Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Biodiversity, environmental concerns in marine adventures.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
One Big Ocean
What's the Story?
In ONE BIG OCEAN, Splash (voiced by John Tartaglia) is yearning for an epic adventure somewhere far from home, but his pals Bubbles (Leslie Carrara), Ripple (Aymee Garcia), and Dunk (Raymond Carr) fear that visiting new places will tempt their best friend to leave Reeftown in search of bluer waters. They set out with Splash to follow a friendly sea turtle, but they're mindful not to let Splash get too excited about the new places he sees. Even so, their journey teaches them all kinds of interesting things about the ocean home they share with many other creatures and how even the smallest of gestures can affect their sea community as a whole.
Is It Any Good?
This musical underwater venture teaches kids important lessons about marine life, ecosystems, and the responsibilities everyone has to their respective larger communities. As Splash and his friends ride ocean currents to new places and new friends, they discover that even though they're far from home, they have much in common with all kinds of sea dwellers. A shared sense of purpose emerges, inspiring the characters to look for ways to make small changes that will have a big impact on the ocean -- and its residents -- on the whole.
Of course, educational content is only as good as its presentation, and getting kids to tune in for something for learning purposes can be a trick. Luckily One Big Ocean is more of the same kid-friendly, engaging action that viewers have come to expect from the Splash and Bubbles crew, with similar threads of friendship and diversity throughout. Fun music, unique characters, and vibrant animation make this an excellent choice for preschoolers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about conservation and taking care of the planet. How does One Big Ocean promote taking care of the environment? What steps do you take in your home and school to use resources wisely and not wastefully? Can you think of how these small ripples have a larger effect on the environment?
Splash and his friends learn about how different ocean species coexist in a way that benefits all of them. In what ways is the same true of your family? What happens when someone doesn't do his or her part? How are others negatively affected?
What defines a community? What communities do you belong to? How does a community act as a support system when people need one? Do you see this happening among the characters in this story?
Families can talk about curiosity. Do you like to learn about the world around you? What other character strengths are important?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 16, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : June 12, 2018
- Cast : John Tartaglia , Leslie Carrara , Raymond Carr
- Studio : The Jim Henson Company
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : STEM , Adventures , Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Run time : 60 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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