6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Fish Tales remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school, slightly unhinged animation, absolutely. It is short, punchy, and perfect for a rainy afternoon. If you need your cartoons to have a coherent plot or logical physics, you are going to hate this.
Look, Porky Pig is just trying to catch a fish. That is the whole setup. But then there is this giant donut floating in the water. Who puts a donut on a hook? It’s the kind of logic that only makes sense in a fever dream.
The pacing is all over the place. One second we are looking at a peaceful lake, and the next, Porky is being dragged around by a fish the size of a small boat. It’s fantastic.
There is this one moment where the sound effects feel like they were recorded in a bathroom. It’s charming, honestly. You don't get that raw, grainy feeling in modern stuff. It’s like watching Fresh Paint, but with more slapstick and way less actual painting.
Also, the fish? The fish is terrifying. It has these giant eyes that just stare into your soul. You can tell the animators were having way too much fun with the expressions.
It’s not trying to be The Wolf of Wall Street, obviously. It’s just a weird, little slice of history. Sometimes I wonder if the folks behind this were just throwing things at the wall to see what stuck. Whatever they did, it worked for me. 🎣
It’s not as polished as Radio Silly, but that is kind of the point. You aren't watching this for the technical brilliance. You're watching it because it's a mess. And I love a good mess.