Themes in 'The Sea Beast'

I like this movie a lot, in case that wasn't obvious.

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[Cheezbuckets]

I watched this movie entirely on impulse a while ago, and when I first saw the unique, diverse, and compelling character designs of the crew, I absolutely lost my mind lol

[jacobcox]

2:46 Fun Fact: Because of the way water reflects light/colors, the color red🟥 is completely invisible in deeper waters. This makes the Red Bluster even more terrifying, since it could get way closer to you before you even see it.

[joaovitorfarinabraga]

I’m a bit conflicted about red’s design, the concept art shows her as an airplane like massive sea creature and that’s cool, but like how everyone else has said already she has a very toothless face and that’s very distracting in some shots, and as you mentioned she has eyeliner, I wish she had more a sea lion or even a horse like facial structure resemble an unicorn kelpie, that would have been cool

[sandradermark]

Gwen Batterbie still sends shivers down my spine. And the idea of striking Faustian bargains with her to buy her poisons is tempting and scary at the same time...

[inkypunk]

That first moment where Red just stares at them gives me chills

[Jay_hates_his_readers]

"that died your great death" this tone- this line- this _impact-_

I began to tear up at that lin parallel

[sixwingedbee]

I didn't question Jacob calling Crow 'captain' too much as I grew up with everyone's dads being Coach. But y'know maybe it's not that different at all..

[joaovitorfarinabraga]

I really like crow and Jacob’s relationship, it reminds me a bit of Jim and silver from treasure planet

Like you said their relationship is not perfect, but by no means as toxic as belos and hunter from the owl house, crow is a serious and brute man, who’s not loving and caring in a traditional way, but he did raise Jacob to be a good man and both do have a good relationship, Jacob doesn’t call him dad and just treats him professionally/as a mentor figure, but even Sarah who’s the closest to him doesn’t have the most cuddly relationship with him either

Crow did like Jacob but didn’t know how to show it properly, aside from giving him his family’s title, and regarding physical abuse, I never got that he physically abused Jacob, when the crew said that he wouldn’t go easy on him I just thought that he wouldn’t sugarcoat his mistakes and just punish him verbally, is by no means a good thing but better than punching him

I’m not trying to defend him and say that the actions of this obsessed man were justified, just that he was a complex individual who showed primarily tough love and only a few times showed more kindness by hugging Jacob and calling him his boy

[cuddlefishbandit]

I really enjoyed the way the film progressed, and the themes of acknowledging children's autonomy as a solution to generations of cyclical and systemic abuse. It defies the common assumption that children are objects to be controlled or punished as it suits the whims of flawed adults (I grew up in the US, and that assumption is pretty much standard, here), and presents us with the following statement: that the static nature of unchecked authority (aided by tools like propaganda, interpersonal abuse, etc.) can only be broken down with a fresh understanding and active defiance of it.
And...that some people will refuse to listen or consider the necessity for change at every turn, so it might be necessary to move on without them.
That's what so refreshing--at least, to me. I wish I had more movies like this when I was growing up.

[GhostKitten]

to be fair to whoever applied Red's eyeliner, it's subtle enough that I didn't catch on and assumed the big scary sea beast was gonna be male

[jacqueshardin]

I mostly liked this film. Something that bothers me is how no one goes out to the monster oceans anymore. Even the way Maisie talked about it in the end felt off. After thinking it over, I think because I prefer stories that encourage kids to learn more about the world. I honestly would have preferred Maisie to have a new dream of becoming a marine biologist, or the equivalent for giant sea monsters. Though, I guess the themes of living your life and not romanticizing dying heroically has value in its own way.

[Pazliacci]

I watched this movie when it dropped just cause I thought heck, something to watch on Netflix that doesn't look like its gonna be bigoted garbage in some way, and gosh its such a good movie, AND I HAVE THALASSOPHOBIA, AND YET I'VE WATCHED THIS MOVIE REPEATEDLY-

[iclynnx]

I must say I'm very appreciative that there's finally a video talking more deeply about The Sea Beast. It's a movie I've grown fond of, ever since the first watch. I could sense the moral, message, in it, but couldn't put it to words. And you could put out some light critique without being straight up hateful about it (like Red's eyeliner markings). I also hear way too many bring up that it's "just a HTTYD clone". Just because Red's facial structure is similar. The stories are nothing alike besides that basic theme of "protagonist changes society's view on (insert subject here)", which is used in more than just HTTYD. So, I like this video a lot! I'm even gonna give the movie another watch, I think.

[firinnesheridan]

Another parallel I noticed is Crow saying Macy is "all Vinegar", I looked it up and Vineger, as a slang is "having a disagreeable character or manner; crabbed; ill-tempered". It being used when Crow discovers her on board and when she nearly attacks him when she wakes up in the Ship's clinic. During him interacting with her pre-red, he seems nice to her, laughing and saying she has many similarities to her. Macy herself is no different, seeing him as someone to look up too and admire for all he's done. When he calls her that the second time, when she wakes up, she's the ground, begging him to let red go, while Jacob is holding her and stopping her from attacking Crow. He looks down at her, smirks and says "She's all Vinegar", this shows the development of these two in such as small way, as with Macy learning to grow and accept the big sea creatures, even the one who murdered her parents, Crow depends deeper intp the madness of clinging to that one idea, especially after he also loses someone, his son, his legacy, Jacob. Also when the phrase used a second time, it might be a stretch bug i like to think he said that, to Jacob atleast, could also mean "She's just as foolish as you were, Jacob"

Also I didn't rlly notice Red's eyeliner until you pointed it out, I just thought it was shadow or inner eye markings 😭 but yeah I wished they kept some concept designs for her

[sandradermark]

I ❤ this film
The eighteenth-century setting, the sea monsters, the moral, the character designs, that cutie Blue, Gwen F-ing Batterbie... Netflix has some great fairytale films, including this one, the Magician's Elephant, and Del Toro's Pinocchio (I was surprised to see Pleasure Island not as a decadent carnival, but as a Fascist cadet camp where children are turned into donkeys metaphorically, as beasts of burden that obey the regime and are sent as lambs to the slaughter. Sebastian Cricket, an author writing his memoirs who lives inside Pinocchio's chest instead of a heart, and the biblically accurate Blue Angel that replaces the Blue Fairy are also memorable characters. I also laughed a lot at a comedic scene where Pinocchio did a toilet humour show insulting Mussolini, the leader of the country himself!).

[trixxart]

Your mum seems like a cool person I love this film soo much some of the characters even remind me a little of stop motion. Also the beasts look soo cool

[monanarts]

I'm floored more people aren't talking about this movie. Loved this video, and your points and observations you touched on!

[gryphonkin]

I absolutely loved this movie! I feel like the sequel might be about the price Captain Crow still has to pay the witch. Though maybe he already did that by losing his profession as a hunter. Maybe it could be about someone who does try to explore the great beyond, but carefully and without disturbing the monsters. Anyway I'm really excited for it and this video made me love it even more.

[Indigoisaspookyghost]

This isn’t related to the video but..

You’ve really helped me through this last year, and helped me accept my disability. I have a chronic illness that impares my day to day life, so while it is invisible it’s still there(We are hopeful for a cure, since we know what it is now, but it will take several more months if it works). Thank you for just.. being a disabled person on the internet, who doesn’t dance around the fact.

[barbaragagner]

I mean, maybe Red has they "eyeliner" as an adaptation for when she surfaces from the water to cut down on glare? Probably not the actual design choice, but it's easy enough to justify. We'll have to see what a male looks like.