Check Out this Trans Fish Film Starring Pee Wee Herman and Ginger Spice

Paul Reubens, Gerri Halliwell, and Tatum O’Neal will join a cast of transgender actors in a new animated film. Oliver, a young fish born as a male is destined to become a queen.

JB Ghuman, openly queer filmmaker and creator of the film, was inspired by the real-life fish, the Pink Skunk Clownfish.

The fish lives in warm, tropical waters and can undergo an amazing transformation. The fish swim in schools lead by a dominant female, accompanied by a “breeder” male who is larger than the other males in the school. In the event of the female’s death, the breeder male transforms into a female fish to take her place, and the next-largest male becomes the breeder.

Ghuman was inspired by the story of the pink skunk clownfish and implied that humanity can learn a thing or two about acceptance and the fluidity of identity from mother nature. Humanity is so caught up in what is “right” and “natural” that  many ignore the exceptions prevalent in nature and the wild. Many species can actually undergo a metamorphosis similar to the pink skunk clownfish, a process called protandry.

Reubens will play the main character, Oliver. Halliwell is set to play Oliver’s mother, the dominant, female fish destined to perish. O’Neal will play a shark that is Oliver’s bully.

The actors are thrilled to be a part of the animated film. Reubens jumped on the opportunity to play a role as soon as Ghuman introduced the concept. The film stressed the importance of perception through complex themes and rich storytelling. The film is primarily targeted towards younger individuals, but Ghuman claimed that even adults can learn something from young Oliver.

The film premiered at L.A.’s OutFest film festival alongside many other queer films, as well as being available for virtual screenings. The film can now be found online.