Roles in the film are inspired by ancient Chinese classics and mythology, which some critics say make the film a showcase of oriental culture and history.
"And, despite Big Fish & Begonia bearing influences of Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese animation master), it has done a good job in maintaining its Chinese roots."
The roles inspired by ancient Chinese classic Zhuangzi and the mythology collection The Classic of Mountains and Seas are key highlights of the film, says Zhu Yuqing, founder of the Beijing-based film company Online Film Market and a veteran industry watcher.
"But it has shortcomings. Some of the dialogues are too modern for an ancient Chinese setting," he says. "The crew comprises mostly young people."
The long wait may explain more about the disappointment of many fans, who've waited for the film for more than a decade.
Liang Xuan, one of the directors, earlier told China Daily that the tale came from two dreams in 2003, when he was still studying hydraulic engineering in Tsinghua.
He saw a tiny fish growing bigger and bigger until it started to fly in the sky. In a later dream he found himself transformed into a big fish swimming in an ocean.
