00:00Some fish can never be caught because they belong to the sky.
00:30Who are we? Where do we come from? And where are we going?
00:45No one thinks about these questions. We go to work. Day in and day out.
00:55We laugh. We complain. We buy things. We eat. And we sleep.
01:06Somehow, a century has already gone by. I'm 117 years old now.
01:16As I often tell people, the legend says that mankind came from the ocean,
01:23and that when our lives' journey as human beings on this earth is done,
01:28our souls return to the sea as beautiful fish.
01:36No one believes me when I tell this story. They call me an old fool.
01:42But I know it's true. I can see them in my dreams. Giant fish swimming down from the sky.
01:51I can hear them calling out to me, and their lovely voices awaken my memories.
02:09Long, long ago, when the earth was young,
02:12all that existed was a vast ocean and the great primordial fish that lived in it.
02:20These ancients were the first incarnations of the human soul. That's why, from the moment we're born,
02:29the ocean calls to us, and eventually we return to it.
02:35My name is Chen. I come from a world beneath the ocean.
02:41The sky of our world is connected to the oceans of the human world.
02:46Once freed by death, human souls drift down from their world to ours, and it is our task to look after them and keep them safe.
02:59We are the ones who control time, the tides, and the changing of the seasons.
03:06We are not humans, but neither are we gods. We are the others.
03:16We are the ones who control time.
03:44Look!
03:44Hurry, Chun. The rite of passage is about to begin.
03:49We'll hurry, Chisongzu.
03:50Hey, Sister Leizu.
03:52I need to join the rite of passage. Can we borrow two horses?
03:56I don't mind if the horses don't.
04:00I'll take this one.
04:02Of course. You like them big and strong, don't you?
04:06That's why you like me.
04:10Hey, wait for me!
04:13Wait up, Chun!
04:15No way!
04:16Oh, yeah?
04:19Chou! Tell me about the human world!
04:21I loved it there. I almost didn't want to come back.
04:24Maybe you shouldn't have.
04:28Then who would keep you out of trouble?
04:31You're the one who's in trouble, Slowpoke.
04:33The rite of passage is starting. Hurry!
04:50I can't believe it's finally here.
04:53I can't believe it's finally here.
04:57Now, you be careful up there in the human world.
05:01I will.
05:03Chun!
05:05Over here!
05:07Coming, Mother!
05:08Come on, we're all here!
05:12Hey!
05:16Yeah! Looking good, Grandma!
05:18Oh, the seasons pass before us all.
05:23Earth and heaven, moon and sun, tied by the elements.
05:29You'll be all on your own up there in the human world.
05:33Here.
05:34You need to eat more.
05:36Mother, I'm full.
05:37I need to go, Chun-o.
05:39Are you gonna come back?
05:40May.
05:41I'll be back.
05:43Don't you worry, okay?
05:44The sun above shines on the earth below, and the friendly gods, their blessings bestow.
05:52For seven days, you will roam the human world and observe the natural laws that we govern.
05:59But remember this.
06:01You must not have any contact with humankind.
06:04Dragon of the sea and sky, away!
06:11Let the gateway be open.
06:41You heard him.
06:47Keep away from the humans.
06:48The farther away, the better.
06:50I know.
06:51You hear?
06:52Chun won't get into trouble.
06:53She's a clever girl.
06:54Tell that to Aki.
06:55Her girl never came back.
06:58Well, what are you waiting for?
07:01I can't hold this up forever.
07:03Remember, you must get back to the gateway in seven days.
07:12You can't be late.
07:13Mother.
07:14Or you'll be left behind.
07:15Here comes the soup!
07:16Ah, the soup.
07:18Out of the way.
07:18My little girl has grown up.
07:46I should go.
07:47Chen!
07:50Be careful.
07:52I will.
07:53Keep track of the time.
07:55You run along now, Chu.
07:57Go on.
07:58Don't worry.
07:58Goodbye.
07:59Goodbye.
07:59Chen!
08:08Chen!
08:08Wait!
08:09The human world is beautiful but dangerous.
08:24Remember, your world is here.
08:38So long, June!
08:40Try not to miss me too much!
08:44Behave yourself up there!
08:54Every child who has turned 16 in the past year is sent to the human world in a rite of passage
09:04to see for ourselves how we control the rain, the wind, the sun, and the stars.
09:12We have been taught how dangerous the world is, but seeing it for ourselves, it didn't seem dangerous at all.
09:20It was magical and so beautiful.
09:24I had never been happier.
09:27Look! The red dolphins came back again, I knew that they would!
09:31Just like last year at the same time!
09:33Come on, let's say hello.
09:36Hey!
09:38Up here!
09:40Good to see you again!
09:54Good to see you again!
09:55For six days, I explored the human world.
10:01I saw great wooden sailing ships, and lights that flickered and danced across the heavens.
10:08Vince. I saw the candles that the humans lit to accompany the souls of the departed on their journey down the rivers to the sea. I followed them, and on the seventh and final day, I too returned to the ocean. It was time to go home.
10:38Watch this.
10:58Did you like that?
11:00Well, just you wait.
11:06You.
11:08What are you doing?
11:13Dolphin bait. Get my back, will you?
11:15Okay.
11:18I'll marry you.
11:20Wait right there.
11:22I will.
11:22I'll marry you.
11:36I'll marry you.
11:37I'll marry you.
11:38I'll marry you.
11:40Oh, look at all the fish!
12:10Oh, look at all the fish!
12:20Oh, look at all the fish!
12:26Oh, look at all the fish!
12:32What were you doing down there so long?
12:50Chasing a red dolphin.
12:52Oh, do you see it?
12:57There's something different about her.
12:59I can feel it.
13:02Oh, look at all the fish!
13:07Oh, look at all the fish!
13:14Oh, look.
13:16Oh, look.
13:22I'd lost track of the time. The seventh and last day was nearly over. I had to get back.
13:52I was running out of time. The gateway wouldn't stay open much longer.
14:22Where?
14:35Up there. By the whirlpool.
14:36It's that dolphin.
14:37Yeah. The red one from before. She's caught in the net.
14:42I'm gonna try and cut her free. Go fetch my knife.
14:45What about the whirlpool?
14:46I'll be fine. Don't worry. Go get it.
14:52Thanks.
15:01Brother, be careful!
15:04Hold!
15:04Okay. All right.
15:29I'm trying to save you.
15:42Come back!
16:06No!
16:07No!
16:08No!
16:38No!
17:08No!
17:23Where is he? Where's my brother?
17:25I want my brother back!
17:27I want him back and everything to be alright!
17:29Please, brother, don't go away!
17:32Go back!
17:38Ahh!
17:40Ahh!
17:51Chen, you're back!
17:53Oh, thank heavens!
17:55What's the matter?
17:56Chen, are you alright?
17:58I'm fine.
17:59Come on, let's talk at home.
18:00Well, thank goodness you're safe.
18:02I've made your favorite dinner.
18:08Good morning, Grandmother. Is Grandfather up?
18:22Where do humans go when they die?
18:26Their bodies turn back into the dust from which they were made.
18:34And their souls?
18:36Grandfather, where do humans go when they die?
18:40Their bodies turn back into the dust from which they were made.
18:44And their souls?
18:45They go to Ascendant's Palace, where they are transformed into tiny fishes,
18:50and watched over by Lingpo, the Lady of Souls.
18:54Will we die too, Grandfather?
18:56Of course we will.
18:58Death is a part of the natural order of things.
19:01In fact, your grandfather's time is almost over.
19:06No, I don't want you to die.
19:09Now, now, sweet child.
19:11Death is not an end.
19:13Just as birth is not a beginning,
19:15they're just stops on the path to eternity.
19:20I knew Grandfather was right, of course,
19:24because I knew that I was destined to inherit his powers.
19:28And how could I do that if he did not die?
19:30But knowing a thing is true is not the same as wanting it so.
19:36What's that you're playing, child?
19:55Who's there?
19:59Your flute sounds like something from another world.
20:03It's not mine.
20:04The sound is very pleasing.
20:07Where did it come from?
20:09The human world.
20:10A boy.
20:12He's dead now.
20:13Because of me.
20:14So that's why you're here.
20:18A human boy.
20:21Perhaps the Lady of Souls can help you.
20:27Come back here at midnight tonight.
20:31And bring that bell with you.
20:33Ring it.
20:34And someone will come for you.
20:36I will be here waiting.
21:06Ring it.
21:07Ring it.
21:08Ring it.
21:09Ring it.
21:10Ring it.
21:11Ring it.
21:12Ring it.
21:13Ring it.
21:14Ring it.
21:15Ring it.
21:16Ring it.
21:17Ring it.
21:18Ring it.
21:19Ring it.
21:20Ring it.
21:21Ring it.
21:22Ring it.
21:23Ring it.
21:24Ring it.
21:25Ring it.
21:26Ring it.
21:27Ring it.
21:28Ring it.
21:29Ring it.
21:30Ring it.
21:31Ring it.
21:32Ring it.
21:33Ring it.
21:34Ring it.
21:35Ring it.
21:36I don't know.
22:06I don't know.
22:36I don't know.
23:06I don't know.
23:08I don't know.
23:12I don't know.
23:16Oh, did I do that?
23:18Sorry.
23:20Where are you going?
23:22Kind of late, isn't it?
23:24Oh, my God.
23:26Oh, I don't know.
23:28Oh, yeah.
23:30Oh, yeah.
23:32Oh, yeah.
23:34Oh, yeah.
23:36Oh, yeah.
23:38Oh, yeah.
23:40Let's go.
24:10Let's go.
24:40Let's go.
25:10Let's go.
25:40Let's go.
26:10Let's go.
26:40Let's go.
27:10Let's go.
27:40Let's go.
28:10Let's go.
28:40Let's go.
29:11Now she's scared.
29:13Don't want to give up your pretty eyes, eh?
29:18All right, I'll take half your life instead.
29:21If that'll save him, if that'll save him, take it.
29:25No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, how many times do I have to tell you not on the carpet?
29:37Why do you have so many cats?
29:41Who else would spend eternity with an old boar like me?
29:51Humankind came from the ocean.
29:55That's why people's tears and blood are salty like the sea.
30:02From the moment they are born, their lives are a journey homeward.
30:07Though they are unaware of this, they think they follow a path of their own choosing.
30:15They meet, they part, some grow old, some do not.
30:23But when they die, the voice of the sea speaks to their soul, calling all of them back.
30:32And each swims off to their own separate destiny.
30:37This is the Hall of Souls, where all human souls are kept after death.
30:47So many souls.
30:50Will you be able to find him?
30:53He won't look the same as he was.
30:55I'll know him when I see him.
31:01I didn't even know his name, but I remembered everything about him.
31:07The scar on his forehead, the way he looked at me.
31:13I searched it there for hours and hours, all night long.
31:19And then...
31:20And then...
31:21And then...
31:31Go.
31:35Go.
31:35well you see it requires a piece of your soul to wake him now your lives are bound together
31:50it's up to you to protect him and guide him through all the difficulties ahead
31:55until he's grown enough to return to his world and be restored to life
32:04now there's no turning back do not fail him or his soul will vanish into the void forever
32:14oh lazy rascal where were you all night and where did you get that
32:34i'm chun remember me i'm the red dolphin you saw
32:40i suppose you don't remember your name
32:44i'll just give you a new one my name means begonia
32:48one day i'll look after all the begonia trees like mom
32:52don't worry you won't always be small
32:56you'll get bigger bigger than this fishbowl and the mirror and the table
33:03and the bed even bigger than this whole room
33:09and this building
33:11well anyway i'll give you a good name
33:18you cannot keep a fish here who asked you go away
