History WesternAnimation / SharkTale

* MetaCasting: Since the film is an AffectionateParody of Martin Scorsese mafia and gangster films, it makes sense to have Scorsese himself play one of the major characters.

** At one point in the film, Oscar incorrectly sings Music/BobMarley's "Three Little Birds". His singing is interupted by one of the jellyfish characters named Ernie who says "that's not the way you sing that song, mon!" Ernie's voice actor? Bob Marley's son himself, Music/ZiggyMarley.

** At one point in the film, Oscar incorrectly sings Creator/BobMarley's "Three Little Birds". His singing is interupted by one of the jellyfish characters named Ernie who says "that's not the way you sing that song, mon!" Ernie's voice actor? Bob Marley's son himself, Creator/ZiggyMarley.

''Shark Tale'' is a 2004 movie produced by Creator/DreamWorksAnimation with probably [[AllStarCast the biggest ensemble cast]] in an animated [=DreamWorks=] movie (although ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' is close). Starring Creator/WillSmith, Creator/JackBlack, Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AngelinaJolie, Creator/ReneeZellweger and even director Creator/MartinScorsese. [[InkSuitActor Every character in the movie looks like a fish version of the actor voicing them]].

* DopeSlap: Frankie to his brother Lenny. [[spoiler:It's even the last thing he does before dying.]]
-->'''Lenny''': Hey! Mom said it's not OK to hit!\\

* FawltyTowersPlot: What starts off as Oscar [[spoiler:taking credit for Frankie's death eventually snowballs into the shark mafia out for him after seemingly killing Lenny.]]

* AnAesop: The grass is always greener on the other side, fame isn't worth the high expectations and loneliness.

** Oscar also doesn't mind entering a relationship with Lola even though she called him a "nobody" earlier in the film and continues to be her boyfriend even while she is constantly belittling and abusing him. {{Justified}} in both this and the above case, as he's probably too busy enjoying his new clout to hold any grudges.

* IHaveAFamily: When Lino tries to pressure Lenny into eating a shrimp, the shrimp starts crying that he has a family, then goes on to describe each and every one of his kids in excruciating detail as Lenny and Lino argue.

* CarnivoreConfusion:
** Lenny the Shark, a principled vegetarian who refuses to devour sapient creatures, and an embarrassment to his father, makes an unsuccessful attempt to eat a sobbing shrimp who begs for his life.
** Also, in the second scene, which shows off the city, we have a brief look at a sushi bar. There is not a single customer, to the owner's frustration. Guess why.

* IdiotBall: Despite knowing that Oscar is an impulsive charlatan with a history of falling for get-rich-quick schemes, Sykes arranges for him to deliver the money he owes by meeting him at the ''race track''. Unsurprisingly, Oscar can't resist the temptation to bet all the money he owes Sykes on a horse, and loses it as a result.

* CaptainObvious: Luca spoke the obvious after he saw [[spoiler:Lenny got his disguise unsealed.]]
* CarnivoreConfusion

* ChekhovsGunman: The shrimp. Don Lino kept coercing Lenny to eat him, but Lenny instead frees him. The shrimp is gleeful to be spared and then gives a DeathGlare towards Don Lino with an "I'll get ya!" fist expression. He makes good on that promise when he shows up again near the end of the movie and sicks an army of his friends on Don while his head is stuck through a porthole.

** Oscar also does this to Lenny when sneaking him into the warehouse
-->'''Oscar''': Alright, Lenny, follow my every move and ''don't make a sound.''\\

* TheDon: Don Lino and Don Fineberg, though the latter gets much less notice in the story.

-->'''Lino''': Long story short. From now on, you work for Frankie & Lenny. Capiche?\\

* ElectricTorture: Ernie and Bernie stinging Oscar's left eye, and when Oscar is tied up and zapped repeatedly for betting Sykes' money on a horse that ends up losing feet from the finish line.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:The sharks and Lola are clearly shocked when Oscar tries to fake his ShootTheHostage move]].

* InformedSpecies: The sharks look more like killer whales (aka. Orcas), although orcas are featured in the film.

* LoveInterestTraitor: [[spoiler:Lola, who wanted revenge on Oscar calling it quits.]]

* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: Don Lino & Mr. Sykes.

* SeahorseSteed: There is a seahorse race.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: Oscar overhears two random fish discussing how the seahorse race is rigged and mention having their sights set on Lucky Day. These fish are never seen again, yet they manage to make Oscar convince himself that betting 5000 clams on Lucky Day will pay off in his favor. He thought wrong.
* TheSmartGuy: Lenny. You think at first it's just wishful thinking on Don Lino's part, but Lenny ''is'' pretty sharp. He's the first to realize that Oscar is lying. He thinks up a plan to fake his own death, that works. He disguises himself as a dolphin so well that he attends a sit-down with his own father and isn't recognised. He even skilfully blackmails Oscar into taking him -- a shark -- home. When he talks all smooth and "God forbid somebody should find out the truth", you remember that yeah, he may look all cute and vegetarian, but he's still ''the son of a Mafia Shark'' -- and he knows the tricks of the trade.

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: When Oscar wages (and loses) the $ 5,000 he needed to pay a debt he owes Sykes, Sykes tells Ernie and Bernie to find the deepest hole in the ocean, dig it deeper, and ''then'' bury Oscar there.
* TigerByTheTail: Oscar's getting famous off Frankie's death spirals into the population wanting him to fight more sharks despite his lack of actual fighting ability, which then spirals into Oscar having to help Lenny fake his death so the latter doesn't tip him off to Don Lino, which leads to Lino kidnapping Angie in [[PapaWolf revenge for both his sons' deaths]]. Angie tries to get him to reveal the truth, but Oscar laughs her off since doing so would result in him losing all of his fame, likely being sued and getting eaten by sharks who wouldn't be afraid of him anymore.

* TrunkShot: We are treated to this shot when Oscar is tied up and thrown in a whale mouth that Ernie and Bernie close.
* TryingNotToCry: Lenny tries his best to retain his emotions after [[spoiler:after Frankie’s death,]] but erupts into tears once the though comes up again.

* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: Angie. [[spoiler:Became [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend victorious]] in the end.]]

** Also, the Shorties are seen swimming around a ''hydrant'', They unscrew it and ''bubbles'' flow out! This begs the question of what that underwater hydrant is ''supposed'' to be used for...

'''Lino:''' Now, you're makin' fun of me?!\\

** Though the role of Katie Curent was recast to more prominent female news anchors in the UK and Australia: the UK release has Fiona Phillips doing the voice while the Australian release uses Tracy Grimshaw. So in the UK version she's... Fiona Fishchips. And in Australia she's Tracy Clamshaw.

* WashMeGraffiti: Some whales have graffiti covering their bodies, including one whale with this sprayed on him. Considering whales fill in the role of cars in this world with whale washes being businesses to clean them up,

** Contrary to what this movie claims, great white sharks are warm-blooded, not cold-blooded. On the other hand, maybe that's why Frankie slapped his brother and called him a "moron" [[spoiler: on his deathbed]].

* BookEnds: The film begins with the worm on the hook that Lenny frees. [[spoiler: Then as Oscar and Angie dance on the Whale Wash sign, the little worm appears again and winks before we cut to the closing credits]].

*** The Headphone Guy who Oscar attempts to save from a whale's indigestion at the Whale Wash later reappears [[spoiler: to put an air freshener on Lino]].

** [[spoiler: The rolling credits end with a ThatsAllFolks from Mrs. Sanchez the old weaver fish telling the audience to go home because ''it's past your bedtime!" She slams her window closed and we cut to the Creator/DreamWorksAnimation logo]].

** Also, [[spoiler: everyone forgives Oscar easily for lying about being the Shark Slayer]].

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
* GoldDigger: Lola. In her first scene, [[LampshadeHanging she even calls herself superficial!]] Also, the name of the song by Ludacris and Bobby Valentino featured in her introduction. She also forcefully kisses Oscar in front of the cameras, causing Angie to leave in jealousy, anger, and sadness. When Angie confesses Oscar her love for him, Oscar rethinks his feelings and dumps Lola--which unfortunately, [[spoiler: leads to her great fury as she mercilessly slams him against the windows]]. Lola crosses the line even further as [[spoiler: she then arranges Don Lino to kidnap Angie, even gleefully threatening her life if Oscar doesn't comply.'']]

** Not to mention [[spoiler: Don Lino himself at the end.]].

* KilledOffForReal: Poor, poor [[spoiler: Frankie]].

* LoveInterestTraitor: [[spoiler: Lola, who wanted revenge on Oscar calling it quits.]]

** At the end, Sykes does it to [[spoiler: Lino]].

* NotGoodWithRejection: Lola, to the point where she [[spoiler: ''mercilessly whacks Oscar against the windows'' when he dumps her for Angie]].
** Lola then [[spoiler: arranges the sharks to kidnap Angie in demand of Oscar's obedience, even threatening Angie's life in order to do so]].

* OhCrap: Oscar gets this when [[spoiler: Angie finds out about his lie.]]

** Sykes gets one when [[spoiler: he finally uncovers Oscar's lie, particularly after he had previously yelled at Lino over the phone to shut up]]. Oops.

* TryingNotToCry: Lenny tries his best to retain his emotions after [[spoiler: after Frankie’s death,]] but erupts into tears once the though comes up again.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler: Did Lola ever find out about Oscar's lie? News seems to pass by quickly in the reef. Even if she did find out about Oscar's lie, she's still humiliated by being stuck with Crazy Joe. Will she still cause Oscar trouble?]]

** The film has been noted for taking this method a bit ''too'' far. In Creator/DougWalker's review of the film, he even calls the characters "Will Smith Fish, Jack Black Shark, Renée Zellweger Fish, etc." instead of their actual names.

* MoneyDumb: Oscar didn't pay his dues at the Whale Wash.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Ernie and Bernie when they see Lenny heading towards them while Oscar is still tied up.
** Oscar tries to hide behind Lola when he hears that a shark has entered the reef.

* TruthInTelevision: Some sharks really do eat vegetation.

* ShoutOut: Oscar yelling to the crowds inside Lenny's mouth, "[[Film/Gladiator Are you not entertained?!]]", "You can't handle the truth!" and "[[Film/JerryMaguire You had me at 'Hello']]!" before exiting and resuming the battle against Lenny.