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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Jolly Fish remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school animation that doesn't care about logic, you'll probably enjoy this. If you need a plot that actually goes somewhere or characters that stay consistent, maybe skip it. It's pure, unadulterated nonsense, which is exactly why it works.
There's this moment early on where the fish—the annoying one—just refuses to go away. It’s got these big, dopey eyes that feel like they're staring right through your screen. I found myself rooting for Tom to just smack it, but of course, the cartoon gods have other plans. 🐟
Then there’s the octopus. Twelve arms. Playing a piano under the waves. I don't know who decided that was a necessary inclusion, but the animation on the tentacles is surprisingly fluid. It feels like someone just wanted to show off what they could draw that week. It doesn't add to the story, but honestly, who cares?
The boat gets sliced in half. Just like that. No build-up, no dramatic tension. It’s the kind of blunt, sharp humor that makes you miss the days when cartoons were this mean-spirited. It reminded me of the frantic energy in Ko-Ko's War Dogs, where everything moves a bit too fast for its own good.
The ending is a total gut punch, in the best way. They drag this massive, heavy load back to shore, convinced they've won the day. Watching the weight slowly drop off, fish by fish, until they're left holding nothing but the tiny runt? That's a perfect visual gag. No dialogue needed. Just pure, silent misery.
It’s weirdly hypnotic. Like, I’ve seen better technical work in The Fox and the Crow, but this one has a specific kind of *annoying charm*. You can feel the animators having a laugh at the expense of their characters. And honestly? That's the best way to make a cartoon. ⚓️