Little Fish, Big Words

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Inspiration

Little Fish, Big Words was inspired by the idea that differences should be celebrated. We wanted to tell a story about embracing uniqueness, encouraging learning, and showing that even the smallest voices can make a big impact — all through a playful, underwater setting reminiscent of Pixar films.

What it does

This 1-minute animated short tells the story of a small fish who speaks “big words” in a sea where everyone talks simply. Despite being teased for being different, Little Fish refuses to be silenced and inspires other fish to learn new words, fostering curiosity and acceptance in a magical underwater world.

How we built it

We built the entire short using one simple AI tool, WAN 2.5, which automatically generates voiceover, sound effects, music, animation, and camera motion from a single prompt. By carefully crafting prompts for each scene — including character actions, dialogue, and cinematic camera moves — we were able to create a cohesive, Pixar-style underwater short in under a few hours.

Challenges we ran into

Conveying complex emotions like curiosity and determination in a very short runtime.

Ensuring smooth, 3D-style camera motion and animation within AI-generated output.

Balancing whimsical underwater visuals with clear storytelling.

Fine-tuning prompts to get exactly the right tone, timing, and emotion.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully created a visually engaging underwater world with expressive characters.

Delivered a strong emotional message about embracing uniqueness in under 1 minute.

Achieved smooth, cinematic camera movement and animation entirely through AI prompts.

Combined dialogue, narration, music, and sound effects seamlessly without manual layering.

What we learned

Short-form storytelling can be impactful when each scene is purposeful.

WAN 2.5 can be used as a one-stop solution for animation, voice, and sound, simplifying production.

Careful prompt design is critical to achieve the desired cinematic quality and emotion.

AI tools allow rapid iteration, letting creators focus on story and design instead of technical execution.

What’s next for Little Fish, Big Words

Expand the short into additional episodes exploring new words and adventures for Little Fish.

Explore interactive educational formats like apps or VR experiences.

Refine animation quality and character design for broader audiences.

Share the story in festivals, classrooms, and online platforms to inspire learning and celebrate uniqueness.

Built With

• wan