D E PA R T M E N T
37 KEYFRAME
Ruby is the first female title
character in a DreamWorks
animated film.
What do you do when your title character is a kraken? You turn the
sea monster trope upside down and transform a mythical beast into a
teenager trying to fit into high school. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
centers on the relationship between Ruby and her mother, Agatha, who
has transplanted her family to a quirky seaside town and tasked them
to blend in by claiming they're from Canada. No easy feat since they are
blue, squid-like creatures. The one major rule: stay away from water
because of its hidden dangers.
Ruby dutifully obeys her mom until faced with the prospect of attending high
school prom with her crush, Connor. The event takes place on a ship, which would
break her mother's cardinal rule. As Ruby tests teenage boundaries, she unveils a
family secret that makes her question her mother and sets her on a journey of self-
discovery. The film may be a heartwarming coming of age story, but it's the visual FX
that are integral in capturing her transformation.
SUMMER 2023 37
Images
courtesy
of
DreamWorks
