Year: 1936
Runtime: 7 mins
Language: English
Director: Jack King
Porky Pig goes fishing. It’s not quite the outing he anticipated.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Fish Tales (1936), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Porky Pig heads out for a quiet day of fishing, only to be joined by two unexpected companions: two worms that creep from their hole and trail him all the way to his boat. The first worm eagerly hops into the can, while the second worm—portrayed as a woman wearing gloves and high heels—begins the day coy, but is quickly hauled inside as well.
Porky starts the engine, and the boat comes alive, its motion turning wild and unpredictable as it shoots across the water toward the open ocean. The vessel shoots straight toward a distant battleship, then dives and rises from beneath the waves, wiping out the calm with a chaotic flip of the sea. On the return trip, the boat crashes into the battleship, scattering sailors and splitting a dinner table in half. The dramatic collision ends with the boat pushing clear of the ship, which then sinks to the deep.
Once free, Porky manages to bring the boat to a halt. He unfurls a fishing rod, and after a few flubs and false starts, he settles into the patient rhythm of fishing. He reels in a heady trophy—a fish head—before tossing it back into the water. A steady stream of catches follows, and Porky fills a bucket with his haul. Yet the exertion takes its toll, and he yawns, exhaustion brushing his whiskered face. He arranges a rope as a pillow and drifts off to sleep, sinking into a dream that turns the day surreal.
In the dream, a hunter fish—anthropomorphic and armed with a rod-gun—prepares to shoot at Porky from the harbor of the boat. Porky wakes to find a ring shaped like a doughnut; he reaches for it, only to be seized by the ring and reeled in by the hunting fish. The predator carries Porky to an underwater home where a fish wife and two fish kids await him, all watching with mixed curiosity and amusement.
The hunter presents Porky, hanging upside down, to the family. The kids laugh and tremble, and Porky’s strange, fish-like movements evoke both humor and fear. The hunter escorts Porky into the kitchen, where a knife is used to slice Porky’s shirt until he is naked, and Porky is slid into a pan. Pepper, carrots, potatoes, and an apple are placed around him as if to prepare a whimsical, perilous meal, and Porky slides into an oven where dancing flames threaten his breath.
Inside the oven, the flames swirl and Porky feels suffocated, coughing out, “let me outta here!” > let me outta here! He escapes the oven just as the dream spirals into a chase. He runs from the house, encountering an eel, a giant fish, and a swordfish, only to be captured by an octopus that entangles him in its tentacles.
Porky jolts awake, still naked and tangled in rope, and he begins tossing everything into the water, stoking the engine, and driving the boat away with renewed urgency.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:41
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Whimsical animated journeys where reality bends and logic takes a nap.If you enjoyed the absurd dream logic and frantic underwater chase in Fish Tales, you'll love these movies. This list features whimsical animated films where characters embark on journeys that defy reality, blending slapstick humor with surreal, chaotic sequences for a playful and unpredictable experience.
The narrative pattern typically involves an ordinary situation that rapidly escalates into an extraordinary and illogical adventure, often venturing into dreamscapes or altered realities. Characters face surreal obstacles and engage in fast-paced chases, with the conflict resolved through cartoonish ingenuity or by waking from the dream.
Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to whimsical tone, absurd humor, and surreal visual storytelling. They prioritize playful chaos and imaginative scenarios over conventional plots, creating a specific vibe of animated anarchy that feels cohesive and distinct.
Lighthearted adventures where cartoon characters face and frantically escape exaggerated danger.Looking for more cartoons like Fish Tales where the fun comes from playful peril? These movies and shorts feature anthropomorphic characters in chaotic chases and absurdly dangerous situations, blending slapstick comedy with moments of frantic escape for a lighthearted but exciting watch.
The narrative follows a simple structure: a peaceful setup is interrupted by the introduction of a comic threat. This leads to a core sequence of frantic action and escape, utilizing exaggerated physics and cartoon logic. The peril is intense but brief, serving the comedy and ultimately resolving without lasting consequences, often with an ambiguous or abrupt ending.
These films are united by their specific emotional mix: they generate excitement through cartoon danger but maintain a light emotional weight. The key similarity is the balance between chaotic action sequences and an overarching tone of playful humor, ensuring the scares are fun and not frightening.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Fish Tales in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fish Tales is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Fish Tales with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Fish Tales. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Fish Tales that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fish Tales: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Fish Tales that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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