Meet Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, a film that ventures into the realm of the familiar but adds a twist that sets it apart from the crowd. In this quirky animation, we follow the journey of Ruby (voiced by Lana Condor), an awkward and lovesick 15-year-old girl who faces the typical challenges of fitting in. However, there’s one not-so-typical aspect: Ruby happens to be a kraken.
Now, we’ve seen our fair share of teenage tales with protagonists discovering their uniqueness, be it She’s All That, Cinderella, Spider-Man, or Carrie. But with Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, we delve into uncharted waters. Lana Condor’s voice brings life to this nerdy heroine, who isn’t merely concerned about prom dates or popularity contests. Instead, she grapples with her true identity as a legendary kraken – the colossal, mythical, ship-eating octopus of Scandinavian folklore.
From the outset, the movie throws us into an amusingly absurd world. Ruby’s family, who are all krakens, keeps this fact hidden from their kids. And although they live in a seaside village, they are prohibited from entering the ocean. The village itself is a peculiar place, fully embracing its sea-based identity with school trips, proms, and more, all revolving around water.
As Ruby tries to conceal her gills under turtlenecks to avoid mockery at school, her unusual nature manifests in moments of embarrassment when her leg wraps tentacularly around the other – adding to the film’s enigmatic charm. But it’s not just Ruby’s character that’s enigmatic; the animation itself sports a unique style that blends TV-cartoon simplicity with a clutter of odd designs and elements. The result is a visual mishmash that somehow suits the movie’s curious atmosphere.
While Ruby Gillman strives to be a colorful, neon teen fantasy filled with romance, friendship, and gentle parental conflicts, its central conceit raises existential questions. By making our protagonist an ill-defined kraken, the film leaves us wondering about the purpose of it all. What does it mean to be a kraken in this context? The ambiguity might seem strange, but it lends a thought-provoking dimension to an otherwise lighthearted tale.
In the end, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, may be an unassuming animated film, but beneath the surface, it’s an introspective adventure that challenges our perceptions of life itself. So, if you’re up for an odd and intriguing experience, this movie might just be the wave you’ve been waiting to catch.