others, except for her childhood pal Qiu, a gung-ho boy with obvious feelings for Chun. Though he suffers pangs of jealousy over Chun’s attention to her human-born, dolphin-bodied charge (which she names Kun), Qiu sticks up for Chun, and eventually offers his own form of sacrifice to keep her and the ever-growing Kun safe.
But they’re up against a concerned citizenry, who blame the increasingly unnatural weather on the human in their midst. Chun and Qiu are also in danger of being manipulated by a devious sewer queen who houses the souls of departed human sinners in the form of rats.
It may feel as if an entire encyclopedia’s worth of Chinese mythology were coursing over you in one trippy movie. Indeed, much of the integrated inspiration for Liang’s and Zhang’s story comes from such storied texts of colorful folklore as “Classic of Mountains and Seas” and “In Search of the Supernatural,” and perhaps most prominently — in the case of one character’s turning into a giant tree, and its importance to the story’s resolution — from the ancient Taoist collection of fables called “Zhuangzi.”
At its visual best, “Big Fish & Begonia” makes lyrical connections between atmospheres — as when an underwater sequence, seen from a different angle, looks like creatures are swimming through the sky — or just revels in a stunning vista altered by the characters’ ability to transform themselves and the world around them.
It may be a convoluted yarn, but there are pockets of grace when it comes to Liang’s and Zhang’s sincere evocation of the responsibility behind stewardship of our and others’ souls, and a belief in sacrifice as it relates to love and death, even our relationship to the environment. (And having spent over a decade painstakingly turning a personal project into a feature-length reality, Liang and Zhang clearly know a thing or two about nurturing something beloved into existence.)
The story is ultimately defined by the trade-offs its mythical beings make that give life to some at the expense of others, and those spiritually affirming decisions eventually take pride of place amidst the overwhelming campaign of climactic set pieces (namely, the threatened destruction of Chun’s world) that dominate the second half.
Chinese animation is still feeling its way into the industry, but “Big Fish & Begonia,” with its big-canvas approach to myth, world-building, wonder and fragile humanity, announces itself as if cinema was more than ready for it.
30 Highest Grossing Animated Movies of All Time Worldwide
A look at top animated moneymakers as of May 2020, from "The Lion King" to "Zootopia." The numbers are not adjusted for inflation.
30. "The Incredibles" (2004)
Worldwide Gross: $633,019,734
In 2004, Brad Bird's first Pixar outing wowed audiences with complicated animated action scenes, cross-generational comedy and superhero mayhem.
Pixar Animation Studios
29. "Sing" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $634,151,679
Illumination's animal-karaoke musical crooned its way onto the list.
28. "Moana" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $643,331,111
Disney's Hawaii-set movie scored two Oscar nominations, for Best Animated Feature and Lin-Manuel Miranda's song "How Far I'll Go."
Disney
27. "Big Hero 6" (2014)
Worldwide Gross: $657,818,612
Disney's 2014 robot tale combined anime aesthetics, superhero action and Pixar's heart.
Disney Animation Studios
26. "Ice Age: The Meltdown" (2006)
Worldwide Gross: $660,940,780
Fox's 2006 prehistoric romp proved the success of the first was no fluke.
Twentieth Century Fox
25. "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011)
Worldwide Gross: $665,692,281
With the franchise's skills proven, DreamWorks Animation gave the world another hit of comedy with this animated martial arts sequel in 2011.
Dreamworks Animation Studios
24. "Up" (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $735,099,082
The 2009 fan favorite demonstrated that original ideas with big emotions could make big money.
Pixar Animation Studios
23. "Monsters University" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $744,229,437
Ten years after the release of "Monsters Inc," Pixar sent fans back to school in a 2013 prequel.
Pixar Animation Studios
22. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" (2012)
Worldwide Gross: $746,921,274
DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar" series kept the studio afloat with a string of breezy successes, including 2012's third installment.
Dreamworks Animation Studios
21. "Shrek Forever After" (2010)
Worldwide Gross: $752,600,867
The big green ogre's final chapter dropped in 2010.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
20. "Shrek the Third" (2007)
Worldwide Gross: $798,958,162
Made in 2007, this sequel proved there was still some gas left in this fantasy mash-up comedy franchise.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
19. "Coco" (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $807,082,196
Directed by Lee Unkrich, this animated film captured everyone's hearts and even won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018.
Disney/Pixar
18. "Inside Out" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $857,611,174
Disney Pixar hit the home run again with this animated feature film about the emotions inside your head, starring Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader.
Disney/Pixar
17. "The Secret Life of Pets" (2016)
Worldwide Gross:$875,457,937
Universal/Illumination's story of dogs seeking out adventure while their owners are away charmed its way onto the list.
Profits abound for this 2012 fourth installment in the chilly prehistoric franchise, followed just behind it's predecessor.
Twentieth Century Fox Animation
15."Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (2009)
Worldwide Gross: $888,805,671
While other films have made bigger waves in the States, international sales have always returned big money for Fox's "Ice Age" franchise, proven again by the 2009 entry.
Twentieth Century Fox Animation
14. "Shrek 2" (2004)
Worldwide Gross: $919,838,758
DreamWorks Animation proved to be worthy Pixar competition with its successful "Shrek" franchise.
Dreamworks Animation Studio
13. "Finding Nemo" (2003)
Worldwide Gross: $940,335,536
"Finding Nemo" was something of a second-wind for Pixar, solidifying the company's place as the titans of modern animation.
Pixar Studios
12. "The Lion King" (1994)
Worldwide Gross: $968,483,777
Can you feel the love tonight for this Disney animated classic?
Disney Animation Studios
11. "Despicable Me 2" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $970,761,885
Illumination's sequel managed to make more money than its predecessor and put the upcoming "Minions" spin-off into motion.
Illumination Studios
10. "Zootopia" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $1,023,784,195
Disney charmed audiences in 2016 with its cop thriller pairing a rookie rabbit cop and a wily fox informant.
Disney
9. "Finding Dory" (2016)
Worldwide Gross: $1,028,570,889
The sequel to "Finding Nemo" swam right back into audience's hearts.
Pixar
8. "Despicable Me 3" (2017)
Worldwide Gross: $1,034,799,409
Illumination's follow-up -- featuring Gru's blond-haired brother -- became the franchise's biggest grosser.
7. "Toy Story 3" (2010)
Worldwide Gross: $1,066,969,703
Built on Pixar's critical and commercial goodwill, the third installment in the mega-franchise brought in big profits.
Pixar Studios
6. "Toy Story 4" (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,073,394,593
Nearly two decades after the last film, Woody and Buzz and the gang returned for the top-grossing film in the series (not adjusted for inflation, that is).
Disney
5. "Minions" (2015)
Worldwide Gross: $1,159,398,397
The little yellow helpers crossed the $1 billion mark at the end of August, raking in more money then "Despicable Me" and "Despicable Me 2" for Universal Pictures.
Universal Pictures/Illumination Entertainment
4. "Incredibles 2" (2018)
Worldwide Gross: $1,242,805,359
The superpowered family sprung back into action a full 14 years after the original -- but far surpassed the original film's box office haul.
Disney/Pixar
3. "Frozen" (2013)
Worldwide Gross: $1,276,480,335
Disney's 2013 smash-hit takes the box office top spot. And then there was merchandising, video on demand and home video that audiences just couldn't let go...
Disney Animation Studios
2. "Frozen II" (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,450,026,933
Though it failed to garner an Oscar nom for Best Animated Feature, this sequel still managed to outgross its predecessor.
1. The Lion King (2019)
Worldwide Gross: $1,631,724,000
Whether the film is animated or live-action has been up for debate, the new "Lion King" was computer animated, so we're putting it on the list.
Disney
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Cartoon characters that cleaned up at the global box office, from “The Lion King” to “Incredibles 2”
A look at top animated moneymakers as of May 2020, from "The Lion King" to "Zootopia." The numbers are not adjusted for inflation.