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The narrative revolves around Shenxiu, a child who is currently extremely unhappy because she is adjusting to life post-divorce of her parents. Shenxiu missing her mother, starts living with her father, stumbles upon a cruise where she goes with her dad, her dad’s new wife and their newborn son. While soaking in the cruise, Shenxiu attempts to hear her mother’s voice from above the surface singing a lullaby, which results in her attempting to drown herself overboard. Shenxiu is eventually rescued from the water by a very eccentric and outlandish creature called Nanhe, who works as a waiter (and seems to own) a restaurant named “Deep Sea”. Shenxiu hopes that this magic realm is where she can reunite with her mother.
Even if this new realm has some positive aspects, it also has horrible creatures that can be described as something straight out of a nightmare, including Shenxiu’s nightmare from the beginning of the film. The story scarers younger people as well such as the plight of a depressed young girl who struggles through some admittedly tough times and, as you may make a guess, the film provides a bit of a tear-jerker for all us sensitive types. As poetic as this all sounds, your assumption that “an unhappy girl travels to a magical world away from her family and battles her demons before emerging a better person” has some truth to it and that is the backbone of this movies story. Some creature designs are definitely more original but the story gives off the vibe of it being a copy of an already existing story. In its defense, it tells the classic story quite well, still hitting the right emotional beats, though not always in the correct sequence, sometimes suffering from too sudden a narrative jolt, switching from cheerful creatures to pessimism and grief at the drop of a hat.
To be honest, CG is not my first choice when it comes to animation. It’s something I “deal with” if a favorite franchise goes that way, and this film is not without flaws. For example, some of the stranger CG characters that were meant to be amusing or adorable are a bit too creepy because of the Some of the animation. What this film does have, though, is what I can only describe as its own kind of the CG style. Some of the images featured here are not even able to capture what it’s like to watch so blend a cartoonish CG with watercolor painting. Some of the set pieces and vistas are as close to literally breathtaking as a film has ever taken me, especially the big finale. Because the story is so unoriginal, it is visually captivating and engaging throughout the entire runtime.
In summary, Deep Sea is an emotional rollercoaster of a film centered around a miserable little girl trying to find her mother, only to get magically lost in an entirely different world. Although the plot is as generic as they come, the visuals are so stunning that I was glued to the screen until the credits rolled. I would definitely suggest watching Deep Sea if you’re in the mood for a magical (and dark) coming-of-age story for young children. If you can catch it in theaters, it would be an unforgettable experience.
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