Actually Pretty Funny: In the end, the Magistrate sees some dessert in Tai-Tai's hair and helps himself to it. After all the stress of making Angwan's wedding perfect, Tai-Tai has herself a good laugh.
An Aesop: A man and woman loving each other should be more important than their wedding going perfectly. If they can laugh together despite any problems, that's a good start to any marriage.
Dumbass Has a Point: The Foolish Magistrate may be, well, foolish and poor in sense sometimes. But when Tai-Tai bemoans that all her wedding preparations were for naught, the Magistrate points out that Angwan and her groom enjoy each other's company. If anything, that's more important than having the perfect wedding.
Embarrassing Nickname: Angwan had a nickname for Baba when she previously knew him, "Bu-Ku".
Intergenerational Friendship: Played with. Angwan and Baba Miao were both (relatively) the same age range when they were childhood friends years ago. But since cats age at a different rate than humans, by the time they reunite, Angwan is a young woman of marrying age while Baba Miao is a middle-aged cat with a wife and family. All the same, their differing ages and Angwan's marriage doesn't change that she and Baba Miao are still friends.
Jerkass Has a Point: Tai-Tai (and a lesser extact, the Foolish Magistrate) has been setting up a wedding for Angwan, but the wedding is almost a mess, so you can't blame her for it. Sure, she referred the wedding as her wedding, but it comes off more as an exaggeration of all her hard work being ruined than an It's All About Me trope since the wedding for Angwan isn't entirely ruined.
Took a Level in Kindness: Tai-Tai at her best. She shows respect for the Miao kittens, and helps Aangwan with the wedding.
A Catfish Tale consists of:
An Aesop: Be it disowning your family or marrying into another, true family loves you unconditionally no matter what.
Babies Ever After: Shen Shen and Ca Lo eventually got married and started a hybrid family of cat fish, the first ever ones.
Disproportionate Retribution: Played with. Although drowning her wasn't their intention, and although it did lead to her having a happy marriage with Ca Lo, Shen Shen's ancestors response to her simple haughtiness by sending her into the water sounds a little harsh on paper.
Easily Forgiven: Sweetly enough, despite Shen Shen essentially disowning her family before, her grandfather and ancestors are merciful enough to declare she'll never stop being a part of their family, even if she wanted to.
Fisher Kingdom: Emphasis on "Fish". After a long period of staying in the underwater realm, Shen Shen gained fish-like traits like webbed paws and a fish tail in place of her cat tail.
Happily Married: Once she parts with her grandfather and ancestors on good terms, Shen Shen goes back to the underwater realm to marry Ca Lo. And they've never been happier.
Heel Realization: After Uncle Catfish finishes his story, Sagwa realizes she was harsh to ridicule her own grandfather for speaking to the little catfishes as his own family.
History Repeats: Assuming Uncle Catfish's story isn't just a legend, Sagwa nearly makes the same mistake as their ancestor, writing off their loved ones and family.
Kick the Dog: Shen Shen has always been disdainful of her grandfather talking to their ancestors as though they were really there. But when her grandfather kindly points out that they're all family, and their bond is the thread that connects them all, Shen Shen callously remarks "Then maybe it's time for that thread to be cut."
Parting-Words Regret: Shen Shen's last words to her grandfather before she fell into the underwater realm was to haughtily tell him she'd rather "cut that thread" that connects them as a family than be related to someone who speaks to his ancestors. Not long after, she finds herself separated from him in the underwater realm, wishing she could go home and reconcile with him, but unable to leave as she will never be able to see Ca Lo again.
