GO FISHBOY - Animation Short Film 2022 - GOBELINS 

I will not lie-- I did chuckle when I saw the boy flopping in the rain lol, but as the film progressed I realized this was a well-thought out choice. Also, I didn't expect the father to smile at the end, like he was proud of his son. I expected the father to maybe show confusion, anger, or pain, and so the heart-warming ending made me smile.

I love how atmospheric this entire animation is. It doesn't have many words, but it offers some really great depth into these characters and their monotonous programs they are connected to. Being a fish just feels a little... open, full of life and free.

my heart hurts so much for the dad, he was doing his best to take care of his son but sometimes you need to let your children find their own identity and i think the way it was portrayed here was so touching. the color palettes for each scene are also gorgeous!! love how the start/ending both end in the fish market

I interpreted this short film to be about going your own way despite what your parents expect of you. The boy's father wanted to share the sushi trade with him, extend the family lineage of sushi makers, but he never wanted that. He's a "fish" because, like the fish in the sushi shop, he might as well be dead for wanting to be anything else except a sushi maker. When the father sees his son as the fish in the sushi shop, it's his guilt of restricting his son's freedom manifesting. In the ending, the boy jumps into the water to pursue his own dream. His father cries out of worry, but eventually, he realises that his son is flourishing being true to who he really is. He finally understands and accepts his son for himself.

I love the constant tension between fish world and reality, tranquility and sanity. I love how the boy is inserting himself into a fish gradually and eventually becomes one. It’s such a different storytelling, I was expecting the father getting angry, and seeing the fish being cut, however this film is going one step further than us every time. Not showing much expression and saving all the emotion to the climax. Such a cute masterpiece.

The art style and sound design of this is beautiful. The family interactions like the part where the father leaves the room after the kid "comes out" about being a fish and the part where the father starts doing the mixing for him after telling him he's doing it wrong both felt so real and familiar to me. The dialogue timing on this is so perfect and natural even though they don't say much. I appreciate every part of this production. From the animation, to the sound design, down to the scripting. I love it.

He was a fish out of water. I feel like this film was somewhere along the lines of identifying or behaving outside of the norm, especially with that line, "Dad, I think... I'm a fish." The father ended up brushing it off with a response telling him he didn't have the experience or knowledge to even start on that thought (something like that). The symbolism of his profession as a sushi chef, while the son assumed he was a fish represents the role of the fathers participating in some way or directly dealing with "fish" (people who are different in whatever way that is) and he shows remorse when he pictures the son in the same spot as the other fish. Either way I thought it had really deep meaning for such a quirky (in the best way possible) animation.

I'm SORRY BUT I LOST IT WHEN HE START JUMPING LIKE A DYING FISH 😭😭😭🤣

To me this short film is a perfect example of finding your own path, and kind of the awkwardness you face with you parents who ignore your wishes and the future u want for yourself. And then you just have to go for it. You just have to run with the feeling that it is your destiny. You can tell how the dad knew the day would come always stressed and tense when the boy knows what’s best for himself. Beautiful film.

I can relate to this. As a child I befriended a calf on a family members farm. She was a lovely cow I got to name Brownie. A couple summers later I remember one time I was so excited to see Brownie as she had been growing up so much. When I got there and asked where she was, I was laughed at and told she had just gotten back from slaughter and was in the freezer. I was told I could eat her if I wanted. I had a traumatic break down and would not stop sobbing. That was when the connection cemented for me that the cows on their farm were being raised and killed for beef, and that the burgers I had eaten before weren’t some inanimate objects, but the actual ground up muscle of cows just like Brownie, who had emotions, and feelings just like she had. I can remember the realization I had after of how truly horrific, uncaring, and desensitized the world I was living and participating in was. I can also remember how quickly every adult around me was to reinforce that I had to ignore these new feelings, and the desire to do better. Their actions were justified because “this is just how things are.” Maybe this isn’t what the film is trying to portray, but I see a reflection of my younger self and the empathy that the adults in my life tried to actively dissuade and deny. I think many children go through similar experiences were they have realizations of empathy that they desire to act on, but for various reasons they are then made to reject it and continue living with the cognitive dissonance.

The shots and movement of not only the main characters but everyone around them (the crowd) Is very interesting and captivating I could watch this a million times ❤️

3:33-3:40 were some of the best parts lol! The way he just lay there mysteriously and the transition to his dad sitting somewhat confused in the car was great! This animation is great in all :)

People don’t give the people who does the sound effects enough credit. Everything sounds amazing and kept me engaged.

I really love this art style. The rough and jagged lineart is something you don’t see much of in animation nowadays, and I think it’s a bold choice that fits the style of this film. Very good work all around!!!

めっちゃ好きいいいいい　日本人の生活の解像度めっちゃ高いしクレヨンしんちゃんみたいなアートスタイルもストーリーも最高すぎる

The scene where Uotaro puts his head on the cutting board was very impactful, especially with how the dad reacted.

好きすぎてずっと見てる。

Go fishboy go fishboy go!

Man!! this was so strange, totally unique and utterly hypnotising. My utmost respect for exploring an unconventional narrative and executing on it magically!!

this is an incredibly cute and creative story. the art is so visually appealing and it is put together so well, i love it

英語かと思ったら普通に日本語だったの驚いたしクオリティがすごいと思った。

I like the detail on the little fishies bubble of air when he was in the bath

That felt very emotional! Was a pleasure to watch this a per usual :D Bravo you talented people!!1

I love this film! It kind of reminded me of The Vegetarian, a story where a woman wanted to become a tree. The feeling and atmosphere of quiet suppression and small actions that speaks great volumes is really wonderful!

omg this has such old school japanese folktale vibes 😭😭 the strange unfolding of events that really gets you to believe in the world of the story the seamless incorporation of blurring the lines between human and mystical nature and the lesson about bonds between parents and children the scene of the son flopping around in the rain seems so sudden and brief, but it's animated in the same brief and sudden way as it would be told orally in a folktale to spark interest and curiosity the easy dialogue, even kids would understand... the reveal of the son's name in kanji (fish boy) so well done

Something I think is so interesting is how both the father and son are drawn with shaky, wiggly lines. I thought that was just the style of all the people in this piece, until I saw the fish porter swinging his bell near the end-- his face is completely still and crisp. I wonder if this like, anxiety and restlessness carries through each of them because of their ideas of each other and their places in the world (shoutout to Papa's Scooperia Worker, their interpretation is lovely).

You had me the second the boy hugged the fish, this entire movie is so powerful, and made me feel very emotional all along. Thank you so much for sharing.

My interpretation: The fishboy is depressed, and he exhibits signs that strike his dad as odd or strange, but when he tells his dad he’s depressed, it’s brushed off- “no, you can’t be, you’re too young.” So the boy keeps sinking, alone, until finally he takes the dive and leaves his dad full of regret. Awesome short film. This deserves so many awards 👏

独特の雰囲気にいつのまにか引き込まれる。

Interesting fact: the name Uotaro (魚太郎 in kanji) literally means "fish Taro", which is a combination of the kanji for "fish" 魚 (read as "sakana" by itself) and the Japanese masculine name Taro (太郎). Because I was reading the Japanese subs beforehand, I found it interesting that the boy's name itself was like a foreshadowing of sorts and had a much deeper and more nuanced meaning. The English title doesn't even really carry that cultural nuance

The music is just so great... I wish i could listen to it on its own

Love how once the Dad knows that his son is a fish he starts noticing what the son has known all along- that the world is dangerous for a fish. He even notices his own behaviors, which he never thought about before, and how they are harmful to his son and fish. And in the end the son has to face the danger in order to live his truth, and his Dad is supportive even though he doesn't fully understand. I took it as a metaphor for being LGBT+, could apply to many things though, I suppose. Really lovely :)

this leaves a sense of unease yet the animation captivates you from beginning to end. i love the atmosphere, quietness and hidden message. living life as a fish acts a yearning for freedom and escape. despite the constant tears the dad shed at the end, he eventually accepted for what was bound to happen. amazing job to the animation team~ !

魚太郎は寿司屋を継ぐ以外にやりたいことがあって お父さんはそれを否定している 最後魚太郎が海に行ってしまった時お父さんが何故だか嬉しそうなのは お父さんにも魚太郎のような思いがあったが、寿司屋を継いでしまったのでそれを否定してくれた魚太郎に感謝してるからかな 中2なのでこのくらいの考察ですが悪しからず

Masterfully crafted, great atmosphere, music did a lot for me here, and the pace of every scene was perfect in my opinion. Congratulations to everyone involved

This animation is fantastic! Incredible story telling and amazing art skills. Love the beautiful colors and the sound design, great work.

Yes! Waiting patiently for the new masterpiece

this film made me cry. i was really moved by the desperation of the father at the end, as well as how real and understated the "coming out" part was.

These Gobelins films never fail to blow my mind.

this touched me surprisingly very deeply that I am in tears right now.

I interpreted this as a son who did not want to follow his father’s footsteps and desires to understand himself in the expansive world of the “ocean”, where he could interact with others on a more equal level than when he stood in his father’s shadow. However, his desire to remove himself from his father’s protection will also increase his chances of being another fish consumed in the demanding market, where he will die for another’s pleasure, and his father, who is unwilling to jump in to save him, because he refused to or couldn’t swim, can only helplessly see his son flow into a lower status that lingers between life and death. In the end, we won’t know where the son will go, whether he will end on someone else’s plate or flow freely in the depths of the ocean, but the father seems to always be in the same status, standing in the crowded market, staring out into the ocean where his son could or could not be.

Es hermoso. Ojala netflix sacara algo asi. La musica y la animacion de 10

i got so worried when the kid disappeared in the end, this animation is so well done!

Wow! Very unusual art style and the sound design ist so amazing. My favorite scene was the reflection of his father in the knife, so amazing!

ДО СЛЕЗ! ЭТО ЧУДЕСНАЯ АНИМАЦИЯ!

I can relate to this character's fishy movements at 2:31 because I've had experienced a bunch of seizures. I looked like a dying grasshopper at that time.

Gobelins never cease to amaze me, oh to have such creativity like these animation students-

This was so atmospheric and a masterpiece- but I can’t get over him flopping around in the rain 😭

I kinda love this father in a way. "Dad, I think I'm a fish" Dad, not questioning it "But you don't know how to swim.."

This was just incredible, from start to finish, the atmosphere, the art style, the colours, the line work, the story it was all just beyond words, truly beautiful work

This made me fall in love with film all over again.

amazing amazing music!

A sensitive and beautiful film. I felt that it was dealing with the fact that what feels right to one generation is not necessarily good for the next one. This is true not only for eating animals but also for other morals that change from generation to generation.

I love the art style and the realisation is very cinematographic I love it when story take just the time to show things the ambients is better thie way Would totally watch à movie like this Funny too

This has to be my favorite gobelins I’ve watched yet! The VA is amazing and the music is just phenomenal wow. I was 1000% absorbed. *muah* 💕

Андрей Колесов, спасибо за такую прекрасную работу! ☀

Therian and animator weighing in: a masterpiece in both departments. You got it. This is what it feels like.

I interpreted this all literally. The boy was insane and really thought that he was a fish, his dad didn't put him into a hospital for some reasons we don't know and so kept him with himself all the time but once the boy had tried to swim and drawn.

wow, so gorgeously executed... the sound design and music is amazingly immersive, and so is the cinematography. i could almost smell the briny fishy smell at the markets! such a pleasure to watch, and well-written story

cant bloody wait!!!

Bonjour!c’est très beaux j’aime beaucoup l’atmosphère de ce court métrage d’animation et la manière qu’on les personnages d’interagir entre eux.Merci!

Интересная короткометражка с достаточно глубоким смыслом и красотами сюжета вообще всех этих персонажей. Моё почтение, аниматоры

Beautiful. Soundtracks is amazing :)

Now, can we have the next installment with the Fishboy realizes that he has to either eat fish to survive or subsist on algae and become others' lunch?😅

I know this is meant to be profound and artistic and what not, but 2:28 is fucking hysterical

i find that a lot of these gobelins shorts have the problem of poorly implemented music. However, this one's mix is very well done. To have a well made soundtrack it must be dynamic, be the proper volume at the right times, and be fitting for the setting and tone of each scene. Many other gobelins shorts have music that simply feels like an afterthought.

La musique m'a tellement emu

best thing I've watched in a long time. It touched me.

mane this is so beautiful i hope fishboy is doing good

i love this. i did not expect to cry but i did.

Oh, so that's what my father understood when i came out

Can't wait!

I love how this film, despite being very chill, convinced me for a second that this man chopped his fish son up. That bit when the dad is seated alone in the car had me questioning whether or not he killed him, amazing job.

The animation is such a unique rough yet cartoon style. But I was distracted when THE BOY WAS FLOPPING LIKE A FISH HAHAHA 🤣

When compassion for what one consumes becomes all consuming

Loved it all, but have to mention how awesome the soundtrack is! (I thought it might be Disasterpeace at first.)

"Go Fishboy" est un film d'animation avec un style très particulier. Je peux presque le comparer à ceux des années 90. L'atmosphère est calme et apaisante. C'est une histoire triste d'un garçon qui travaille avec son père dans un restaurant de sushi et qui a un attachement bizarre avec les poissons , il parle a son père mais il l'ignore, jusqu'au moment ou il se jette dans le port pour accomplir son reve. Je pense que c'est une metaphore pour les enfants avec des soucis mentaux.

Loved this one! So subtle but also direct.

wonderful short film, very heartfelt. ponyo in an alternate universe.

Ce film m'a vraiment plu.Le personnage Uotara m'a donné une émotion émouvante et inexplicable.Au début,il aidait son pể à préparer les Sushis au marché.Mais au moment que son père coupe la tête du poisson,sa pensée a complètement changé.À la maison, il s'est entraîné à devenir un poisson en pleine rue sous la pluie même s'il ne sait pas du tout nager.Une autre fois,comme d'habitude,il allait au marché avec son père.Mais soudain,il s'est échappé et s'est jeté dans la mer pour réaliser son rêve.C'était une fin triste car il a laissé son père tout seul.On ne saura jamais s'il deviendra un poisson ou pas ou dans quel océan il ira,mais on sait juste qu'il a réalisé son rêve.Grâce au film,j'ai pu avoir une bonne morale.Le bonheur de la vie est de pouvoir faire ce qu'on veut ou ce qu'on aime...

It’s like ponyo but reverse ❤

i love how the feelings was sent to my heart when the fishboy was moving like a fish in road full of water in a rainy day... how amazing it felt

I think the father avoided becoming a fish too by killing fish, separating himself from his nature. That's why he was so panicked at the site of Uotaro at the dock, since he knew he wouldn't be able to save him if he lept in. In the same way, the father is alienated from his own individuality because of tradition, but Uotaro was able to break the chain.

An interesting story and a cool animation, looks really good, thank you!

こんな綺麗な作品に出会えて良かった🥰 感謝🙏✨

한국인지만 옛날 중화풍 동경분위기를 좋아하는 사람으로써 밴드원분들의 스타일과 뮤비의 미학이 너무 좋아요! 노래도 뮤비랑 잘 어울려서 계속 잘 되길 바라는 마음뿐입니다! 특히 락을 좋아하는 사람으로써 뒤에 일렉이 너무 좋았어요!

Everyone talks about how incredible this film and I agree with that, but the scene 2:30, watta heck is it 😂

This may sound weird but this reminds me of my dad and me

I hope he has plenty of other fish friends now

C'est fascinant! Il n'y a pas un Japonais dans l'équipe mais ils ont décidé d'utiliser le Japon comme décor à cette histoire.

first

日本の風景がしっかり描かれてて素敵。 魚太郎は魚の心に近い存在だったのかな？

NO HELP I THOUGHT THE FATHER ACTUALLY CHOPPED HIS SON WHEN IT WAS THAT ONE CAR SCENE

Many metaphor can be used to perceive the meaning of this wonderful animation. I agree it as finding identity. Kotaro since the start sees himself 'as' a fish, not 'want' to be a fish. When Kotaro saw fish, he regarded it as one of his own not animal nor food. So he treated fishes gently and imitates it. Kotaro confessed to his father about his identity, where his father said that he can't swim. Since Kotaro can't swim, he can't be a fish. This is a potray about reality that people way of living is full of stereotype. In the end, Kotaro become a being he believes as himself and his father can't stop him. There is sadness, but the father accepts Kotaro choice. I love it in the end animator didn't make Kotaro's hand become a fin. They still hand, only Kotaro's point of view become what fish has. Naturally we can't change what we born as, no matter how our soul want us to be. We are not born with gender that naturally can change like Clown Fish; born male, when adult become female. I wish any human being in this earth proud of their born gender. What we need to fix is stereotype such as; only women called pretty and only men called handsome. Only women do the housework and only men do the work outside. Only women can be praised and only men can be avowed.

GO FISHBOY!!

excellent sound design.

this film really captured "ma"

2:00 I love when he goes underwater you can see his bubbles are the shape of fish

I REALLY love the sound design❤

I just realized he wore his glasses underwater 😂love it