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During the summer, many people travel to the beach. Maybe they set out on a boat for an afternoon cruise. But they probably don’t experience the same kind of sea-faring peril that a young girl faces in Netflix’s animated adventure The Sea Beast, when she sets out to battle the creatures that live beneath the surface.
The Sea Beast sets sail with the fearless crew of The Inevitable, a team of legendary Hunters who battle the monsters that threaten the lives of those on land. Ever since Maisie (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) lost her parents to sea beasts, she’s been determined to escape life at the orphanage and become a great Hunter. When she stows away on The Inevitable just as the crew is about to battle the most notorious beast at sea, she ends up on a terrifying adventure that takes her to places she never expected, alongside the ship’s future captain, Jacob (Karl Urban).
Though Jacob wants no part of this outspoken little girl, he ends up stuck with her, far from the protection of the ship and the rest of the crew, after their first battle against the notorious Red Bluster goes horribly wrong. The film wastes little time in kicking the action into high gear—and from the action sequences to the visits to magical islands and seaside villages, the animation is strikingly detailed and realistic (except for the red beast, who looks strangely like a child’s drawing). And that helps to pull viewers right into the middle of the action and drama.
Still, this film isn’t all death-defying sea battles with monstrous sea creatures. It’s a mix of dark and murderous beasts at sea and light and playful moments with this lovable young girl, giving viewers time to catch their breath and laugh a little before the next battle.
Maisie is adorably headstrong: a fiercely determined kid who won’t take “no” for an answer—not even from one of her lifelong heroes. She’s willful and reckless, but she’s got a huge heart, too. Despite her tendency to get into a whole lot of trouble, she’s sure to win you over—just as she oh-so-slowly starts to win over this surly sea captain, too.
Though their story isn’t without some flaws and inconsistencies, these lovable characters and their action-packed adventures offer a mix of danger and drama that will appeal to a wide variety of viewers. Whether your own summer adventures find you setting sail or staying firmly on solid ground, this monstrous quest is worth embarking on with the family.
The Sea Beast sets sail on Netflix beginning on July 8, 2022.
Listen to the full review on Reel Discovery:
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