Wow! A Talking Fish! (1983) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A poor family's act of kindness returns as unexpected protection during a supernatural riddle contest.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Fishy Act Of Kindness

A poor man catches a talking fish and hears its plea for freedom. The fish shares its family's speech and its grandfather's lesson about good deeds.

Key Events

• The Boastful Fishing Story — A poor man boasts about catching an enormous fish. Location: By the sea
• The Fish Interrupts — The fish itself interrupts the man's boast by speaking. Location: By the sea
• The Plea For Freedom — The talking fish begs to be released into the sea. Location: By the sea
• The Family Secret — The fish explains that its entire family can speak. Location: By the sea
• Grandfather's Good Deed — The fish repeats advice that kindness will eventually be rewarded. Location: By the sea
• The Fish Is Released — The man releases the fish despite doubting its usefulness. Location: The sea

The Table Of Plenty

Hunger leads the man to a powerful wizard who grants him a magic table. The gift comes with a dangerous midnight riddle condition.

Key Events

• Hunger At Home — The man later becomes hungry and has nothing to eat. Location: The family's home
• The Mysterious Echo — A call of 'Ekh' is followed by an unexplained echo. Location: Near the family's home
• The Wizard Appears — A powerful wizard appears and explains the echo. Location: Near the family's home
• The Magic Table — The wizard offers a wish and gives the family a magic table. Location: The family's home
• Three Knocks Summon Food — Three knocks summon food and drink for the hungry family. Location: The family's home

A Threat At Midnight

The family prepares for the wizard's return and fears his possible transformation into a terrible beast. The talking fish asks for shelter before the trial begins.

Key Events

• The Midnight Condition — The wizard demands riddles at midnight until dawn. Location: The family's home
• The Table's Risk — Failure to answer the riddles will cause the family to lose the table. Location: The family's home
• The Fish Seeks Shelter — The talking fish asks the family for shelter before midnight. Location: The family's home
• Fear Of The Beast — The family fears the wizard will arrive as a terrible beast. Location: The family's home

The Riddle Spiral

The wizard questions the talking fish about its origin and journey. The fish responds with increasingly impossible images that make the story impossible to follow.

Key Events

• Midnight Questions Begin — At midnight, the wizard questions the talking fish. Location: The family's home
• The Impossible Flea — The fish answers with a tangled image involving a lame flea. Location: The family's home
• The Expanding Riddle — The answers invoke a puddle-like sea, a giant eagle, and a hare. Location: The family's home
• The Unfollowable Story — The fish continues with its shadow and a coat following its nose. Location: The family's home

Kindness Comes Home

The wizard abandons the riddle contest as dawn approaches. The family understands that the earlier act of kindness has saved them and secured the table.

Key Events

• The Wizard Gives Up — Unable to follow the absurd chain, the wizard finally gives up. Location: The family's home
• Kindness Is Rewarded — The family realizes that releasing the fish preserved the magic table. Location: The family's home

Story Breakdown

• The Fisherman's Boast — The opening establishes the poor man's hunger and his extraordinary encounter with a talking fish.
  • Giant Fish Claim — The man boasts that he once caught a fish as large as the one he describes.
  • Unexpected Interruption — The fish interrupts the boast by speaking directly.
• The Fish's Plea — The fish asks for freedom and explains the unusual nature of its family.
  • Family Can Speak — The fish says that its entire family is capable of speech.
  • Grandfather's Advice — The fish recalls that a good deed should be cast into the water and will eventually be rewarded.
• The Magical Bargain — Hunger brings the man into contact with a wizard who offers supernatural help under strict terms.
  • Echo And Wizard — A mysterious call and echo precede the wizard's appearance.
  • Wish And Table — The wizard gives the family a magic table that produces food and drink.
• The Midnight Challenge — The magical gift becomes conditional when the wizard announces a riddle test.
  • Three Knock Ritual — Three knocks summon food and drink, while three more make them disappear.
  • Dawn Deadline — The family must answer riddles until dawn or lose the magic table.
• The Fish Takes Shelter — The talking fish returns and seeks protection as the family anticipates the wizard's arrival.
  • Request For Refuge — The fish asks the family to let it stay inside their home.
  • Fear Of Destruction — The family worries that the wizard will arrive as a terrible beast and destroy them.
• The Absurd Riddle Victory — The fish defeats the supernatural challenge through a chain of increasingly impossible answers.
  • Impossible Images — The answers involve a lame flea, a puddle-like sea, a giant eagle, a hare, and its shadow.
  • Kindness Confirmed — The wizard gives up, and the family realizes that releasing the fish has saved them.

Directed by

Robert Sahakyants

Key Cast

• Irina Kartashyova — Old woman (voice)
• Artyom Karapetyan — Old man (voice)
• Leonid Belozorovich — Talking Fish (voice)
• Boris Plotnikov — Eekh (voice)