Netflix has steadily been making a name for itself in the animated movie arena. The streaming giant produced Klaus and acquired I Lost My Body, both of which received nominations for Best Animated Feature at the 2020 Academy Awards. Over the Moon (2020) and The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) followed next, both of which also received Best Animated Feature nominations. And with Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10-1/2, Netflix already has one possible contender this year.
Academy Awards of course aren’t the be all end all of determining a film’s quality. But it at least provides some sort of barometer of where things stand. And in a sector like animation, where Disney and Pixar have dominated for so long, it’s good to see another studio making headway, even if it’s not an up-and-coming “little guy” studio. And with The Sea Beast, Netflix hopefully have another certified hit on its hands.
In the world of The Sea Beast, giant monsters roam the ocean waters, stoking fear in everyday life. Most of the beasts keep to the deeper parts of the ocean, but legends still remain from when they would come right to the coast line, snatching unsuspecting people. Fearing this constant threat, monster hunters became the brave heroes, hunting down and killing any and all of these creatures they can find.
While the hunters have slain countless beasts, one remaining beast haunts them more than the others: the Red Bluster. Captain Crow (Jared Harris), captain of The Inevitable, the most famous hunting ship on the open sea, has made taking down the Red Bluster his life’s work. Captain Crow is a legend, and his adopted son and best hunter Jacob Holland (Karl Urban) is a legend-in-the-making in his own right. Stories have been told and books have been written about their legendary exploits. Their hunting success has made them both celebrities.
Perhaps their biggest fan is young orphan Maise Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator). Maise runs away from her orphanage so she can see Crow, Jacob, and the rest of The Inevitable crew as they come to port before heading out again on their next hunt. She and Jacob bond over their shared past of losing loved ones to the sea beasts. But when she asks to join them on their hunt, he of course refuses. The sea is no place for a child. But Jacob and the crew are in for a surprise when they find Maise has snuck aboard The Inevitable. Jacob is stuck with his new pal, and the two form an unlikely duo as they try to hunt down the Red Bluster once and for all.
The Sea Beast is at its best during the water action. And luckily for us that’s a large chunk of the movie. The entire movie is nothing short of gorgeously animated, and that really comes to life with the ocean scenes. Director and co-writer Chris Williams previously co-directed Moana, and clearly that experience has carried over to The Sea Beast. Everything on the water is stunning, be it the action scenes or simply the ship sailing on calm waters.
The sea beasts themselves also look fantastic. They’re scary enough, but not so scary that the younger audience will be too scared. There’s just enough of an original touch that they look unique from countless other similar creatures from other movies.
The story itself isn’t necessarily anything special. But being an adventure story helps, as it adds a natural level of excitement to what the characters are going through. While the basic plot won’t blow you away, the themes at play in The Sea Beast are another strength, elevating the story. Finding your own family, what it truly means to be a hero, the power of stories, among others, offer a slew of great messages. It makes for a great time for the whole family. The younger audience will be taken in by the lively animation, fun characters, exciting action, and the simpler messages at play. The older audience will enjoy the same, plus the deeper, more mature lessons The Sea Beast attempts to teach.
If we want to nitpick, the score could have been more effective. There are moments that work, but it should have been much more rousing to match the sea-faring adventure. Think the “He’s a Pirate” theme from Pirates of the Caribbean. The ultimate resolution also feels a little neat. The story sets it up well, so it makes sense within the given context. But they went with what felt like the easy, obvious route. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but it could have jumped up a notch or two had they thrown even a little surprise our way.
But there really isn’t too much to complain about with The Sea Beast. On the back of the fantastic animation, the ocean adventure seems set to be one of the best movies – not just animated – of the year.
Score: 88/100
