Ta-chan's Underwater Adventure: A bizarre little relic

Is this thing for you?

If you have a weird obsession with early animation techniques or just want to see something that feels like it was unearthed from a time capsule, sure, give Ta-chan's Underwater Adventure a look. If you need a plot that actually makes sense or characters with more than two brain cells, you are going to hate this.

It’s basically a short about the king of the sea sending fish to help out a ship. That is pretty much all there is to it. Don't look for deep meaning here.

The weird rhythm of it all

The pacing is honestly all over the place. One minute the fish are just hanging around doing nothing, and then suddenly the king is barking orders like he's running a military operation. It’s honestly kind of hilarious.

There is a moment where the fish swim toward the ship that goes on for way too long. I found myself staring at the same three frames of a tuna flapping its tail for like thirty seconds. It feels like the animator just got bored and decided to let the loop run.

It definitely lacks the polish of something like The Adventures of Kitty Cobb, but it has this raw, scratchy energy that is hard to ignore. It feels like someone drew it on their lunch break and just hoped for the best.

Small, weird things I noticed

• The king of the sea looks suspiciously like a grumpy grandpa in a bath robe.
• The ship appears to be floating on water that looks more like a carpet than the ocean.
• Nobody explains why the fish are so eager to help a random ship. Maybe they just like the attention?

It’s nowhere near as coherent as The Forward Pass, but it isn't trying to be, either. It’s a curiosity. A strange, underwater, fish-filled curiosity.

I wouldn't watch it twice. But once? Sure, why not. It’s barely long enough to finish a cup of coffee. 🌊