by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
The world of animation is often foolishly dismissed as a medium solely for children. Many creators break this mold by venturing into adult animation. However, the films that always end up standing out to me are those that are able to appeal to multiple generations. Disney and Pixar are known for doing this relatively well. Sony Pictures Animation also succeeded in this regard with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Mitchells vs the Machines. I think this was one of the objectives Chris Williams had in mind when he penned the screenplay for The Sea Beast and subsequently proposed the project to Netflix Animation. Were they able to craft a story with the potential to engage a variety of audience? Is the film going to stand out in a world of animation that is essentially dominated by Disney? Most importantly, is the movie worth your time?
The Sea Beast follows a ship of pirates that sail the seas hunting enormous monsters that are believed to be violent apex predators. Jared Harris plays the infamous Captain Crow, a man hellbent on hunting the beasts to extinction. Karl Urban’s Jacob Holland is Crow’s apprentice and presumed successor. Jacob is a skilled fighter and a loyal crewman. Crow and the crew of The Inevitable are adept in their field and absolutely determined to maintain tradition. Things are turned on their head when young Maisie Brumble (perfectly voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) sneaks on the ship in a bold attempt to achieve her dreams of being a hunter. Maisie, Jacob, and the Captain quickly learn that the relationship between human and beast is a lot more nuanced than originally believed.
I always like to open my reviews with the positives. The first thing that stood out to me was the animation. Like I said earlier, the animation world is currently largely dominated by Disney. This leads to many of the big animated hits each year feeling a bit samey. So it’s always refreshing when a slightly less common studio drops a project. The Sea Beast is absolutely gorgeous. Many of the shots look shockingly realistic and do a great job of giving the world life. The creature designs range from adorable to menacing, and they all share the ability to be incredibly emotive. The animators also did an excellent job of making the movement feel fluid and natural, which leads nicely into another impressive feat of the film.
The action set pieces in this film are masterfully done. Animation allows the film to achieve an impressive scope during its confrontations with the titular monsters. The fight scenes are complicated and creative, while still being easy to follow, which is especially important for the younger audience. They integrate the beasts into action sequences in inventive ways that make them feel unique and realized within the world. I was also impressed by their commitment to maintaining high-stakes during their fights on the seas. Within the world, the monsters are said to be treacherous creatures that have threatened humanity for decades. Crow and his crew are also infamous for being some of the most effective monster hunters around. If the fight scenes fail to live up to those standards, it could undercut character work and some key themes. Fortunately, they deliver epic fights that illustrate the capabilities and intelligence of both sides.
My third positive relates to the themes I just mentioned. This movie has a lot to say about the importance of questioning tradition and the nuance of heroism. The characters in this film are fighting a war that began lifetimes before they were born. The reasoning behind the war has long been lost to time. Maisie perfectly embodies the younger generation’s responsibility to challenge tradition. She is a genuinely inspirational lead that is bound to teach children and adults alike. The way these themes build throughout culminates in a moving, meaningful climax. I also think they do a solid job of using the three main characters to explore this dilemma from different perspectives. A “kids’ movie” always hits a lot harder when it feels like more than a colorful time-killer. I believe The Sea Beast, and other films in that realm, have a better chance of standing the rest of time because they aspire to something more.
As much as I enjoyed this movie, it obviously does have some flaws that are worth mentioning. The primary drawback is that many aspects feel a little too familiar. At times, this movie feels like a pirate version of How to Train Your Dragon. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of creativity and ingenuity here. However, the plot is relatively predictable, which ends up setting a higher bar for keeping the audience engaged. It tends to make up for it with the visual spectacle and unique take on the message. But every now and then, I found myself hoping they would mix it up a little more. Aside from that, I only have a few other nitpicks: some of the resolutions felt a bit rushed but the climax of the film makes up for it. I wish we got to spend more time with Maisie, Jacob, and Red, the primary sea beast. The relatively brief runtime ends up being a reasonable excuse. And the final flaw here is that I already know I don’t have the self-control to stop myself from buying a Blue Funko Pop as soon as it hits the shelves.
Ultimately, I think this film is well worth the time, especially if you already have Netflix. Hator is excellent as Maisie and will make a great role model for viewers of any age. Urban and Harris’ iconic voices are welcome additions to any cast. And Chris Williams continues to cement himself as one of the most consistent names in his field. Big Hero 6, Moana, and The Sea Beast is a truly remarkable three-film run, and I can’t wait for his next project. I’m also interested to see more films from Netflix Animation. With this and Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood, they have a decent chance at making a splash during awards season. I think this film is deserving of recognition and generally a safe bet for a refreshing movie night with the whole family!
Score: 7/10
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