Netflix: Review of THE SEA BEAST: Concluding Conflicts

June 9, 2022

There was a certain kingdom who long waged wars against sea monsters that lived in the seas around it, and many lives have been lost on both sides over the years. The King (Jim Carter) and Queen (Doon Mackichan) funded the expedition of the ship called Inevitable, under its famed Captain Crow (Jared Harris) and his ward Jacob Holland (Keith Urban), to capture the most notorious monster of all called the Red Bluster. 

A precocious girl named Maisie Brumble (Zaris Angel Hator) had been left an orphan when both her parents perished serving on the ill-fated ship Monarch while on a monster-hunting mission. Maisie loved the book about Crow, Jacob and their various encounters with the sea monsters, and decided that she wanted to be a monster hunter too. One day, with dreams of big adventures ahead, Maisie stowed away on the Inevitable.

This computer-animated film written and directed by Chris Williams ("Bolt," "Moana" and the Oscar-winning "Big Hero 6") was produced by Netflix Animation. The animation work was done by Sony Pictures Imageworks ("Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "The Smurfs," "Hotel Transylvania," "The Mitchells and the Machines," and the Oscar-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse"). 

However, the design of the Red Bluster resembled that of Toothless in "How to Train Your Dragon" which was not done by Sony, but by Dreamworks. In fact come to think of it, the very story line of "The Sea Beast" about the legendary history of violent conflicts between humans and monsters was actually also very reminiscent of "How to Train Your Dragon," only bringing the battle action from the skies down into the sea. 

There were a number of famous names in the voice cast. Keith Urban's heroic Jacob Holland sounded nothing like his Butcher in "The Boys." Dan Stevens (Beast in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast") had a much smaller role as the haughty Admiral Hornagold, whose fancy new gold-plated ship the Imperator rivaled the old Inevitable. Too bad also that Jim Carter (Mr. Carson in "Downton Abbey) did not have too much to say as the King.

Aside from the swashbuckling pirate action and a cute little monster named Blue, "Sea Beast" also had a very timely message against reinventing history for political greed and gains. Viewers from the Philippines should check out the Filipino dub for the excellent voice portrayals of the local cast interpreting the well-transcribed script. Hearing little Maisie deliver her impassioned final speech in Filipino (voiced by Ericka Peralejo) had quite a stronger impact as a call for action.  7/10