Padak (Animated Film)

Padak, also known by its revised romanization title Padak Padak (Hangul: 파닥파닥), is a 2012 South Korean animated film. Written, directed, and produced by Lee Dae-Hee, the movie explores captivity and survival through the perspective of aquatic creatures in a restaurant fish tank.

Padak promotional poster featuring an animated mackerel — Padak promotional poster

Plot and Setting

The story follows a mackerel named Padak, who previously lived freely in the ocean before being caught in a fishing net and transferred to the fish tank of a sliced raw fish (sushi) restaurant. Inside the tank, she encounters an older flatfish who has maintained order and earned the respect of the other captive fish through established survival tactics.

While the other tank inhabitants have accepted their fate, Padak continuously attempts to escape and return to the ocean. Her relentless drive disrupts the established hierarchy of the tank and deepens tensions between her and the veteran flatfish.

Scene from the animated film Padak showing fish inside a restaurant tank — Scene from Padak

Release and Film Festivals

Padak had its world premiere on April 29, 2012, at the 13th Jeonju International Film Festival within the International Competition section. It received a theatrical release in South Korea on July 25, 2012, distributed by CJ Entertainment and Indiestory. The film has a runtime of 78 minutes and was screened at various international events, including the Warsaw Film Festival, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, and the Melbourne International Film Festival.