Let's Gush About the Sea Beast-Renegade Animation #67
On the next Renegade Animation, Captain Kaye and The Animation Guru discuss Netflix and Disney alum Chris Williams' latest animated film, The Sea Beast!
Hey, everybody, The Streamin’ Demon here, and today, Mike and Cameron only discuss animated title, Netflix’s recent movie, The Sea Beast, directed by Chris Williams of Big Hero 6 and Moana fame! Take it away, Mike!
The Sea Beast
“The Sea Beast is an animated adventure film produced in-house by Netflix Animation. Directed by Chris Williams in his solo directorial debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Nell Benjamin, the film is set in an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, and monster hunters were celebrated heroes. None were more beloved than the great Jacob Holland. But when young Maisie Brumble stows away on his fabled ship, he's saddled with an unexpected ally. Together they embark on an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history. I've been a fan of Chris Williams's work throughout his 20+ year career at Disney, and was curious what he could accomplish on his own. As it turns out, he didn't just make a great animated movie, he made one of the greatest adventure films of the last 20 years, rich with the gravitas of Pirates of the Caribbean and Master and Commander, and the heart of How to Train Your Dragon. On a technical level alone, this movie is a feast for the eyes. Unsurprisingly, one of the first things that caught my eye was the look and the texture of the water, in a thrilling nighttime opening sequence. The lighting throughout the film is drop dead gorgeous, some of the best I've seen in quite a while. I also love the design of all the various sea creatures, from the titular Red Bluster, to the adorable Blue, and all the others that our heroes encounter. Which brings us to the #1 reason why this movie succeeds, and that's the characters. Karl Urban's Jacob Holland and Zaris-Angel Hator's Maisie make an excellent dynamic duo, and their arc is something truly special. A lot of people may compare this movie's story to that of How to Train Your Dragon, but please don't conflate such comparisons to criticism. In fact, that first movie is old enough to have been a direct influence on the direction this story takes, and a foundation that strong only allows the writers to take things to the next level. One of the themes this film explores is challenging your own history. To quote an important repeated line, "you can be a hero and still be wrong." Without spoiling the specifics, once I saw the big reveal, that was for me when the film went from really good to GREAT! Now, could this story have been told in live action? Perhaps, but what you gain in animation is a freedom from limitations. I'll have more to say on our next Renegade Animation podcast, but for now, I am so happy I finally got the chance to watch The Sea Beast! 2022 has already been a great year for animation, but it's been ages since I've seen a swashbuckling adventure this thrilling, with such endearing characters, that tackles some complex themes. The Sea Beast is now streaming on Netflix, please spread the word far and wide to everyone you know!”-Captain Kaye
