Under the Boardwalk

A community of land hermit crabs lives beneath a New Jersey beach boardwalk, and Armen is unusually timid. His rotting shell houses Anemone, the quirky life form that keeps him company and reminds him of his parents who died in a storm. He avoids social contact, preferring to stay in his shell and watch life go by.

Armen's friends Bobby, Manny, and Jimmy drag him to Bruno's club, hoping to loosen him up. Inside, Armen's reluctance clashes with the rowdy crowd until he bumps into Ramona, a visiting sea crab, triggering immediate tension with Mako.

Armen's bump into Ramona triggers a clash with Mako, and the confrontation spirals into a larger feud. The escalating feud drives the land crabs from their home as Mako's gang asserts dominance.

Mako and his goons harass Armen and steal his shell, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. Ramona tries to intervene, but a high tide sweeps them away, destroying the land crab civilization.

Armen washes up at the far end of the beach where a human collector captures him to sell as a pet. He is given an artificial shell that feels rigid and unfamiliar, a stark contrast to his own worn shell.

Armen and Ramona reunite and escape together from the collector's vicinity, beginning a journey back toward their home. Along the way they share their insecurities—Armen fearing he'll never act, and Ramona fearing her overbearing mother Val's expectations.

On the road, Ramona's struggle with her mother's perfectionism comes to the fore. Armen offers support, and their bond deepens as they confront their own doubts.

Bobby starts to question his habit of using brute force and begins seeking other ways to resolve conflicts. He also meets Shelly, Ramona's deaf sister, who is searching for Ramona.

Two crabs from a pet shop spot Armen and Ramona's relationship and judge them with skepticism. Armen feels hesitant and self-conscious about their romance as a result.

Ramona becomes dehydrated and collapses; Armen must act quickly to save her by carrying her into the water. The crisis forces both sides to pause their conflict and focus on each other.

Ramona wakes, shares a kiss with Armen, and they return to the surface, where Armen is hailed as a hero. Mako's deceit is exposed, and the war between land and sea crabs begins to crumble.

In the final reconciliation, Mako offers Bobby a new shell and Armen donates his shell to a crab in need. The two communities start to rebuild and learn to live together in peace.