max-seitz-1990 The art direction and quality of Da Yu Hai Tang (international title: "Big Fish & Begonia") really help to present a fantastic view on some classic Chinese folktales. The overall narrative possibilities are amazing and could provide for so much more plot, however some key moments fall short because of mediocre pacing and/or editing, and sub-par character writing.Overall 6/10 Full review see here: https://goo.gl/pymnGz

azure_833-1 The comparison with Ghibli is inevitable here. This movie is simply not on par with Ghibli. But the visual and the music score were both close! The story is good, but the script falls a little short. A bit exposition heavy, a few too many plot devices, eg. the bit with the 2 headed snake served purely as a plot device. The design of the fish Kun is tonally inconsistent with the rest of the world. It was never explained why the fish caused apocalypse. The characters, they live in a magical world. But some of them are wise, and timeless but some of them are as prejudiced and fearful as the humans whose lives they govern.Now, on to the good points: Great visual! one of the best looking anime, of course not as organic and detail rich as Ghibli, but beautifully put together, brilliant colours. 3D and 2D elements are seamless. The music score is not as memorable as, again, Ghibli, but fits the tone very well. Tonally, the story is very sincere, like the best Ghibli movies, and innocent.The dialogue is a bit stilted at times, but quite good overall.I don't think this movie is being released in the West anytime soon. But when it does, I hope they get some proper translators.Overall, great first attempt from the studio, recommended.

mikeyang0513 I heard about Big fish & begonia (Da Hai) in 2013 and I was shocked by the 5-minute trailer at that time. At first sight I thought it was a Ghibli movie again, but then I learned about that the core story got some inspiration from some ancient Chinese proses, such as "A Leisurely Tour" by Chuang-tzu and ShanHai Jing. As a Chinese, I know I can't describe my feeling perfectly in English, but I just want to say that Big Fish & Begonia (Da Hai) is a very moving and wonderful movie which can make me cry every time. It tells a story about salvation, love and growth. It's totally Chinese, from these good pictures to the touching story. I hope one day the movie can be released in some other countries, so that more and more audience can enjoy its beauty and be moved by it.

Ban Li Da Hai (Da Yu Hai Tang), an animation that can easily impress you with fantastic graphics, yet it's seemingly simple plot can hardly be understood thoroughly without background knowledge of ancient Chinese culture and myth.--------Here may involve some plot detail, watch out--------The story outline appears to be a girl (Chun) trying to get back the life of a boy who saved her. However the real No.1 actor, is the boy behind Chun, another one of "the others", Qiu, who has the ability to manipulate water.Chun has the ability to manipulate the growth of Hai Tang (Begonia in Chinese), which was once named "Beauty of the Nation" in traditional Chinese poetry. However, her fight against the society of "the others" is in no way fragile as the flower. Instead, the power of will is so strong that can overcome obstacle from authority, natural disaster, and familiar bond. Guess that's why she is name after a 16,000 years old tree, Chun. Qiu was Chun's childhood friend. And he has always loved Chun secretly. The love was so strong that he would give up everything including his freedom of eternity to exchange the happiness of Chun and her beloved one. Started from a young boy who just become an adult last year, Qiu even dare to steal the sacred mask that is used to connect fairy-land and the human world. People always say until death tear us apart as a promise between lovers. But the cruel separation between Qiu and Chun was even beyond the dimension of life and death--Qiu has to observe, manage and maintain the spiritual library(known as Tong Tian Ge, the pavilion to the sky) that over sees the spirits of everyone. That is to say, though deeply in love with Chun, Qiu has to watch her life and death and there is little he can do about it. The worst thing is not that you don't know if you can get what you want if you try, it is the desperation that you know for sure you can never get what you what, and yet you only can sit and watch the last thing you want to see from happening. What will Qiu become? Like the sneaky predecessor, the "trader"? or getting "mature" like everyone else in the fairy-land?That, is the only thing I really really want to know.