Earlier this year, a little Anglerfish captured the world’s attention. Now, she’s returned to remind us all that even when life pulls you into the deep, there’s always a way up.
Global (06 November 2025) – A fish. A light. A story that somehow made millions of people cry on the internet. The Anglerfish that once captured the world’s imagination has returned… this time through “The Way Up”, a short film that dives even deeper into her journey from the dark depths toward something brighter.
Written, prompted, edited, and directed by Drew Garcia, The Way Up takes the viral Anglerfish story (or “tail”), one that inspired millions with its quiet message of resilience, and turns it into a stunning piece of visual storytelling. Jane Merrow lends her voice as Luma, the glowing soul of the sea, with an evocative score composed by Robin Hoffmann and performed by The Louisiana Scoring Orchestra.
The short film captures what so many felt when the Anglerfish first became a sensation. A creature born in darkness who learns to rise, to search, and ultimately, to shine. It’s delicate, melancholic and entirely mesmerising.
Social media has once again been swept away by the emotion of it all:
“Dammit I’m crying over that fish again.”
“Her light becoming one with the sun’s at the end was so beautiful 🥺🥺.”
“This anglerfish didn’t just find the light… it became the light 🥲.”
It’s rare to see something so simple capture so much meaning, the idea that no matter how deep the ocean or how heavy the darkness, there’s always a way up.
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