Shark Tale
Short description
Shark Tale is a 2004 animated comedy set on a coral reef where the fish live much like people do. Oscar is a small, talkative fish with big ambitions, stuck in a dead-end job and dreaming of wealth and fame. When the son of Don Lino, the head of a shark crime family, dies in an accident, Oscar is found at the scene and lets the reef believe he killed the shark himself. His lie makes him a hero overnight, bringing him fame and the attention of two very different female fish. It also draws the anger of Don Lino and his gang, while Oscar forms an unexpected friendship with Lenny, a great white shark who hides the fact that he does not eat meat. Oscar has to live with the consequences of the story he has told.
The film was directed by Vicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob Letterman, from a screenplay by Michael J. Wilson, Lona Williams and Letterman. It was the third feature Jenson directed, following Shrek and its karaoke short; the second for Bergeron after The Road to El Dorado; and the first for Letterman. Will Smith voices Oscar, with Robert De Niro as Don Lino, Renée Zellweger as Angie, Jack Black as Lenny and Angelina Jolie as Lola, among a credited cast of 34.
Made for 75 million USD by DreamWorks Animation, it took 367 million USD worldwide, a strong return. On IMDb it holds 6/10 from 212,000 votes and on TMDB 6/10 from 6,840 votes, while critics gave it 5.3/10 from 181 reviews, a step below the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- When Oscar addresses Lenny and he nods, one shark says to another, 'Look, he's got a dolphin in his crew.' The second replies, 'My Uncle Vito died because of one of those.' This is a reference to the movie and video game 'The Godfather' (1972), where the family leader was named Don Vito.
- The painting that Sykes crashes into after being thrown by Don Lino is a reference to the movie 'Titanic' (1997), though unlike the original, the girl in the painting is dressed.
- The cartoon characters were made to look very similar to the actors who voiced them (for example, Don Lino has the same mole on his cheek as De Niro).
- For some scenes in the film, the actors recorded their voices together – a rare practice in animated filmmaking.
- When Oscar dances on Don Lino's table, he hums MC Hammer's song 'U Can't Touch This,' although this was changed in the Russian version.
- One of Sykes' rastafarian assistants was voiced by Bob Marley's son, Ziggy Marley.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
