GO FISHBOY - Animation Short Film 2022 - GOBELINS

A respected chef from a lineage of sushi makers attempts to connect with his son through the shared knowledge of the family trade. Tensions arise as he begins to notice a strange pattern of behavior in the young boy.

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Directors / Réalisateurs : Denise CIRONE, Sebastian DORINGER, Andrey KOLESOV , Chiayu LIU, Zhen TIAN, Lan ZHOU
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Soundtrack / Musique : Jürgen BRANZ
Sound editor / Montage sonore : Mathieu TIGER
Mix / Mixage : Mathieu TIGER
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[thatverseguy]

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.

[youyouphan]

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.

[papasscooperiaworker]

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.

[lemongacha]

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

[chrisxu]

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.

[purplegluestick]

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.

[Fluff_Noodles]

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.

[presleysammons]

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.

[Mother_of_Pigeons]

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.

[Bunny]

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

[The_AceEmpress]

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!!!

[mumblethedevil]

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 ❤️

[judahn]

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 :)

[frogbitpt]

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

[AlarSenpu]

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

[thursday_concerns]

Man!! this was so strange, totally unique and utterly hypnotising. My utmost respect for exploring an unconventional narrative and executing on it magically!! <33

[cam_rie]

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

[because]

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

[just_juules]

That felt very emotional! Was a pleasure to watch this a per usual :D
Bravo you talented people!!1 <3

[Immortal-Daiki]

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