Animator Chris Williams, who takes his place at the helm of the new Netflix animated feature “The Sea Beast,” has been a stalwart of animated cinema for almost 25 years. Starting with the 1998 film “Mulan,” Williams has served as a storyboard artist on multiple projects, including “Lilo and Stitch,” “Chicken Little,” and, more recently, the wildly successful “Frozen” films. Williams has also earned his stripes as co-director of beloved animations such as “Bolt” and “Big Hero 6,” the latter having won in the category of Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards.
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“The Sea Beast” marks Williams’ first solo outing as director as he hopes to imbue the project with some of the magic of his previous output. The initial trailer, which you can watch below, suggests he has achieved just that in the form of a family-friendly, seafaring spectacle.
Here’s the official synopsis for the Netflix animation;
In an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, monster hunters were celebrated heroes – and none were more beloved than the great Jacob Holland. But when young Maisie Brumble stows away on his fabled ship, he’s saddled with an unexpected ally. Together they embark on an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six, Bolt), “The Sea Beast” takes us to where the map ends, and the true adventure begins.
The adventure will star Karl Urban and Jared Harris, both poised for big 2022s in light of the releases of Season 3 of “The Boys” and “Morbius,” respectively, while Zaris-Angel Hator, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens, and Kathy Burke complete the cast. “The Sea Beast” will arrive on Netflix on July 8.
