Der Mönch und der Fisch

A monk is sitting by the water's edge looking at his reflection when out pops a fish. He immediately races to his cell where he procures a net and a bucket. Dinner? Well the fish has other ideas and despite the nimbleness of this rather portly cleric who's quite adept at the martial arts, the fish continues to come and go as it please. Overnight, the man studies and even recruits his colleagues but they don't believe the fish is there at all. Perhaps he can catch it by candlelight at night, or perhaps the fish will be asleep? A bow an arrow? It's now that the fish leads him on a merrier, less tangible, dance that takes him from the seclusion of his monastery and into pastures new... The soundtrack has a baroque style to it and the animation, though basic, quite square and two-dimensional, manages to convey the curiosity, frustration and then something just a little more surreally tranquil as it concludes in sort of peaceful equilibrium.

It completely depends on the viewpoint of the audience whether they would fall in love with this work or not. If you're the type that enjoys Nella Fantasia, I think you would enjoy this work too. I have been in love with this work for years and over time it only reminds me how meaningful and deep the story is. I admire the simplicity and cuteness of the animation. Every time I watch it, it fills me up with emotions.

PS: The music is Vivaldi's Sonata No. 12 in D minor "La Follia".

I'm just going to mention my friend planktonrules from Florida that think this film is dull and pretentious, first of all you my friend are completely wrong sorry that the US had ruined your taste of art with all the Hollywood wave, as this film is a really deep art that was done actually by a genius of his time. check his other work to make sure. First of all this film is very deep as it interpret the idea of a holly person -the monk- that lived his whole life in one perspective only resembled in the church, gets a hint of of something different a new and different idea in the holly water that he cannot bare to hold. he has the urge to remove it from his mind by all means he cannot accept it. until the idea takes him away from his one perspective single view to another experience to see other angels, different ways and a journey to unite with this experience and idea in the end and that is shown in the ending scene when the monk and the fish keep fading until they are complete and unified. Secondly the film has a perfect timing technique where the music sync precisely with every move the monk or the fish does, I'm telling you as an animator this is not easy at all. Also the style is amazingly simplified but at the same time very expressive. Michael Dudok de Wit is one of the best animators and short film directors all over the world, his work is being taught to almost all animation colleges all over the world. and finally this is not cartoon

This has got to be one of the oddest cartoons I've seen in my life! With little to no dialogue, the animation and background artwork have to carry this one and do so superbly. The action is engaging, if not almost hypnotic at times and there is a plot, though it takes a bit to catch on. The ending is simply perfect and follows logically from events that came before. Absolutely must be seen, as words cannot do justice to this one. Most highly recommended.

Atmosphere, music and animation reminds of the childhood cartoon memories in the 90's. Reminds of "The princess and the cobbler (1993)".

Animation is very beautiful. It looks like a simple watercolor art making it a eye friendly art.

Music with the art makes it a beautiful cartoon because each and every movement of art have a flute or traditional music making it an amazing work of animation.

Overall a more poetic and artful depiction of short animation on obsession and a very simpler perspective to it.

The short film video I watched which is available in Youtube.com (search it from the title) has a description with the director where he discusses the art, music and story boards giving us a broader perspective on art.