Directed by Chris Williams, The Sea Beast tells the story of a sea monster hunter (Karl Urban) and a young orphan girl (Zaris-Angel Hator) who joins his group of hunters on their search for the elusive Red Bluster. But as they embark on this dangerous voyage they soon discover the hidden secrets of the beasts they hunt.
This film was released on Netflix last June and I remember seeing multiple positive reviews for it from many fellow reviewers on this platform, but due to scheduling conflicts and personal things I had to deal with I never got around to watching it till now. I was surprised to find out that Chris Williams was behind this film, a director, writer and story artist for multiple animated Disney projects including Bolt, Moana and Big Hero 6. But this is the first non-Disney project that he has made and it may quite possibly be one of the best animated hidden gems of 2022.
It is a beautifully animated sea kaiju film that has plenty of adventure and heart to satisfy all who watch it. Those who have seen films like the How to Train Your Dragon series will definitely find some similarities in this film, but it takes very different directions than most would expect. This film had me excited, had me laugh, had me shocked, and really hits some strong emotional beats. On top of that it is a visually gorgeous film from the very first frame to the last. You can see the mass amount of effort put into the animation in every detail, from the texture of the water and colorful surroundings to the uniquely designed sea monsters and mass landscapes. It looks and feels like a high seas fantasy adventure that’s very compelling due to the animation as well as the story and characters.
The voice acting was great as the cast brings these characters to life with fun and surprisingly strong emotions that give a lot of weight to the film that I didn’t expect.
Karl Urban as Jacob Holland is a solid adventure lead who learns to be more than a swashbuckling sea monster hunter and shares a unique bond with the adventurous orphan girl Maisie Brumble, voiced wonderfully by Zaris-Angel Hator. Together they share great chemistry and go on a journey that changes their perspectives on sea monsters and changes them as people, and it’s honestly very wholesome and fun to watch. You feel equally engaged with both of them and you feel as if you are on the journey with them, thanks mostly to their strong performances.
One of the most notable performances and characters aside from them was Jared Harris as Captain Augustus Crow III, the leader of the sea monster hunting crew. He is an inspiring mentor to Jacob who took him in as an adoptive son, and while he may appear to be a vicious sea monster killer on the outside he has a heart of gold that is shown beautifully thanks to Jared’s performance, which gives the character a lot of emotional weight. However, these two sides of him are at constant conflict with each other as his vendetta against the Red Bluster clouds his judgment, leading him to act aggressively and make many mistakes. Initially you’d think he would be this film’s typical animated villain, but in truth he’s a complex man who has endured a lot in his past which has molded him into the man he is and he is struggling with what he really wants to be.
There is also a great supporting cast including Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Sarah Sharpe, the first mate of the sea monster hunting crew and an absolute badass.
Then we have the sea monsters themselves, coming in all in different shapes and sizes that can be either surprisingly terrifying or sometimes cute. The way the monsters are handled is very different compared to the dragons of How to Train Your Dragon. These are wild yet intelligent animals that can be really dangerous and can’t really be tamed, even when a few may show a friendly nature. They primarily act on their instincts and show themselves as formidable titans against the hunters, with the largest among them being the Red Bluster.
The Red Bluster plays a large part, like the White Whale in Moby Dick, but with a big twist that changes everything and makes the film even more engaging and exciting. That’s all I’ll say about the Red Bluster as I feel it’s best for people to watch and find out for themselves.
The story is simple at its core and has some elements we have seen before, but what it chooses to do with these familiar elements and themes makes it stand out from what came before. I was also surprised to see completely new themes, like the horror of imperialism and the re-writing of history for propaganda. These kind of themes would normally be watered down for animated films targeted towards younger audiences but I’m glad this film didn’t choose to do that, especially given how both themes are relevant to some current events.
Yes, the film is primarily a kaiju adventure film for families, but it has a number of effective emotional moments and surprisingly dark adult moments and themes, even in a film with a PG rating. This gives it its own identity compared to the big animated Disney films, including elements that are geared a bit more towards older audiences, and I really loved that.
Adding to the adventure and excitement is the musical score by composer Mark Mancina. He really brings everything to life with his score, making the characters and the world they inhabit feel like an epic tale. Honestly, with how much effort this film was given, I’m shocked it wasn’t given a wide release in theaters; this film did not deserve to be stuck to streaming.
This is a lovely animated gem that deserved the big screen treatment and deserves much more attention, especially since it is not made by any of the animated titans like Disney, Pixar or Dreamworks. It is in its own league and I like that it stands out on its own a big way, and I’m kind of hoping we get more independent animated projects like this, whether it be from Chris Williams himself or other directors itching to make their own animated projects. If you haven’t seen it yet please be sure to catch it on Netflix when you can, it’s worth the watch. I’m going to give The Sea Beast an A = 96.
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