The film follows a strictly heteronormative romantic arc. Sammy’s lifelong pursuit of Shelly centers on traditional romantic tropes without any queer representation.

The story is driven primarily by the male protagonist's journey. While female characters like Shelly and Stella have agency, the film maintains conventional gender dynamics.

As an anthropomorphic animation, the film lacks human racial identifiers. The ensemble focuses on various marine species rather than exploring intersectional or cultural identities.

The narrative focuses on environmentalism and the impact of human industry on nature. It avoids complex social or religious deconstruction in favor of ecological themes.

Physical traumas are treated as standard survival obstacles rather than explorations of disability. There is no explicit focus on neurodivergence or lived experiences of impairment.