‘The Pout-Pout Fish’ Scales Up with Voice Stars Nick Offerman, Amy Sedaris & More

Like a Photon Creative and MIMO Studios have added six to the voice cast of The Pout-Pout Fish, its upcoming animated film adaptation of Deborah Diesen’s New York Times bestselling preschool book franchise. The new cast members are Emmy winner Nick Offerman, Emmy nominee Amy Sedaris, Nina Oyama, Grammy nominee Jordin Sparks, SAG Award winner Miranda Otto and Remy Hii.

Synopsis: The Pout-Pout Fish is the story of an unlikely duo: Mr. Fish (Offerman), a pouty recluse, and Pip (Oyama), a high-energy sea dragon. When catastrophe strikes, they must embark on a daunting, undersea quest in search of a fabled mythical fish to grant their wish to save their homes. A seemingly impossible mission into the great unknown, their adventure is littered with infuriating roadblocks, unexpected dangers, dazzling wonders, irrepressible characters, and heart-pounding excitement. But the most turbulent territory lies inside, as our heroes come face to face with their greatest fears. Racing against them is a precocious teenage cuttlefish called Benji (Hii), as these subaquatic misfits call upon all the strength, friendships, and wisdom they’ve gained on their journeys to try to save the places that mean most to them.

The Pout-Pout Fish is being produced by Cyma Zarghami and Madeira Ginley for MIMO Studios, alongside Like a Photon Creative’s Kristen Souvlis and Nadine Bates. The film is being directed by Ricard Cussó and co-directed by Rio Harrington, with Cosmic Dino Studios doing the animation. Sola Media is serving as the distributor for the 85-minute feature film and handling sales. Macmillan Publishers executive produced the film as well as financed with the assistance of Alceon Entertainment and Eclectik Vision and through Screen Queensland’s PDV incentive.

The original book series, written by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna, spans more than 40 titles and has sold over 10 million copies since its release in 2008. In addition to being a New York Times bestseller, The Pout-Pout Fish was named by TIME as one of the Ten Best Children’s Books of 2008 and received the Bank Street Award for Best Children’s Book of the Year.

Nick Offerman is an actor, author, humorist and woodworker whose credits include the Emmy award-winning role of Bill in The Last of Us (HBO), Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks & Recreation, Forest in Devs and Karl Weathers in the FX series Fargo. He is also the voice of Beef Tobin in the FOX animated series The Great North. Recent and upcoming projects include The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Death by Lightning (Netflix), Sovereign, Alex Garland’s Civil War, Ava DuVrenay’s Origin, Dumb Money, The Resort (Peacock), Pam & Tommy (Hulu), A League of Their Own (Prime Video) and NBC’s Making It (co-host and executive producer).

Amy Sedaris is an Emmy-nominated actress, comedian and writer. Since rising to prominence for her role as Jerri Blank in Strangers with Candy, which she co-created for Comedy Central, she has appeared in such hit films as Elf, Chef, School of Rock, Bewitched, Shrek the Third and The Secret Life of Pets. In television, she is known for her work on The Mandalorian, BoJack Horseman and her Emmy-nominated series At Home with Amy Sedaris. Sedaris is also a New York Times bestselling author.

Nina Oyama is an Australian comedian, writer and actress. She is known for playing ditzy receptionist Courtney on Utopia, doing comedic reporting on Tonightly with Tom Ballard and The Weekly, and performing stand up on Just for Laughs Sydney. This year, she won an AACTA Award, Australia’s most prestigious honor in film and television, having been nominated for four separate roles. Oyama began writing for television at age 19.

Jordin Sparks is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. In addition to her successful music career, she has appeared in films and series including Sparkle and the Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. She also starred in the Broadway hit In the Heights.

Miranda Otto is an Australian film, television and theater actress best known for her role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. She has also appeared in films including the Best Picture nominee The Thin Red Line, War of the Worlds and Annabelle: Creation; series including Emmy winner Homeland and Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and on Broadway. She can be heard reprising her role as Éowyn in the upcoming animated feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. 

Remy Hii has appeared in such noteworthy films as Crazy Rich Asians and Spider-Man: Far from Home, and series including Netflix’s Marco Polo and Emmy winner Arcane, as well as ABC’s Harrow.

Offerman, Sedaris, and Sparks are represented by UTA. Oyama is represented by Buxstock Entertainment. Otto is represented by Gersh, Shanahan Management, and United Agents. Hii is represented by Innovative Artists and RGM Artists.