The Pout-Pout Fish (2026)
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2025-09 to 2026-08 · Missing measurements appear as gaps.
The story
Mr. Fish, a glum and gloomy resident of a coral reef society, meets a hyperactive baby sea dragon named Pip at his shipwreck home. Pip requires assistance expanding her residence to house her hundreds of siblings. Although Mr. Fish initially refuses, the two are forced to work together after their homes are destroyed. They decide to seek out Shimmer, a mysterious fish rumored to grant wishes. Meanwhile, in an abyss beneath the reef, a pod of cuttlefish led by Marin faces relocation due to kelp growth. Her son, Benji, also seeks out Shimmer, creating a race between the two groups to find the wish-granting fish.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Mr. Fish, a gloomy ocean pout, and Pip, a hyperactive baby seadragon, travel to find Shimmer, a wish-granting fish, after their homes are destroyed. Along the way, they rescue jellyfish, help dolphins, and assist a mother whale. They are eventually joined by Benji, a cuttlefish from an abyss threatened by kelp growth. Upon reaching Shimmer, Benji kidnaps her, only to discover she cannot actually grant wishes. The cuttlefish relocate to the reef, and Marin disowns Benji. To save the reef from the kelp, Mr. Fish and Pip rally the animals they helped to remove the growth. Afterward, Mr. Fish's home is rebuilt, and Pip's family moves into a cruise shipwreck. Pip reveals that the film depicts a story she wrote called 'The Pout-Pout Fish'. In a final comedic beat, Mr. Fish tries to ask Shimmer out, unaware that an eel has accidentally destroyed his home again.
- First release year
- 2026
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- Australia; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ricard Cussó
- Writers
- Elise Allen · writer; Elie Choufany · writer; Dominic Morris · writer
- Cast and characters
- Nick Offerman · Mr. Fish; Nina Oyama · Pip; Miranda Otto · Marin; Remy Hii · Benji; Mark Coles Smith · Hector; Nazeem Hussain · Archie; Jordin Sparks · Shimmer; Amy Sedaris · Brigitta, Greta and Karina
- Genres
- animated; comedy; adventure; fantasy; children's
- Themes
- friendship; cooperation; overcoming gloom
- Tone and mood
- animated; comedy; adventure
- Setting
- A coral reef society and an underwater abyss.
- Premise and plot tags
- fish; talking animals; children's book adaptation
- Source material / true-story basis
- children's book by Deborah Diesen
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics.
- Production trivia
- The film is based on a story written by Pip.; The film features a character who is a mystical pink Siamese fighting fish.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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