These days there seems to be a proliferation of animated features that have lost the ability to tell meaningful stories while still being spectacles. Often, animated features are relegated to entertainment for children, talking down to them rather than teaching them to understand and experience essential themes and messages. The Sea Beast is an animated feature that captures the medium’s magic. It’s perfectly capable of telling a meaningful story that will entertain and educate younger audiences without losing older audiences to cheap jokes. It is a remarkable feat that will have viewers feeling nostalgic and hopeful.
The Sea Beast follows Jacob Holland (Karl Urban), a legendary sea monster hunter whose life is flipped upside down when an inquisitive and adventure-seeking young girl, Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator), stows away on his ship. Together they embark on an exhilarating epic journey into uncharted waters, uncovering startling revelations about the practice of monster hunting.
From the director Big Hero 6, one of Disney’s best animated features, Chris Williams headed to Netflix to craft a delightfully exciting and poignant ocean adventure. The narrative isn’t overly complicated as it is meant to appeal to all ages (because animation isn’t just for kids). It harkens back to a time when important messages and themes were carefully threaded into a spectacle — and oh boy is The Sea Beast quite the impressive spectacle. There is a thoughtful and emotional impact that is never sacrificed for flimsy jokes and childish antics. With Maisie as the precious protagonist, she acts as the stand-in for younger audiences who are eager to join a heroic adventure, but have to learn some hard truths along the way. There is careful consideration of how this story reaches young audiences, but it never sacrifices the compelling journey everyone can enjoy.
In many ways, The Sea Beast is a nautical version of How To Train Your Dragon, a worthy successor to the crowning achievements of that superb trilogy. The theme evokes the real-world issue of animal conservation. It interrogates the nature of what makes a hero, and if it is possible for heroes to be wrong about their history and purpose. The Sea Beast is layered with its messaging, but at its core it treads similar ground and does it just as effectively as the recently concluded dragon trilogy.
The Sea Beast is an all-around fun time. The visuals are excellent, with an animation style that distinguishes itself from the major animation studios dominating the medium. There will be a tinge of sadness for audiences who enjoy the theatrical experience since The Sea Beast will only play in select theaters and go to streaming. Granted, the animation is gorgeous and will not be diminished by how small the screen is. There is an astonishing amount of color on the screen. The ocean is given a lively aura. The sea beasts balance the terrifying description hunters have given them while maintaining a more accurate and child-friendly appearance. The 3D animation doesn’t aim for realism. Rather, it is utilized to emphasize the liveliness of the narrative. To further add to the excitement, the film is well directed, with action sequences good enough to rival the most expensive blockbusters. The complex and exciting imagery is vital in nurturing this pertinent story. A considerable effort is made to have every aspect of the film pop on screen.
There is much to gush about regarding The Sea Beast besides the excellent filmmaking and script. The film also boasts a fantastic voice cast. King of all genres and mediums, Karl Urban shows off his range once again. It is hard to imagine that Jacob is also Butcher on the Prime Video series The Boys. Zaris-Angel Hator’s voice work is equally impressive; she melts one’s heart with little effort. Jared Harris is also a prolific actor who can be found anywhere and in everything, and he is always reliable. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is always a delight and leaves a lasting impression. Despite being a COVID production, the quality of voice acting doesn’t lag due to the actors not being together. There is a seamlessness to the whole picture, which is a testament to the attention to detail from the top.
The Sea Beast offers audiences a wonderful example of how effective animation can be. What makes it practically perfect is that it accomplishes everything it sets out to do. It is funny, exciting, beautiful, and all-around meaningful. There are no weak links, and if there were any, it would be understandable. There is an instant rewatchablity factor that only a few recent animated films possess. The Sea Beast is excellent cinema and viewers should see it on the biggest screen possible! Either way, audiences should prepare to have the wonders of animation transport them to an epic swashbuckling adventure from the comfort of their own homes.
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The Sea Beast began streaming on Netflix Friday, July 8 and is playing in select theaters starting June 24. The film is 119 minutes long and rated PG.
