A colorful animated adventure tailored perfectly for young audiences
In 2008, children's book author Deborah Diesen wrote a book called The Pout-Pout Fish, which was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the top ten books of that year. Since its inception, it has spawned an entire series of picture, board, chapter, activity, and novelty books, and this March, an animated feature film will be released in movie theaters nationwide. Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman; Parks and Recreation) is an introvert who doesn't smile, lives alone, and who doesn't have any friends. However, all that changes one day when an unfortunate accident leaves him and Pip (Nina Oyama; Utopia), a baby, a yellow sea dragon, homeless.
Mr. Fish was living just fine alone in a shipwrecked vessel when one day Pip came to take some of his kelp, not realizing he lived there. After some arguing, Mr. Fish won the battle, only to find his house was moving and watched as it crashed into Pip's house on the seabed below. Not knowing what to do, Pip enlists Mr. Fish to help her find the elusive Shimmer Fish (Jordin Sparks; Sparkle), who can supposedly grant one person a wish. Hoping Shimmer can restore their houses, Pip and Mr. Fish need to find her before Benji (Remy Hii; Marco Polo), a cuddle fish, finds her and uses up her one wish for his own purposes.
The Pout-Pout Fish certainly knows its audience and doesn't try to expand beyond that. With a simple storyline and vibrant colors throughout the film, it will seem attractive to the toddler through the 7-year-old age range. There are also plenty of laughs to enjoy, and nothing really too complicated to confuse the little ones. The "moral" here is also well thought out and laid out in an easy-to-understand manner, so fans of the books won't be disappointed.
The vocal talent is another attractive aspect of this movie. Offerman is no stranger to animated features, and his experience is easy to see as his emotions come through in every breath, grunt, and syllabus that escapes from his lips. He captures the essence of a pout simply by making a one- or two-word statement. Oyama equally conveys a sense of childlike wonder or worry depending on the lilt of her voice in each scene. Sparks' vocal fluidity matches her character's flowy fins and sweet demeanor. The rest of the cast, including Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy 2002) and Amy Sedaris (Elf), do a wonderful job of bringing these colorful sea creatures to life.
Co-director Ricard Cusso (Scarygirl) is a veteran in the world of animation, and his expertise comes through on The Pout-Pout Fish. Joining him is directing newcomer Rio Harrington, who has previously worked on visual effects for live-action films such as Edge of Tomorrow and the Transformers movies. I can only imagine that his experience with visual effects brought a unique perspective to the world of animation. Together, they make a quality product that will surely be a staple in the homes of parents with young children after the theatrical run has concluded.
The Pout-Pout Fish is a beloved series, so it is no surprise that it was made into an animated film. Luckily, the animation and the story are wonderful, so the target audience will probably want to see it multiple times. While it does have a little bit of a Finding Nemo feel, it is designed for children who are familiar with the books, and as such, it succeeds. Grandparents and parents, be forewarned, you will be taking the little ones to this film (possibly more than once) and probably buying the oodles of merchandise I expect will be available once the movie is released.
The Pout-Pout Fish is playing in theaters on March 20, 2026
Grade: B-
