Name: O zlaté rybce
Genre: Animation, Short, Family
Released: 2003-06-28
Duration: 15 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Jan Werich

Not quite golden but has a lot of worth to it

'The Golden Fish' is another recently encountered adaptation of 'The Fisherman and His Wife', the others being Soyuzmultfilm's version (excellent) and Rabbit Ears Productions' (excellent as well, though quite dark by their standards). While the original story is not one of my all time favourites, its timely message has always been laudable and actually still relevant and whenever the story is adapted (which it isn't done enough to be honest) it is done remarkably well.

Jiri Trnka's version is no exception. It is not one of his best short films (not like 'Song of the Prairie' and 'The Devil's Mill') and is nowhere near being one of his best overall ('The Hand' gets my vote as his best), but that is because his best work is so brilliant. It is still very well done and adapts the story well enough, having its own spin without straying too far. Trnka's style is unmistakable and is all over 'The Golden Fish' without swamping anything else.

It isn't perfect. Some of the drawing is on the static and stiff side at times.

Pacing isn't always there too, with it feeling a little rushed towards the end.

However, 'The Golden Fish' mostly looks fine, though not one of Trnka's best looking. The backgrounds are typically nicely detailed and the colours are vivid and atmospheric. While there is stiffness and a static feel at times the characters don't look too cheap or crude. The music fits very well mood-wise and appeals on the ears orchestrally. The charm of the story is also intact, and the messaging is neither too preachy or too mean-spirited while still making its point.

Moreover, the narration does intrigue and moves the story along nicely forward, not bogging it down like it did a little too much in 'The Emperor's Nightingale'. The characters are defined well, especially the fish who has always been the most interesting character in the original story anyway. The narration is beautifully and fittingly voiced and doesn't dumb down or confuse the storytelling.

Summarising, very well done. 8/10.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A poor fisherman catches the golden fish that promises him to fulfill three wishes if he sets her free again. He does so and the fish fulfills two of his three wishes. However, she refuses to fulfill the third one, the last one in which the fisherman's wife wants to be equal to God. Jiří Trnka made this picture according to Jan Werich's version of the tale with Werich himself as the narrator.

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The Golden Fish

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