“Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths”. It feels like we could attribute this quote from Pythagoras to Little Auk, given the journey he takes!
The is the story of a rather awkward but madly endearing little hero. Despite his difference and the mockery of his peers and the pitfalls, he eventually finds his way. In a society that tends to stress the value of strength and power, it’s wonderful to find those traits are not what is rewarded here.
The reason we find ourselves growing attached to the character owes a lot to the gentleness of the artwork. The digital, no-frills 2D animation allows us to form a truly raw empathy with the little creature. This is heightened by the absence of dialogue. And so, this is a little story with a universal appeal that will move young and older viewers alike.
The sound effects bring out the cartoon-side of the drawings and ultimately scoff at the importance we routinely give to competition.
Little Auk and the Golden Fish offers us a nice lesson that we should spread around, loud and clear!
