A fisherman lives alone with his cat in Cornwall. Unfortunately, a fierce storm interrupts their peaceful lives. When food (fish)starts to run out the fisherman and his cat go fishing in the stormy conditions - will he survive? This animation is based on the book of the same name. It's literary influences are prominent. The film features a narrative which is superbly read by Siân Phillips. The animation looks similar to an animated storybook. I have not read the original book but I'm sure this was based on its illustrative style. The animation is nice looking featuring heavy pencil lines and lots of still shots. The story is imaginative (e.g. the storm resembles a larger cat) and is told in an effective way.
Summary: This is a charming, well animated and narrated piece. Unfortunately due to its style it could suffer comparisons to children's programmes which feature a storyteller reading from a book. At thirty minutes the film is also slightly too long. This film should appeal to family audiences as it features all the mystery and charm of a children's story but also enough depth and a detailed, intelligent narration to keep adults interested. For anyone wanting to see this it's released on both DVD and VHS tape (VHS is now out-of-print) in the UK.
