Aquaman: The Cast of the Angler is a 20-minute Fan Film based on the DC Comics character Aquaman. Made in 1984 on a budget of $10,000 with permission from DC, it won Best Fantasy Film from the Los Angeles Film Teachers Association and Best Picture CSUN Film Showcase, and for a time was mistaken for an official TV pilot after being pirated and sold.
Dr. Arthur Curry spends his days as a marine biologist and his nights as the seafaring superhero, Aquaman. Born in the ocean after his parents' car went over a cliff thanks to a seafood delivery truck, the young Arthur was rescued by dolphins and slowly learned the language of the sea. Working to protect the world's oceans from evildoers, he sets his sights on the Angler, the half-brother of his old enemy the Fisherman, who holds the Pacific Ocean for a 24-million dollar ransom.
The film can be seen here
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This film contains examples of:
- Animated Credits Opening: Aquaman's origin story is told in animated comic book-style panels.
- Banana Peel: Aquaman slips on one of the Angler's discarded banana peels and has trouble with a guard as a result.
- Bit Part Bad Guys: The Russian poachers that Aquaman defeats in the comic-book-style intro.
- Canon Foreigner: Katie King and the Angler are exclusive to the film's continuity.
- Cliffhanger: The film ends with the Angler capturing Aquaman with his fishing rod and reeling him in.
- The Faceless: Like the Fisherman, the Angler's face is always hidden beneath his helmet, with only his eyes and mouth showing.
- Forced to Watch: The Angler kidnaps Katie King and forces her to watch as he and his goons fight Aquaman.
- Foreign-Language Tirade: In the intro, the Mock Cousteau yells several stereotypical French oaths (Zut alors!, Sacrébleu!, etc.) when he learns his cameraman left the lens cap on and couldn’t film Aquaman defeating the poachers.
- Improbable Weapon User: Aquaman throws starfish like ninja stars to attack enemies.
- Labcoat of Science and Medicine: Dr. Arthur Curry wears one when checking up on the animals— and he even runs out the door wearing it when he goes to change into Aquaman! More justified is Katie King wearing one as she mixes chemicals to try to find an antidote for the Angler’s poison.
- Mock Cousteau: One of the two narrators speaks with a French accent and is nicknamed "Jacque" in the credits.
- Plot Allergy: The Angler suffers from a potassium deficiency and must eat a banana every 30 minutes or die.
- Pragmatic Adaptation: Due to the low budget and difficulty filming underwater, most scenes are on land or told in comic book form. It's not until halfway through that Aquaman suits up and starts swimming, and those scenes are short.
- Punch! Punch! Punch! Uh Oh...: A villain-on-hero version happens when an unlucky henchman gets close enough to punch Arthur, to no effect.
- Raised by Wolves: Young Arthur was raised by dolphins and learned their language, then learned how to apply it to all marine life.
