Big Fish & Begonia
Beyond the human realm, there is a magical race of beings who control the tides and the changing of the seasons. One of these beings, a young girl named Chun, seeks something more—she wants to experience the human world! At sixteen, she finally gets her chance and transforms into a dolphin in order to explore the world that has her fascinated. But she soon discovers that it's a dangerous place and nearly gets killed in a vortex. Luckily, her life is spared when a young boy sacrifices himself to save her. Moved by his kindness and courage, she uses magic to bring him back to life only to learn that this power comes at a serious price. On a new adventure, she’ll have to make her own sacrifices in order to protect his soul until it is ready to return to the human world.
Despite its modest budget of $4.5M, Big Fish & Begonia became a runaway success, earning $84.6M worldwide—a remarkable 1766% return. The film's distinctive approach connected with viewers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Big Fish & Begonia (2016) exhibits carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Liang Xuan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Chun
Qiu
Kun
Lingpo
Main Cast & Characters
Chun
Played by Guanlin Ji
A young girl from a mystical realm who transforms into a red dolphin to explore the human world and must protect a human boy's soul.
Qiu
Played by Shangqing Su
Chun's childhood friend and guardian who controls autumn and sacrifices everything to protect her.
Kun
Played by Timmy Xu
A human boy who drowns saving Chun; his soul is reborn as a magical fish that Chun raises in secret.
Lingpo
Played by Shulan Pan
The mysterious soul keeper and mentor who helps Chun resurrect Kun but warns of the consequences.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chun narrates her world beneath the sea where magical beings control natural phenomena. She lives in an ordered mystical realm preparing for her coming-of-age ritual at sixteen.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when During her ritual visit to the human world as a red dolphin, Chun becomes trapped in a fishing net. A human boy rescues her but drowns in the process, sacrificing his life to save hers.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Chun makes a deal with the Soul Keeper, trading half her lifespan to resurrect the boy's soul as a small fish named Kun. She commits to nurturing him until he can return to the human world, crossing into a forbidden path., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Kun is discovered by the community. The elders declare him an abomination that disrupts natural order and threatens their world with disasters. Chun is exposed and must face judgment for her violation of sacred laws., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Qiu sacrifices his life to save Chun and Kun, transforming into begonia flowers. His death devastates Chun, and she realizes the true cost of her choices. Everything she loves has been destroyed or corrupted by her defiance of natural order., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Chun learns she can trade her entire existence to restore balance and send Kun home. Understanding the true meaning of love and sacrifice that Qiu showed her, she chooses to give everything to complete the cycle and honor both sacrifices., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Big Fish & Begonia's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Big Fish & Begonia against these established plot points, we can identify how Liang Xuan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Big Fish & Begonia within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chun narrates her world beneath the sea where magical beings control natural phenomena. She lives in an ordered mystical realm preparing for her coming-of-age ritual at sixteen.
Theme
Chun's grandfather tells her that all living beings are connected and debts must be repaid. This establishes the film's central theme about sacrifice, interconnectedness, and the price of love.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the dual worlds: the magical realm beneath the ocean where Chun lives, and the human world above. Introduction of the rules governing travel between worlds and the responsibilities of the Other People who control nature.
Disruption
During her ritual visit to the human world as a red dolphin, Chun becomes trapped in a fishing net. A human boy rescues her but drowns in the process, sacrificing his life to save hers.
Resistance
Chun is devastated by guilt. She seeks out the Soul Keeper and learns she can resurrect the boy, but it will require an enormous sacrifice. She debates whether to defy natural law and risk everything to restore the life that was lost for her.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Chun makes a deal with the Soul Keeper, trading half her lifespan to resurrect the boy's soul as a small fish named Kun. She commits to nurturing him until he can return to the human world, crossing into a forbidden path.
Mirror World
Qiu, Chun's childhood friend who has always loved her, discovers her secret. He represents selfless love and becomes her protector, helping hide and care for Kun despite the danger. Their relationship deepens as he supports her mission.
Premise
Chun secretly raises Kun from a tiny fish to an enormous creature, forming a deep bond with him. She experiences the joy and wonder of nurturing life while navigating the complications of hiding him and her growing feelings for both Kun and Qiu.
Midpoint
Kun is discovered by the community. The elders declare him an abomination that disrupts natural order and threatens their world with disasters. Chun is exposed and must face judgment for her violation of sacred laws.
Opposition
The magical realm experiences catastrophic floods and destruction blamed on Kun's presence. Chun faces persecution from her people. Qiu makes increasingly dangerous sacrifices to protect both Chun and Kun as forces align to destroy them.
Collapse
Qiu sacrifices his life to save Chun and Kun, transforming into begonia flowers. His death devastates Chun, and she realizes the true cost of her choices. Everything she loves has been destroyed or corrupted by her defiance of natural order.
Crisis
Chun mourns Qiu and confronts the devastating consequences of her actions. She faces the ultimate question: complete her mission to return Kun to the human world, or surrender to despair and let everything have been in vain.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Chun learns she can trade her entire existence to restore balance and send Kun home. Understanding the true meaning of love and sacrifice that Qiu showed her, she chooses to give everything to complete the cycle and honor both sacrifices.
Synthesis
Chun undergoes the final transformation to send Kun back to the human world as a massive fish that becomes a bird. She sacrifices herself, and in doing so, restores balance. The magical realm is saved, and both debts are finally repaid.
Transformation
In the human world, Kun is restored to human form. The cycle completes as Chun and Qiu are reborn together in the human world, suggesting that love and sacrifice transcend death and that all souls are eternally connected across realms.