Back to the Sea

This article is about the Chinese film. For the Disney film, see The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.

Back to the Sea (simplified Chinese: 重返大海; traditional Chinese: 返回大海; pinyin: Chóng fǎn dàhǎi) is a 2012 3D traditional animated family comedy film written and directed by Thom Lu. It was released on January 27, 2012, in Canada and November 16, 2012, in the United States.

Back to the Sea
Directed by	Thom Lu
Written by	Thom Lu James D. Mortellaro Calvin Yao
Produced by	Calvin Yao
Starring	Yuri Lowenthal Kath Soucie Tom Kenny Mark Hamill Tim Curry Christian Slater
Cinematography	Ono Yao
Edited by	Thom Lu
Music by	Gordon McGhie
Production companies	Glory & Dream Entertainment IndustryWorks Pictures Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation China Television Artists Association Nanjing University of Finance and Economics Nanjing Film and Television Animation Training Base
Distributed by	Viva Pictures (United States) Yinrun Pictures (China)
Release dates	January 27, 2012 (2012-01-27) (Canada) November 16, 2012 (2012-11-16) (United States) December 30, 2012 (China)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	China United States
Languages	Mandarin English

Plot

Kevin the flying fish and his family and friends live a happy and carefree life in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. But Kevin has a cherished dream - to get to Barbados, to the flying fish kingdom. His thirst for adventures leads him to the Rock of Fame, where a family treasure - a huge pearl, is hidden. Kevin gets captured by fishers and then finds himself in an aquarium of a popular Chinese restaurant. It seems that his fate is decided, but suddenly a small boy comes to the aid of Kevin.

Voice cast

• Yuri Lowenthal as Kevin, a blue and orange flying fish, the main protagonist
• Kath Soucie as Shaobao, a young Chinese American boy who wants to free Kevin from the aquarium
• Tom Kenny as Ben, a green surgeonfish
• Mark Hamill as Bunker an octopus sushiman
• Matthew Yang King as Dabao, Shaobao's father
• Tim Curry as Eric, a flying fish who are Kevin's father
• Christian Slater as Jack, a villainous detective who is responsible for transporting stolen goods
• Tara Strong as Sammy, a female yellow and black canary rockfish
• James Sie as Cook Liu, a man who works as a Chef in the Chinese restaurant
• Sam Riegel as Short Seagull
• Fred Tatasciore as Fat Seagull
• Ali Hillis as Teaching Fish, an orange, yellow and black angelfish who acts as a teacher in the aquarium
• Chris Edgerly as Clean Fish, a French-accented remora
• John DiMaggio as Boss
• Annie Mumolo as Danny
• Nolan North as Farley, a flying fish
• Kate Higgins as Little Fish
• Ogie Banks as Richard, a teal-colored mackerel
• Gwendoline Yeo as Waitress
• Hynden Walch as Tiny Fish
• Justin Cowden as Marvin a shrimp
• Andrew Dolan as Pat Down Cop

Release

This film was released in theaters in Canada in 3D and regular "2D" formats on January 27, 2012. It got a limited release in the United States on November 16, 2012, distributed by Viva Pictures and then in China by Yinrun Pictures on December 30, 2012.

Reception

Barbara Shulgasser-Parker from Common Sense Media rated the film two stars out of five, saying "Bland fish tale is a Finding Nemo wannabe."^[1]

Music

The film's score is composed by Gordon McGhie. This film features the popular song What a Wonderful World from Louis Armstrong.