DreamWorks Animation usually plays it safe with franchises like Shrek or Kung Fu Panda, but then they dropped Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken in 2023 and things got weird. It wasn't just a movie about a giant sea monster trying to fit into a math class. It was a blatant, neon-colored middle finger to the traditional "pretty mermaid" trope that Disney has owned for decades. Honestly, if you watched the trailers, you probably thought you knew exactly how it would go down. Shy girl, big secret, awkward prom. But the film actually digs into some pretty heavy generational trauma and the weirdness of being an outsider in a way that most big-budget animations just… don't.
Ruby Gillman isn't your typical hero. She’s blue. She has no bones. She tries to pass herself off as Canadian to explain her lack of a skeletal structure to her high school friends in Oceanside. It’s a goofy premise, but it works because Lana Condor brings this genuine, frantic energy to the voice acting. You’ve probably felt that "I don't belong here" vibe before. Ruby lives it every single day.
The Mermaid Myth We All Got Wrong
For a long time, we've been conditioned to think mermaids are the good guys. Ariel made us believe that flip-flopping around a grotto was the height of virtue. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken flips the script entirely. In this universe, krakens are the sworn protectors of the ocean, and mermaids? They’re the "mean girls" of the deep. They are vain, power-hungry, and surprisingly manipulative.
Chelsea Van Der Zee, voiced by Annie Murphy, is the perfect foil. She’s the quintessential popular girl who enters the school and immediately sucks the air out of the room. But beneath that red hair and bubbly personality is a predator. It’s a clever subversion of the The Little Mermaid aesthetic. By making the traditionally "scary" monster the protagonist and the "beautiful" mermaid the villain, DreamWorks tapped into a very modern sentiment about authenticity versus curated perfection.
Why the "Canadian" Joke Actually Matters
The running gag that Ruby’s family is from Canada is more than just a throwaway line. It represents the immigrant experience in a subtle, almost invisible way. They are hiding their true nature to survive in a society that fears them. Director Kirk DeMicco and co-director Faryn Pearl used the kraken biology as a metaphor for puberty, sure, but it’s also about the masks we wear to be "normal."
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When Ruby finally transforms into her Giant Kraken form, she’s massive. She’s bioluminescent. She’s everything she was told to hide. The visual contrast between her small, "humanoid" self and the towering queen of the ocean is a literalization of taking up space. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s awesome.
Breaking Down the Multi-Generational Trauma
One thing people often overlook when talking about Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is the complex relationship between Ruby, her mother Agatha (Toni Collette), and her grandmother, the Grandmamah (Jane Fonda). This isn't just a "teen vs. parent" story. It’s a "traumatized parent vs. expectations" story.
Agatha fled the ocean because she wanted a peaceful life for her kids. She lied to Ruby for fifteen years. While that seems like a typical movie trope, the nuance lies in why she did it. She saw the war and the chaos of the deep and wanted out. Then you have Jane Fonda’s character, the Grandmamah, who is basically a warrior queen who views her daughter’s departure as a betrayal.
- Agatha wants safety and assimilation.
- Grandmamah wants legacy and power.
- Ruby just wants to go to prom without accidentally crushing a pier.
This friction is real. Many viewers resonated with the idea of a mother trying to "protect" her child by withholding the truth, only for that truth to explode (literally) the moment the child hits a certain age. It’s a cycle of silence that Ruby eventually has to break.
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The Visual Language of Oceanside
Let’s talk about the look of the film. It doesn't look like Toy Story. It has a rounded, almost "squishy" aesthetic that fits the cephalopod theme. The town of Oceanside is bathed in these nautical teals and oranges, creating a cozy, coastal vibe that feels lived-in. When the action moves underwater, the color palette shifts to deep purples and glowing neon greens.
The animation team at DreamWorks worked hard to give the krakens a specific movement style. They don't move like humans in suits. They move like liquid. They have this undulating, bone-free flow that is both beautiful and slightly unsettling. It’s a masterclass in character design that reflects personality through physics. Ruby is clumsy on land because she’s meant for the water. Once she’s in her element, that clumsiness turns into power.
Critical Reception vs. Cult Following
When the movie hit theaters, the box office numbers weren't exactly record-breaking. It opened against some stiff competition, and some critics felt the plot was too predictable. But something happened after it hit streaming services. People started finding the "hidden" depths.
The fan community, particularly on platforms like Tumblr and TikTok, latched onto the character designs. They loved the "Monster High" energy of it all. It’s one of those films that performs better in the long run because it speaks to a very specific niche of people who feel like the "weird" kid. It acknowledges that sometimes, the thing that makes you a "monster" is actually your greatest strength.
Making Sense of the Finale
The climax of the film involves a massive showdown between Ruby and Chelsea. It’s not just a physical fight; it’s a clash of ideologies. Chelsea represents the desire to be adored and feared through a false persona. Ruby represents the messy reality of being a protector.
The use of the "Laser Eyes"—a trait Ruby inherits—is a bit of a goofy superhero trope, but it serves a purpose. It shows that Ruby has fully integrated both sides of herself. She is no longer just the "mathlete" or just the "kraken." She is both. And her family finally comes together to support that fusion rather than fearing it.
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Actionable Steps for Fans and New Viewers
If you're looking to get the most out of the Ruby Gillman experience or want to dive deeper into its themes, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch for the Background Details: On a second viewing, pay attention to the Gillman house. It’s full of small clues about their aquatic nature, from the way they use water to the specific types of art on the walls.
- Compare to the Folkore: Look up the actual myths of the Kraken vs. the Proteus or the Nordic legends. You’ll see how DreamWorks took the "ship-sinker" reputation and turned it into a defensive role.
- Check Out the Concept Art: The "Art of" books and online portfolios from the animators show much darker, more bioluminescent versions of the krakens that didn't make the final PG cut. It gives you a sense of how the world-building started.
- Analyze the Soundtrack: The music by Stephanie Economou is underrated. It uses synth-heavy tracks to mirror the "neon" feel of the underwater kingdom, moving away from traditional orchestral swells found in older mermaid movies.
- Support Original IP: In an era of endless sequels, Ruby Gillman is a rare original story from a major studio. If you want more creative risks in animation, supporting these types of projects on official streaming platforms is the only way to signal that to executives.
The film might not have redefined the entire genre, but it offered a refreshing, slightly chaotic alternative to the "perfect princess" narrative. It’s a movie about embracing the fact that you might be a giant, blue, glowing monster—and that’s actually the best thing you could be.