Shark Tale sends a heartwarming message about compassion for all animals. Lenny, played by Jack Black, is a vegetarian shark who saves the lives of worms, shrimp, and any other animal who swims his way.

In less than two hours, Lenny convinces his family and everyone who watches Shark Tale that fish are friends, not food.

PETA hopes that Lenny will inspire a generation of children to follow his vegetarian example by keeping fish off their plates—and in the ocean where they belong.

Although Dreamworks’ new blockbuster has a vegetarian shark as a leading character, the movie isn’t filled with as much fantasy as you might think!

Cartoon Fiction or Scientific Fact?

Fish talk to each other with sounds that humans can hear only with special instruments.
Fish like to be touched and often gently rub against one another—like a cat weaving in and out of your legs.
Some fish tend well-kept gardens, encouraging the growth of tasty algae and weeding out the types that they don’t like.
Like birds, many fish build nests where they raise their babies; others collect little rocks off the ocean floor to make hiding places where they can rest.

Believe it or not, all these fish behaviors have been documented by scientists! We don’t often consider the pain and suffering that fish endure before they end up on our plates, but we should: Fish are not swimming vegetables—they are intelligent animals who don’t want to end up as sushi or fish sticks.

Order a free vegetarian starter kit here.