The Pout-Pout Fish * This Movie Brings A Fun And Energetic Vibe To Every Situation And I Love It
The Pout-Pout Fish is the hilarious and heartwarming story of an unlikely duo: Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) a pouty introvert and Pip (Nina Oyama) an energetic sea dragon, who embark on a daunting quest to find a legendary fish to grant their wish to save their homes. Also stars Jordin Sparks and Amy Sedaris.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brooklyn S. comments, “Right from the start, this movie brings a fun and energetic vibe to every situation and I love it. Whether it’s the characters or the witty jokes, I was constantly laughing.” Julie O. adds, “The film’s animation is smooth and in a fresh new style, with bright vibrant colors. I like the voice acting; I especially like that most of the characters have an Australian accent since that is where the story takes place. I also enjoyed how the film has two different story lines which are well developed, have good pacing, and are easy to follow.” Ashish S. wraps it up with, “There are a plethora of great things about this movie, but the visual design really stands out. The animation of the characters is really high-quality, and the background design is eye-catching.” See their full reviews below.
The Pout-Pout Fish
By Brooklyn S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 11
Can a permanent frown really be turned upside down? Right from the start, this movie brings a fun and energetic vibe to every situation and I love it. Whether it’s the characters or the witty jokes, I was constantly laughing. Even though the movie is called The Pout-Pout Fish, there was always a smile on my face while watching this.
The Pout-Pout Fish follows two unlikely friends, Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) and Pip (Nina Oyama). When both their homes are destroyed, this fish and sea dragon duo embark on a quest for a legendary fish that grants wishes. This hilarious and heartwarming movie shows how Mr. Fish realizes maybe he doesn’t need to be grumpy all the time.
I love how catchy the music is. It really fits the emotion of the scene in each moment. The music definitely sets the tone for the movie. Next, I cannot express enough how funny the characters are. Pip, the adorable sea dragon, brings her humor and chaos to finally bring a smile to Mr. Fish’s face. She is the reason why his personality changes so much throughout the film. Every part with Pip made me laugh! I have to give praise to the screenwriter for creating Mr. Fish’s backstory. It really adds depth to the character and is not included in the original book, The Pout-Pout Fish. Lastly, I love the action and adventure-filled parts the best. These are my favorite because they go really fast and keep me interested. An example is when Mr. Fish and Pip are swimming away from the pink dolphins trying to chase them. The music, funny characters, and action-filled scenes all contribute to making this a great film.
The film’s message is that anything can be accomplished if you think positively and help others. Pip always strives to help others and keeps a positive mindset no matter what. Be aware that some scenes may be scary for younger children.
I give The Pout-Pout Fish 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It is available in theatres on March 20, 2026.
The Pout-Pout Fish
By Julie O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
The Pout-Pout Fish is a cute, fun adventure movie that highlights the importance of helping those in need and the importance of friendship.
The Pout-Pout Fish is an animated movie based on the children’s book by the same name by Deborah Diesen. The film, however, follows a different story line. Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) is a solitary fish that likes to be left alone. He has an encounter with a small sea dragon named Pip (Nina Oyama) and the two go on an adventure to try to find her family a new home. Meanwhile, a group of Cuttlefish are forced with a difficult decision and the two stories intertwine on a journey to get the help they need.
The film’s animation is smooth and in a fresh new style, with bright vibrant colors. I like the voice acting; I especially like that most of the characters have an Australian accent since that is where the story takes place. I also enjoyed how the film has two different story lines which are well developed, have good pacing, and are easy to follow. My favorite part of the film is when Mr. Fish and Pip visit the Dolphin Cove because of the pop culture references. I appreciate that the film includes factual details about sea creatures. For example, I learned that cuttlefish can hypnotize their prey. The film also has a lot of humor and some adult references to modern culture.
The film’s main message is the idea of helping others, even if it is inconvenient, because it can have a lasting impact. I also love the messages about how you never know who might end up becoming your friend and how important it is to work together towards a common goal. Parents should be aware that the film uses creative ocean terms as workarounds for profanity words.
I give The Pout-Pout Fish 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. The Pout-Pout Fish releases in cinemas on March 20, 2026.
The Pout-Pout Fish
By Ashish S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17
The Pout-Pout Fish is a new and exciting animated film that I really enjoyed, due to its emotional yet adventurous plot, funny scenes, and stunning animated visuals.
The storyline follows an always upset-looking fish called Mr. Fish (Nick Offerman) and a happy and energetic sea dragon named Pip (Nina Oyama). When both of their homes unexpectedly collapse, they go on a journey to find Shimmer (Jordin Sparks) who can grant them their wish of it being restored. Simultaneously, they have to race against Archie (Nazeem Husain) who is also looking for Shimmer so that he doesn’t have to leave the abyss.
There are a plethora of great things about this movie, but the visual design really stands out. The animation of the characters is really high-quality, and the background design is eye-catching. In addition, all of the characters’ expressions seem realistic and fun, despite them being animals. An example of this is the vivid and eye-catching color of the pink dolphins that Mr. Fish and Pip encounter towards the beginning of their journey. The plot also stands out; it involves the two fishes going on a long and cinematic journey through the ocean to find Shimmer, encountering various obstacles along the way. The journey also brings them closer together, and provides revelations about each other that they would not have known beforehand. My favorite part of the film is the character of Mr. Fish. Nick Offerman’s voice acting performance is deep. He aptly portrays Mr. Fish as a deep and grumpy guy, but brings out his softer side. Flashbacks reveal traumatic events from his childhood that make him the way that he is, and with Pip’s help, he is able to recover from that.
The film’s message places an emphasis on helping others. Regardless of whether or not it will be inconvenient to you, the film encourages you to support others when they need it and see the world through a more positive lens. Friendship is also a prominent theme, primarily shown through the relationship between Mr. Fish and Pip, as well as the journey they go on together.
I give The Pout-Pout Fish 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8, plus adults. The Pout-Pout Fish releases in theaters on Friday, March 20, 2026.
