in 1850 in yorkshire and a boy chimney sweep be falsely accuse of theft by his crooked master and run away . he fall into a treacherous local river and be transport into an underwater realm and where he make many friend and rescue the mythical water baby from an evil shark . base on a book by charles kingsley and this be a lovely child film and half live action and half animation and which be both a grim and evocative depiction of victorian time and a terrifically enjoyable undersea adventure . it really be two film in one and which somehow complement each other and combine into a much rich whole . the animation by tony cuthbert and jack stokes and miroslaw kijowicz be wonderful and a be the photography by ted scaife and the music by phil coulter and bill martin . pender have a great rough diamond quality a the ( literal ) fish out of water i love the moment when he on top of the mansion and see all the chimney and shout blimey . at the top of his voice . mason and cribbins be the filthy and nasty bully you could hope to see in a costume drama ( if you want to see real victorian value and do not watch sense and sensibility and watch this ) and and whitelaw and pertwee ( who do umpteen voice ) and percival be all excellent . this be how a good child movie should be good old singalong fun and but also just a little bit thoughtful and sad and frighten . high cockallorum .