Nick Offerman brings his signature dry wit to the ocean floor in The Pout-Pout Fish: a visually stunning, heartwarming dive into joy and friendship.
If you have spent any significant amount of time around toddlers in the last decade, you likely know Deborah Diesen’s The Pout-Pout Fish by heart. I certainly do. I have read that book to my daughters more times than I can count. When I heard that a 2026 big-screen adaptation was in the works, I was excited. And despite them being teenagers now, they were thrilled too.
But one big question came to mind. How do you take a simple, charming picture book about a gloomy fish and turn it into a feature-length cinematic experience? As it turns out, you do it by expanding the world and casting a comedy legend.
Nick Offerman as Mr. Fish is, quite frankly, a stroke of genius. Offerman has built a career on embodying stoic, grumbling, yet secretly soft-hearted characters. Playing a grumpy, introverted fish who thinks his pout-pout face is a permanent destiny is right in his wheelhouse. He brings a dry, deadpan delivery to the first act that will have viewers of all ages giggling.
But a movie can’t just be a fish sulking for ninety minutes. The story truly shines when Pip, an energetic sea dragon voiced by Nina Oyama, quite literally bursts onto the screen. Pip is the ultimate foil to Mr. Fish’s gloom. Oyama delivers an infectious, high-energy performance that makes Pip instantly lovable. She’s the spark plug of the film, and kids are going to be absolutely obsessed with her.
Through the incredible nuance of the animation and Offerman’s vocal performance, you can see Mr. Fish slowly start to come around. Watching his transformation as he tries (and fails) to resist Pip’s joy is deeply heartwarming. It’s a testament to the filmmakers that they managed to make a fish feel so profoundly human.
While the original book focuses on a singular message – understanding your own identity and not letting others define your mood – the film successfully expands the lore. We get to see a vibrant, bustling underwater world that feels lived-in and meet so many wonderful characters. The quest to find a legendary fish to save their homes (Jordin Sparks’ gorgeous Shimmer) adds a layer of adventure that the book didn’t have, but it never loses the soul of the source material.
The animation is, in a word, stunning. It is clear that everyone who worked on this film put in their best effort. The fish fins as hands is one of my favorite touches, but there are so many. The animation creates an immersive atmosphere that makes the scary parts of the quest feel exciting, and the homey parts feel cozy.
Beyond the jokes and the visuals, The Pout-Pout Fish weaves in some vital life lessons. In a world that can often feel a bit overwhelming, the film’s emphasis on kindness, empathy, and being there for others is incredibly timely. It teaches kids that while it’s okay to feel pouty or introverted, opening yourself up to friendship can change your entire world. It also carries that important message from the book: knowing who you are rather than letting the world tell you who you should be.
This is a rare adaptation that honors the spirit of the original while adding enough depth to satisfy a wider audience. Whether you’re a parent who has the book memorized or a newcomer looking for a feel-good adventure, The Pout-Pout Fish delivers. It’s an adorable, funny, and entertaining journey that proves even the gloomiest fish can find a reason to smile.
About The Pout-Pout Fish
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.
The Pout-Pout Fish comes to theaters March 20th.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.