Ugly Fish (by Kara Lareau and Scott Magoon) Animated Silent Film

"Ugly Fish was ugly.
And BIG.
And mean.
He liked swimming around in his fish tank.
He liked gliding in and out of his driftwood tunnel.
He liked eating his special briny flakes.
One day, a new fish appeared in the tank..."
The animation and music here was done by myself. But Ugly Fish was a children's book before this, and the story and the original artwork, of course, came from the minds of the author and illustrator: Kara LaReau and Scott Magoon.
For some reason, I thought that Ugly Fish's story would lend itself well to the silent film format, and it was a good opportunity to take some of my first steps into animation. In retrospect, there are things that I would have done differently had I started it knowing what I know now. But I learned a lot from the process, and I hope that the result is something that people will enjoy.

[@SilentBlackmoon]

Kinda sad that ugly fish realized that it don't want to be alone when it was too late.
Also I love how "ugly" was more about character than looks.

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Yes, it's a cautionary tale, I suppose.
(And yeah: personally, I think that Kissy Fish might be stranger looking than Ugly Fish...)

[@KingXavier-ry8nq]

​@@MasterofNoneAJFalso what are the types of fish in the story?

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

@@KingXavier-ry8nq Your guess is as good as mine.
Maybe the original author or illustrator of the children’s book had some specific fish in mind as inspiration, but I was just working from the designs that are in the book.

[@Dinosaur_Tornado]

I quite like this little story! More people should see it.

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thanks! That's nice of you to say.
I'm glad you like it.

[@turkeykillerex9509]

I suspect the other fish would have acted the same if they were bigger.
Also good animation

[@sisterstate7216]

That's the logic used by Fascists. They justify brutality by saying that it's what anyone in their position would do including their victims.

[@turkeykillerex9509]

@@sisterstate7216 Nah, it's statistical analysis based on the sample size of bigger fish.
Accusing people of fascism is just like logic used in the red scare...

[@turkeykillerex9509]

@@sisterstate7216 Actually I used statistical analysis of the two big fish to derive my information.
Also you're using red scare logic, by saying that people using certain kinds of logic are automatically of the opposing ideology.

[@MARKET_GARDNERI]

@@sisterstate7216Nah, that’s how fish are…

[@sisterstate7216]

@@MARKET_GARDNERI I keep fish and fish relationships are based on species temperament and not size.

[@shysirenfox7119]

This is wonderfully done! Also the first fish makes me think of courage the cowardly dog, the eyes' expressions/color, the massive underbite and its attitude just brings out memories of the show.

[@GojiraMan]

"There's always a bigger fish"
"Qui-gon jin"

[@enkareal]

I absolutely adore it. The visuals and the story go so well together, and the music just ties it all up. Really amazing job 🙏 deserves more attention

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thank you! I worked really hard on it and I'm glad you like it.
A lot of credit goes to the original author and illustrator of the book for coming up with the idea, of course.

[@Michelle-phoenix]

I liked the animation, the different ways of showing when the fish got eaten. May have been funny if some small fish got dropped in, but they were piranhas. 🐟🐠🐡

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thanks!
Maybe if it was my own story something like that could have been done. But I was only following what's in the book, after all.

[@MrBrigadierArchived]

I see it as "story of two". The Ugly Fish is the first, but the actual owner of that tank is second. Nice.

[@QUEfrang]

I like to imagine this fish trying to brush its teeth

[@dotdotmusic-xt6gw]

2:55 HOW IS IT RAINING UNDERWATER
also, cute animation

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

I asked myself exactly the same question when I saw the illustration in the book! I suppose you could say it's a poetic device that symbolizes sadness and whatnot... But whatever the reason, I went with it.

[@paradiselost9946]

sprinkle in some mercury :)

[@dotdotmusic-xt6gw]

@paradiselost9946 🤨 damn. must be very hardy fish

[@AlexanteMS]

Who are the owners of those fishes? Dam

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Someone with an unfortunately robust sense of determination, I suppose.

[@dinokid18]

"there is always a bigger fish"

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thank you, Master Qui-Gon.

[@AlvinCwk]

Don't ve a jerk. If ugly fish did not eat the smaller fishes, the owner wouldn't need to fill the tank with a bigger fish, and they could all live happily together.

[@samsackett8775]

keep up the good work, I like it

[@chrisfriesen7565]

This is amazing!

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thanks, Chris.

[@bozukklavye2093]

I love it

[@kamleshdiwana232]

❤ super 😍

[@XDamuel]

What the hell was the owner doing putting in smaller fish knowing that the ugly fish was going to eat them?

[@CheGuava-fm5dq]

So what's the moral of the story? Big fish eat small fish? Crazy.

[@Loe_2.0]

lol, but I think it’s the more you take, the less have, and one day you will regret it and rethink your decisions.

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Possibly. Or maybe simply, "Don't be a jerk."

[@CheGuava-fm5dq]

@@MasterofNoneAJF :))) I put up one of the greatest singing performances ever and I don't even get mean comments.

[@CheGuava-fm5dq]

@@Loe_2.0 And just when you repent, you get eaten. Capitalist tales. I grew up in communism; when the little mole wanted a pair of new pants, all the animal fellows got together to help him. Now that's a story for children.

[@slugkat]

Deeeep io in a nutshell

[@Bretty-bc6ly]

Cute but booo. Ugly fish should have had a chance at redemption, since a lot of us are the ugly fish. Good work though.

[@09beckerboy]

This is incredible!

[@MasterofNoneAJF]

Thanks!