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Fishtales 2 (2017) Plot Summary & Timeline

Fishtales 2 (2017) movie poster

Fishtales 2 is a 2017 animation film directed by Evan Tramel, running 1 hour 10 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 638 words (about 3 minutes to read) and covers 12 key events in order, 6 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Fishtales 2.

to read the plot summary
3 min
key events in the timeline
12
characters profiled
6
themes explained
3
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Fishtales 2 (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 10m
Director
Evan Tramel
Genre
Animation
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Fishtales 2 About?

The premise of Fishtales 2 in 330 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the shimmering depths beneath a bustling coastal school, a routine field trip takes a whimsical turn when the class’s curiosity leads them to a forgotten wreck, its timbers cloaked in sea‑weed and promise. It is here that Fifi, a bright‑eyed student with an insatiable love for the ocean, finds herself far from the safety of the shore alongside her gentle, song‑calling companion, Lily the whale. The vast underwater landscape unfurls like a living tapestry—coral arches, shafts of filtered sunlight, and schools of fish that flicker like living stained glass—setting the stage for an adventure that feels both intimate and epic.

The bond between Fifi and Lily is the film’s emotional compass. Fifi brings youthful daring and a quick mind, while Lily offers the steady, ancient wisdom of the deep, communicating with graceful breeches and resonant hums. Their friendship is tested and strengthened as they navigate currents and caverns that seem to rearrange themselves, each new turn hinting at hidden wonders. Along the way, they encounter a small, disoriented stingray—the stingray—whose own quest to reunite with its family mirrors the duo’s longing to return home, weaving a tender thread of cooperation throughout the journey.

The tone of Fishtales 2 balances light‑hearted wonder with the quiet awe of an unexplored world. The film’s visual palette glows with blues and greens, while a playful score echoes the rhythmic pulse of the sea, inviting viewers to breathe in the mystery of the unknown. Though the characters face unexpected challenges—shimmering kelp mazes, sudden tidal shifts, and the enigmatic allure of the sunken treasure ship—their curiosity never wanes. Instead, each obstacle becomes a chance to discover something new about the ocean, about each other, and about the courage hidden within even the smallest of hearts.

Through its gentle humor, heartfelt moments, and mesmerizing underwater choreography, Fishtales 2 promises a journey that feels both a grand exploration and a personal coming‑of‑age story, leaving audiences eager to see where the currents will carry these brave friends next.

Full plot

What Happens in Fishtales 2?

The complete story of Fishtales 2, from the first scene to the last, in 638 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.

Spoilers ahead

Thomas Bradley, a widowed Classics professor at Oxford University, stands on the brink of a career-defining moment. His grant is running out, and the clock is ticking toward a potential academic breakthrough that could tilt the balance of his life’s work toward a discovery about ancient love spells. With time slipping away, he accepts a final invitation to the Greek island of Spetses, where he is to stay with a supportive Oxford don, Professor Coulter. He brings along his 12-year-old daughter, Serena, whose curiosity about myth and legend provides a steady counterpoint to her father’s relentless pursuit of ancient texts.

The island life unfolds at a country house that holds the quiet patience of old manuscripts and new curiosities. Serena, ever the sympathetic observer, asks questions about myth and legend, eager to understand the stories that fill her father’s work and fill their conversations. Yet there is strain in their relationship—Serena senses that Thomas is sacrificing too much of himself to his research, and she longs for him to find a balance that includes her world as well as his. The house, though comfortable, feels like a resting place on the edge of a larger quest, a space where past and present collide.

Their introductions to the local characters deepen the texture of the island. They meet a fisherman named Captain Mavros and his son Dimitri, a young man who develops a gentle crush on Serena, painting a subtle thread of romance into the backdrop of scholarly pursuit and myth. On the water, the sea itself seems to guard its secrets, while on land a different secret waits in whispers and legends.

From the sea comes Neried, a mermaid who can assume a human form only at night. Neried travels ashore to meet Thomas, drawn by the same lure that calls scholars toward forgotten scrolls and undisturbed relics. Their initial interactions are uneasy, tinged with both curiosity and friction, as two very different beings navigate a fragile first contact. Serena, observing, asks Neried to focus her gifts on helping her father translate certain ancient relics, a request that opens a path for the mermaid to become an instrument in the scholarly work rather than a distant myth.

As the relationship between Thomas and Neried begins to deepen through collaboration, the boundaries between science and myth blur. Neried’s nocturnal humanity becomes a bridge between the old world of inscriptions and the new world of interpretation. The pair work together, deciphering a book that Serena had earlier discovered—the volume bears an ancient Greek inscription that seems to be the key to understanding the broader corpus of the text. The book’s writing, long overlooked or misunderstood, starts to yield meaning as the translations come into focus.

In a pivotal moment, Thomas and Neried speak the ancient love spell in unison, and a powerful attraction between them transcends their differences. A love born of myth and history blossoms, reshaping Thomas’s priorities and challenging the boundaries of his research. The revelation that the inscription on the book Serena found is central to decoding the entire set of relics shifts the course of Thomas’s work, offering a way to carry the research forward but at a personal cost that tests his devotion to scholarship and to the people around him.

The island’s quiet beauty—its sunlit shores, the creak of old houses, and the rhythm of daily life—frames a story where love and intellect illuminate each other. Serena’s steadfast support and the evolving bond between Thomas and Neried push the narrative beyond a simple tale of discovery, exposing the tensions between pursuing knowledge and tending to those who depend on us. The couple’s intertwined fates reveal how the past can guide the present, and how, sometimes, a breakthrough demands not only careful study but also a willingness to embrace a truth that reshapes the future.

Timeline

Fishtales 2 Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

12 key events in the order they happen, from “Grant deadline looms” to “The path forward”. 12 events name a place, across 4 locations.

  1. 1

    Grant deadline looms

    Widowed Classics Professor Thomas Bradley fears losing his research grant unless he completes his study of ancient love spells. He is given one last chance to finish the work. With time running out, he decides to travel to a Greek island to pursue the breakthrough that could save his career.

    When:before departure Where:Oxford, England

  2. 2

    Departure for Spetses with daughter Serena

    Thomas travels to the Greek island of Spetses to stay with Professor Coulter and continues his work. He brings along his 12-year-old daughter Serena, hoping to balance fatherly duty with scientific pursuit. The move sets up the unfamiliar setting where myth and scholarship will collide.

    When:early in journey Where:Spetses, Greece

  3. 3

    Serena discovers a mermaid book

    In the house on Spetses, Serena finds a book about merpeople with an ancient Greek inscription on the cover. The discovery hints at a link between myth and Thomas's academic project. She carefully shares the find with her father, sparking new directions for his research.

    When:early stay Where:Spetses, Greece

  4. 4

    Dimitri's crush on Serena

    Dimitri, Captain Mavros's son, develops a romantic crush on Serena, introducing a personal subplot to the maritime island life. Serena navigates the crush while supporting her father's research. The presence of a local love interest adds emotional stakes to the journey.

    When:shortly after arrival Where:Spetses, Greece

  5. 5

    Neried arrives in human form at night

    Neried, a mermaid who can only take human form at night, travels onto land to meet Thomas Bradley. The arrival marks the merging of underwater myth with the professor's scholarly world. The nocturnal form creates a sense of mystique and secrecy around the encounter.

    When:night Where:Spetses, Greece

  6. 6

    The first clash between Neried and Thomas

    Thomas and Neried initially clash, their different perspectives causing friction. The scientist doubts the mermaid's veracity while Neried struggles with his skepticism. This uneasy start foreshadows a deeper, transformative connection.

    When:first meeting night Where:Spetses

  7. 7

    Serena asks Neried to translate relics

    Serena asks Neried to assist in translating old relics for her father's work, hoping the mermaid's knowledge can unlock the relics' meaning. Neried agrees and begins translating, bridging myth with scholarship. The collaboration begins to shift Thomas's understanding of his own research.

    When:after initial clash Where:Spetses, Greece

  8. 8

    The spell and growing attraction

    Neried helps translate and, together with Thomas, recites the ancient love spell in unison. The ritual ignites a powerful attraction that crosses mortal and mythical boundaries. Their burgeoning feelings complicate Thomas's scientific ambitions while deepening their bond.

    When:night Where:Spetses, Greece

  9. 9

    Thomas and Neried fall in love

    Thomas and Neried fall deeply in love after the spell, their romance bridging science and myth. The relationship elevates the stakes of his research and reshapes his priorities. The island becomes a backdrop for a remarkable union of two worlds.

    When:night Where:Spetses, Greece

  10. 10

    The book's writing unlocks the key

    Thomas realizes that the writing on Serena's book is the key to understanding the ancient text. The inscription provides a framework to decode the relics and advances his theoretical breakthrough. The fusion of love and archaeology begins to yield concrete results.

    When:post-spell Where:Spetses, Greece

  11. 11

    Breakthrough offers new hope to finish

    With Neried's help and the new translation insights, Thomas gains the means to continue his work and secure renewed hope for completing the research. The collaboration between the scholarly world and myth becomes a catalyst for progress. He sees a path to extending the grant timeline through their findings.

    When:following discovery Where:Spetses/Oxford

  12. 12

    The path forward

    The narrative closes with the sense that Thomas's breakthrough, fueled by the spell and Neried's cooperation, will allow him to move forward with his research. Serena's discovery of the book ties together the expedition's threads. The island's myth and the professor's scholarship converge into a new future.

    When:conclusion Where:Spetses, Greece

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Fishtales 2?

6 characters, among them Thomas Bradley (Billy Zane), Serena Bradley (Amber Savva) and Captain Mavros (Alki David): who each one is and the part they play in the story.

  • TB

    Thomas Bradley (Billy Zane)

    Widowed Classics Professor at Oxford driving a high-stakes quest for ancient love spells. He travels to Spetses with his 12-year-old daughter, Serena, seeking a breakthrough and meaning beyond loss. His obsession with scholarly progress tests personal boundaries as the romance with Neried begins to shape his future.

    • 🎓 Scholar
    • 💘 Romance
    • 🧭 Mythology
  • SB

    Serena Bradley (Amber Savva)

    Serena is a thoughtful, curious 12-year-old who supports her father and engages with mythology. She discovers the ancient book with a Greek inscription and pushes for translation work, acting as a bridge between father and island legends. Her presence anchors the human side of the story and prompts others to see beyond academia.

    • 🧒 Child
    • 🧭 Mythology
    • 🧠 Curious
  • CM

    Captain Mavros (Alki David)

    A fisherman on Spetses who befriends the Bradleys and introduces them to local life. He embodies practical island wisdom and becomes a grounded counterpart to Thomas's scholarly ambitions. His son Dimitri also plays a part in the seaside dynamic.

    • ⚓ Fisherman
    • 🧭 Local
    • 🛟 Protective
  • D(

    Dimitri (Felix Yanez)

    A local teenager who develops a romantic crush on Serena, adding a teenage subplot to the island's human drama. He represents youth and the desire for connection amidst the larger magical and academic stakes.

    • 💗 Teen crush
    • 🧒 Local
    • 🧭 Youth
  • N(

    Neried (Kelly Brook)

    A mermaid who can only take human form at night, she travels to land and engages with Thomas to help translate ancient relics. She becomes Thomas's lover, complicating the line between myth and reality while guiding the scholarly discovery.

    • 🧜 Mermaid
    • 🌙 Night traveler
    • 🌊 Ocean
  • PC

    Professor Coulter

    A supportive Oxford don who hosts Thomas on Spetses and facilitates the collaboration between myth and scholarship. He represents institutional backing and the crossroad of tradition and discovery.

    • 🎓 Mentor
    • 🏛 Academic
    • 🤝 Support
Setting

Where and When Is Fishtales 2 Set?

Fishtales 2 is set in Spetses and Oxford University. Here is why the place matters to the story.

Where

Spetses, Oxford University

Spetses is a Greek island in the Aegean known for its blue seas and quiet harbor towns. The Bradleys stay at a house on the island, a setting that brings ancient inscriptions and a mermaid myth into everyday life. Oxford University serves as the prestigious intellectual context, with Professor Coulter hosting Thomas to advance his work.

  • 🏝️ Island setting
  • 🎓 Academic backdrop
  • 🌊 Sea locale
  • 🧭 Myth & magic
Themes

What Are the Themes of Fishtales 2?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Romance, Myth & Science and Academic Obsession.

  1. 01

    Romance

    A forbidden romance blossoms between Thomas and Neried as they awaken an ancient spell, blending Greek myth with modern scholarship. The relationship challenges professional boundaries and personal loyalties. The spell's power reveals that love can transcend time and form.

  2. 02

    Myth & Science

    The story threads myth and scholarly pursuit as Neried helps translate relics and unlock secret inscriptions. Ancient magic becomes a catalyst for new breakthroughs in Thomas's work. The boundary between myth and academia is tested as translation becomes revelation. The inscription elevates understanding beyond language into emotional resonance.

  3. 03

    Academic Obsession

    Thomas's grant deadlines loom large as he travels to Spetses. He risks professional jeopardy by pursuing a breakthrough grounded in love. Serena's presence keeps the family tethered to reality while fueling his ambition. The island setting intensifies the pressure to achieve a major scholarly milestone.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Fishtales 2?

Light in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Light
Pacing
Steady
Story
Straightforward
Intensity
Low
Ending
Happy

A gentle and whimsical underwater adventure that follows two young sea creatures and a human girl as they help others, translating to a heartwarming and optimistic viewing experience.

  • whimsical
  • gentle
  • heartwarming
  • playful
  • optimistic
  • adventurous
  • underwater adventure
  • lost and found
  • academic research
  • parent-child bond

Quiz

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FAQ

Fishtales 2 Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Fishtales 2, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Fishtales 2 about?

In the shimmering depths beneath a bustling coastal school, a routine field trip takes a whimsical turn when the class’s curiosity leads them to a forgotten wreck, its timbers cloaked in sea‑weed and promise.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Fishtales 2 take place?

Fishtales 2 is set in Spetses and Oxford University. Spetses is a Greek island in the Aegean known for its blue seas and quiet harbor towns. The Bradleys stay at a house on the island, a setting that brings ancient inscriptions and a mermaid myth into everyday life.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Fishtales 2?

The story follows Thomas Bradley (Billy Zane), Serena Bradley (Amber Savva), Captain Mavros (Alki David) and Dimitri (Felix Yanez); the character guide covers 6 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Fishtales 2?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Romance, Myth & Science and Academic Obsession.

The themes explained

Who directed Fishtales 2?

Fishtales 2 (2017) was directed by Evan Tramel and runs 1 hour 10 minutes.

Evan Tramel’s films

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