The slightly ambiguous mythology is perplexing to follow and thick in allegory to a degree for sure. Yet, it’s immensely reachable with its ethereal parallels to human virtues.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 16, 2024

Big Fish & Begonia may not be the big catch it could have been, but there's a dreamlike quality to the film that's commendable.

| Original Score: B- | Mar 30, 2019

So to sum up, Big Fish & Begonia is a visual treat that has some heart and childish imagination behind it.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 17, 2019

The feature film directed by Liang Xuan and Zhang Chun has a visual splendor that captivates. [Full review in Spanish]

| Sep 10, 2018

Big Fish & Begonia might stumble once or twice when it comes to building its plot, but it more than succeeds at conveying the emotions of its story.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 27, 2018

"Big Fish & Begonia" is a marvelous piece of animation. Each scene is like a painting come to life. The story will touch your heart and no doubt the characters will delightfully make their temporary home there as well.

| Original Score: B+ | Apr 19, 2018

A thinly veiled cautionary tale about the environment, love and the sacrifices attendant to both.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Apr 19, 2018

As heavy and occasionally confusing as things get, there are wonderful moments of levity and eccentricity.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 19, 2018

More a visual marvel than a true masterpiece, but hopefully this is just the start of something new.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 17, 2018

If you can let these aesthetics marry in your mind, there's a chance you can fall under Big Fish & Begonia's spell.

| Apr 13, 2018

It's a pity, then, that this is marred by too much voiceover narration by an aged Chun [...] droning about the transmigration of souls.

| Apr 12, 2018

Anime addicts owe it to themselves to go out and watch what should offer a refreshing twist on the genre they love.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 12, 2018

Big Fish & Begonia is a wonderfully animated film with stunning cinematic visuals...

| Apr 12, 2018

Spinning their own variations on ancient Chinese myths, these directors make a poetic plea to protect actual species-while delighting audiences with transcendent make-believe.

| Apr 12, 2018

While the movie's kaleidoscope of striking images and distinctive characters is spellbinding, it lacks psychological depth. And the question of what the hell is going on is never far from your mind.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 12, 2018

A creative Chinese animated film that marvels at mysterious connections.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 11, 2018

The big fish of the title is called Kun, and originally appears in texts from the first millennium B.C. as an entity so large it cannot be measured. It's a thrilling notion, and struck this critic as sounding an awful lot like love.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 11, 2018

Big Fish & Begonia is, at times, an achingly beautiful work of animation.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 11, 2018

Chun's life is literally spent on other people, but the beauty her actions create for the film and inspire from its characters is often powerful enough to make sense of a story that never bothers to make sense of itself.

| Original Score: B- | Apr 6, 2018

Big Fish & Begonia brilliantly utilizes its elaborate medium to craft a story with no shortage of spiritual and emotional resonance.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Apr 6, 2018