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For a young imagination, smuggling stories on the high seas have some unique charm. The stakes are high, but the adventure is so far removed from any reality that most kids know it becomes a pure transportation experience. It’s a fantasy, and when it’s over, you can bask in it and put it away.
Disney veteran Chris Williams (“Big Hero 6”) says it’s the joyous adventures he grew up watching, “King Kong,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Treasure Island,” and “Lawrence of Arabia” that he wants to make Movie. With the animated fantasy adventure Sea Beast, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, director and co-writer Williams has produced a pretty popular work for all ages.
In this world that feels like you’re in a gilded, fictional kingdom of the late 17th century, huge, colorful sea monsters roam the Dregmorr Sea, posing a formidable threat to towns and ships. Hunting monsters has become a full-time job for intrepid seamen, many of whom are celebrities in nature, whose adventures and daring are written in children’s cherished books.
One of those children is Maisie Brumble (Zaris-Angel Hator), a dynamic orphan who dreams of fighting sea beasts like her hero Jacob Holland (Karl Urban). So she decides to smuggle his ship, the Inevitability led by Captain Crowe (Jared Harris), to help them in their quest for their greatest conquest yet, the Red Storm.
“Sea Beast” has a reputation for refusing to keep a low profile for younger audiences. It’s anchored by interesting and fairly complex characters that actually play arcs. Captain Harris, played by Raven, is a definite Ahab type, but he also has a sweet surrogate relationship with Urban’s Jacob, rescued from a shipwreck as a young man. At times, “Sea Beasts” with Mark Mancina’s lively soundtrack feels more like “Pirates of the Caribbean” than a typical animated film.
The action is also brilliant, as after an epic battle with Red Bluster, Jacob and Maisie find themselves stranded on an island fighting for survival. For those who were disappointed by Leia and Obi-Wan’s minor relationship from the recent Kenobi series, “Sea Beast” features a more compelling version of that relationship. Much of this has to do with Maisie’s compelling and valuable conversations. Plus, there’s a good piece of information at the end (although revealing that would certainly be considered a spoiler). It straddles the subtle lines of classic and modern.
The monster itself, while as big as Godzilla and packing Godzilla’s destructive power, is all exaggerated (comparisons to “How to Train Your Dragon” are unavoidable). It might seem silly to say that considering it’s a cartoon, but it’s an interesting choice when everything else is rendered so painstakingly with realistic tactile detail. Exactly, this is not a criticism. But it does make sure the monster doesn’t immediately become a nightmare for the youngest audience, which seems like a fair trade-off.
Netflix’s “Sea Beasts,” which streamed Friday, was rated PG for “action, violence, and certain language” by the Motion Picture Association of America. Run time: 119 minutes. Three out of four stars.
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MPA’s definition of PG: Parental guidance is recommended.
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