Movie The Sea Beast (2022)

A visually stunning high-seas adventure, "The Sea Beast"

With all of its parallels to the Dreamworks movie from 2010, The Sea Beast, a new animated adventure film from Netflix, might just as easily be called "How to Train Your [Sea] Dragon."

The Sea Beast may not appear to have much to offer beyond these tales at first glance, but it does draw inspiration from Herman Melville's classic Moby Dick in addition to director/co-writer Chris Williams' prior work with Disney (Moana, Big Hero 6, Bolt).

However, despite its clumsy fusion of trusted tropes, the kids' movie shouldn't be dismissed.

With visually stunning animation, an exhilarating adventure, and thought-provoking ideas, it stands out on its own. Its charmingly precocious and ferociously bright young protagonist is at the centre of it all.

Although Maisie Brumble (Zaris Angel-Hator) is an orphan, her parents' legacy as legendary monster hunters endures.

The little girl stows away on the ship of renowned monster hunters Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and his adopted son Jacob Holland, determined to become famous like her parents (Karl Urban).

Creatures against humans

At first, the past that puts sea creatures against humans compels Maisie and Jacob to do something.

However, their personal encounters with the fabled animals suggest that the truth might be more nuanced than what is described in the history books.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the movie contrasts young and old, upending conventional wisdom. Although the narrative is fairly typical, it is still relevant today.

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The concepts of this fiction are directly and ominously paralleled to the real world in The Sea Beast, more so than in How to Train Your Dragon.

Maybe you can be a hero and still be incorrect, as Maisie puts it. In other words, be wary of how fiction is presented as fact in history texts and how villains are depicted as heroes.

The historical fantasy backdrop of The Sea Beast makes the message particularly effective. It resembles the real world in that it reflects its social difficulties and variety.

These can, of course, be glossed over with the kind of sanitised, glossy pain that is typical of children's media. Maisie is an orphan with a horrible past, so how is it that she is inspired by... the power of positive thinking?

Sea Beast 

The girl's experience does, however, have an undeniable and appealing edge to it in a society where using violence to solve problems is the norm.

The Sea Beast can't be accused of underestimating its audience's intelligence and tenacity with its menacingly lurking threats and sophisticated themes.

The Sea Beast is, in many ways, a straightforward and maybe overused story. It manages to get from point A to point B while yet leaving certain plot strands hanging.

However, there is much to be claimed for William's straightforward manner. You can't turn away from Maisie and Jacob's thrilling voyage on the high seas or the film's cutting message.