In The Sea Beast, Chris Williams, best recognized for co-directing acclaimed films such as Moana and Big Hero 6, demonstrates his mastery once again as he directs this animated Netflix Original feature. Scheduled to premiere in 2022, The Sea Beast animated adventure is Netflix’s latest animated feature, the story of which is set in a world inhabited by daring explorers and legendary sea creatures. The film gives the audience a peek inside the heart of a little girl whose passion lit a fire with the hope of changing the world. Themes such as valor, and the understanding of the untold, as well as the ability to discern the truth encapsulate the enduring fight against reluctance and false pretences in The Sea Beast.
The animated adventure features a world where fabled sea monsters are said to inhabit, and whose monsters are believed to be a danger to the very existence of mankind. Brave hunters have set their sails in pursuit of legendary creatures far and wide, and have been doing so for generations. In his ship, The Inevitable, the fabled Captain Crow is known for his exploits together with the extremely brave Jacob Holland who, in his own right, is a celebrated member of the ship’s crew. To date, the two are the most famed adventurers in the world of sea monsters.
Holland Jacob is a descendant of a long line of brave hunters, and just like the rest of his family, is expected to practice the same noble profession. That said, he is rooted in the ways of discipline, courage, and loyalty, and harbors dreams of becoming a celebrated captain in the adventuring world of sea monsters. According to his perspective, such tales of terror are propped up in a desperate attempt to explain the existence of monsters, and thus are narrated for the purpose of keeping the people of the world in line.
Such is the case with the young orphan Maisie Brumble, who is remarkably different from all the other girls her age. Maisie who is an adventure bookworm full of imagination is boarded on a ship, ‘The Inevitable.‘ At her age, Maisie is typical. But the bravery, curiosity, and sea monster passion makes her more than the average child.
In the company of the ship’s crew, Jacob Bramble and Maisie Bramble embark on a dangerous adventure to hunt the legendary sea monster, The Red Bluster. While most people would panic at the thought of facing the hellish red beast, the two rather enjoy an adventure. To their surprise, the Red Bluster, or at least the queer animal that many people have dubbed as the Red Bluster, turns out not to be as monstrous as her name. The beast is quite sweet and endearing, wondering about the children rather than terrifying them.
In her disguise as the Red Bluster, Maisie who Chloe affectionately calls “Red” creates an unshakeable inner bond with the former sea monster. The more we travel with the children on the Red’s back, the more we get a sense that the brave adventures we thought were brave, were actually the opposite. The brave sailors who were once thought to be monsters were actually beleaguered, unbrave beings who put their heads under populated waters rather than embracing the world with their unscathed trials and tribulations.
Such sights change Jacob greatly as he starts to lose acceptance of the world he has lived in all these years and the way he has been brought up. Maisie is especially eager to reveal the fact so that the kingdom stops the hunting and peace is restored between the humans and the aquatic beings.
It is Captain Crow in The Inevitable, who cannot bring himself to think that monsters can be innocent. Having undergone tremendous suffering, he somehow saw it fit to hunt down Red in a bid to prove that the hunters, themselves, are true heroes. This engenders a very poignant and important conflict that is not simply between vessels or individuals, but a conflict that is much deeper than that – a conflict between reality and legacy, dread and comprehension.
The movie ends when Maisie and Jacob, along with Red, arrive back to the kingdom and proudly demonstrate the non-threatening nature of the sea creatures to all the people that up till that point have lived in fear of them. Their actions have a profound effect on which, a positive change of attitude is then observed. Crow remains heartbroken and conflicted, yet understands that the world has progressed. Forget about an era when hunting was the only order of the day, it is a new epoch now – one that is enriched with peace, understanding, and harmony.
Cast & Crew
Voice Cast:
Karl Urban as Jacob Holland – The monster hunter whose bravery and loyalty attributes for his character and learns the importance of questioning his long held beliefs.
Zaris-Angel Hator as Maisie Brumble – A passionate and resourceful child with an insatiable curiosity and challenges the status quo.
Jared Harris as Captain Crow – A commander of The Inevitable whose focus is unwavering and is the epitome of the hunter.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Sarah Sharpe – A commander with fighting prowess and supports Captain Crow and is his reliable subordinate.
Dan Stevens as Admiral Hornagold – The royal commander in charge of the hunting of beasts and the government is his office.
Director:
f The Inevitable moana and big hero 6.
Writers:
The story was developed by Chris Williams with the screenplay co-written with Nell Benjamin. Together, they crafted narratives which holds a lot of emotion.
Production:
The producers of the animation are Netflix and The Sea Beast is known for its animation quality which exceeds other theatrical releases. The ocean scenes are the characters, the faces and the creatures are rich in detail.
IMDb Ratings & Critical Reception
According to IMDb, The Sea Beast is rated 7.1 out of 10 which resonates with the captivating plot and broad satisfaction from the viewers. The stunning animation along with the film’s adventurous tones and profound themes were appreciated. The blend of emotional maturity and character development helped the film refrain from the overused action driven intesity and darkness while still being packed with excitement.
The compassion and ability to question traditions as well as the power to pursue the truth were underlying themes within the film that critics were drawn to. The connection between Jacob and Maisie was of immense interest; the way in which a mentor-student relationship gained values of growth and respect is inspiring.
Among the animated characters, Maisie stands out for being bold, curious, and not afraid to voice her opinions, particularly with her influence on Jacob, which serves to reinforce the film’s thesis that the youngest voices can sometimes create the greatest impacts.
Red, along with the other creatures from the sea, was beautifully animated as well and unlike the stereotypical monsters, the creatures were considered expressive and endearing, enhancing the animation as a whole.
Conclusion
The animated film, The Sea Beast, is full of both thrilling and exciting insights, going deeper than any adventure tale could tackle. It, instead, focuses on defining and treasuring otherness, carefully reassessing age-old truths, and exercising the revolutionary virtue of being kind.
The movie prompts both younger and older generations to learn and understand the world that Jacob, Red, and Maisie collectively journey through. It redefines the idiom, ‘brave is the new black,’ by stating that is carrying the torch might be the most daring, and noble, action one could achieve.
Thanks to the breathtaking animation, a tale that goes deeper than the surface holds and highlights the responsibility to make the audience reflect on it. It is one of very few films made which unifies the audience into a family, on the characters, and the Sea Beast himself.
The Sea Beast is one of those extraordinary films that captures the audience with emotional scenes of friendship and epic breathtaking voyages, and vivid stories of reformation and exploration, which makes it stand out and glow from within. The film is a heartfelt treasury and voyage, and remains imprinted in the depths of the viewer’s heart.
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