Fishtales

Fishtales is an enchanting recreation of the classic fish-out-of-water story, brought to life through the imaginations and prowess of creators Evan Tramel and Jesse Baget. This movie ushers the viewers into a realm bound by the possibilities of folklore and the realities of human existence. Swaddled in a luminescent glow of underwater aesthetics, Fishtales stands as a proud testament to the enduring allure of mythical creatures and the timeless pursuit of love and fulfillment.

In Fishtales, Tramel and Baget serve up a whimsical mix of characters, captivating storylines and elements of comedy and romance that collaborate to unfurl a magical carpet of cinematic adventure and excitement. The narrative of Fishtales orbits around the lives of its main characters, a widowed father, and his young daughter.

A focal character is Professor Thomas Bradley, a professor of Greek mythology imbued with an insatiable curiosity of the ancient world. Mourning the death of his beloved wife, Bradley dedicates his life to his academic pursuits and to single-tabbing the care of his 9-year-old daughter. Though reserved, Bradley is a generous soul with a love for decoding the mysteries of the Hellenic epochs, a trait he passes onto his daughter, Claire.

Young, precocious, and radiating with curiosity and a healthy dose of sass, Claire Bradley is the perfect partner for her father's historical explorations. Spend time with her and you are bound to learn a couple of the Greek alphabets, historical facts, or a mythical creature or two.

The father-daughter duo embarks on an expedition to Greece in the hope of uncovering some of its hidden historical mysteries. They settle in a quaint beachfront cottage on a beautiful island, witnessing the beauty of Greece in all its glory. Unbeknownst to them, they've set the stage for an unexpected encounter that will change the anatomy of their lives forever.

The second narrative thread unfolds based on an enchanting encounter with a real-life mermaid named Neried, an "exotic underwater creature" who emerges out of the deep blue sea. Neried, often seen wearing her mythical fish tail, symbolizes the forbidden fruit of ancient mythology, a creature both of deep grandeur and disdain, depending on the side of the myth ascribed to her. Her life is beautifully entwined with the ocean: she is impulsive, feisty, and fiercely independent, yet pines for connection beyond her underwater realm.

The unusual meeting between the humans and the mermaid sets off a chain of events that spotlights the beauty and curse of being different. Can the protective father keep his family on a safe keel, when the lure of the plush unknown threatens to drown their world in chaos? Can Neried let down her guard enough to trust the species she's been warned against since time immemorial?

Elements of mythology, fantasy, romance, and comedy are expertly layered in Fishtales to create a high-stakes, suspenseful, and emotionally deeper storyline than is often found in traditional mermaid stories. Not only does Fishtales score high on creativity and beguiling storytelling, but it also offers a fresh twist on the myth, diverting from the stereotypical "woman needs rescuing" narrative, upturning the tropes associated with the genre.

In Fishtales, Tramel and Baget artfully navigate through traditional and contemporary scripts to create a charming, family-friendly flick. The unique live-action animation style, coupled with the stunning under and above water visuals, delivers a cleverly constructed fusion of reality and fantasy that is both engaging and visually rewarding.

Fishtales is a heartwarming tale that addresses themes of friendship, family, love and the need for accepting differences. The laughter, love, and lessons bound up in this movie make it a film worth diving into. So, whether you're drawn to enchanting tales of mythical sea creatures, you're looking for a dynamic, family-friendly movie, or you're simply a lover of well-told stories, you're sure to find something memorable about Fishtales.