YMMV / Padak

• Accidental Aesop: Some reviewers like Saber Spark argue that Padak has probably led to some viewers turning vegan. Given the content detailed in the nightmare fuel section, you can't really blame them.
• Awesome Music: All of the songs from the film. Be it the heart-wrenching and terrifying Nightmare Song, Anago's surrealistic and creepy "Think About It", the heart-breaking and gut-punching "Forgive Me" or the credit's song, "Feel The Ocean". Likewise the unreleased songs are beautiful, including the guitar version of "Forgive Me"
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: Anago's Song. It has a jarring animation shift and it's a musical number in a mostly realistic movie (Where only two more songs are musical numbers), as well as taking place after a rather tense scene. Though it does help show the utterly cynical and nihilistic mentality that Anago and the rest of the fish have developed during their time at the restaurant.
• Cult Classic: The movie wasn't a breakthrough hit and while it did receive a national award, was practically unknown outside of its country in the years following its release. In 2020, Steve Reviews video on it gave it a big boost in its fame, with the Steam release receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews that praised the characterization, engaging plot and horrifying scenes.
• Jerkass Woobie: The Master is a pessimistic old flatfish who abuses his position by falsely claiming he is from the sea and controls the other fish in the tank. But he is aware of his own cowardice, questioning if it’s worthy hiding to survive, and most of pessimism comes from the death of his mate, who like Padak, was a cheerful fish who lived in the sea and encouraged him to try and be free as well. As the movie goes on, he even mourns the death of Spotty and Padak.
• Moral Event Horizon: Despite previously being shown as an Affably Evil character, Anago reveals how truly depraved he is by not hesitating to chow down on Spotty's corpse- an act which horrifies all the fish in the tank, since they all considered him a friend. Even Jooldom, who bullied Spotty and even took bits out of his tail, is appalled by this action.
• Nightmare Fuel: Has its own page.
• What Do You Mean, It's Not for Kids?: Despite the cutesy art style and poster, the film deals with heavy subject material and themes like starvation, imprisonment, power struggles, and cannibalism. Several scenes are set in the sushi shop itself, and we see every gory detail of the food preparation.
• The Woobie: It’s not hard to feel sorry for Padak and Spotty after all they went through, especially after their deaths.

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