The Latest Netflix Animation That Draws Striking Parallels with a 2019 Pixar Hit

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken quickly climbed up to Netflix’s Top 10 and held the #1 spot for days. However, upon closer inspection, this movie is remarkably similar to a Pixar movie released two years ago. Pixar, a powerhouse in the world of animation, is home to many of the most popular and successful animated movies in film history. This success has led to a lot of competition, with DreamWorks Animation being one of its biggest competitors over the years.

DreamWorks rose to fame with the Shrek franchise and has maintained its popularity with movies like Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and Trolls. In 2023, DreamWorks released two movies: Trolls Band Together, which performed well at the box office, and Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, which was a commercial flop. However, after its arrival on Netflix in February 2024, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken garnered new attention and quickly became the most-watched movie on the platform. This wider audience also brought out its flaws, including how similar it is to a recent Pixar movie.

Turning Red Is What Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Tried (& Failed) To Be

Turning Red - Turning Red Is What Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Tried (& Failed) To Be

In 2022, Pixar released Turning Red, which followed the steps of the three movies before it and was directly released on Disney+. While this wasn’t beneficial to its box office stats, Turning Red was a critical success. Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red takes the audience back to 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, to meet Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student who lives with her father and her overprotective and strict mother, Ming (Sandra Oh). One day, Mei discovers that she transforms into a giant red panda when she experiences any strong emotion as a result of a family curse.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken sets up a story of generational trauma & mother-daughter relationship but quickly forgets about it.

Mei is fortunate to have the unwavering support of her closest friends Miriam, Priya, and Abby, who assist her in embracing her red panda form. However, Mei's journey is far from straightforward, delving into themes of generational trauma and the complexities of her relationship with her mother. Turning Red is a poignant and multi-layered tale that explores these emotional depths.

Similarly, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken introduces us to its protagonist, Ruby, who resides among humans with her parents and is forbidden by her mother from venturing into the ocean. Upon breaking this rule, Ruby uncovers her true identity as a descendant of kraken royalty, transforming into a massive kraken herself. Just like Mei, Ruby grapples with a significant family revelation that impacts her both physically and emotionally, as well as navigating a strained relationship with her overprotective mother.

While Ruby's story mirrors Mei's in many ways, with both characters facing challenging mother-daughter dynamics, Ruby's friends do not play as active a role in her journey as Mei's friends do. Despite initially setting up themes of generational trauma and mother-daughter relationships, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken ultimately shifts its focus to a more predictable narrative with a lackluster villain and a conflict between krakens and mermaids that fails to fully deliver on the promising setup.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Is Also Similar To Pixar’s Luca

Jacob Tremblay as Luca Paguro transforms into a sea creature in Luca. - Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Is Also Similar To Pixar’s Luca

Ruby Gilman, Teenage Kraken is not the only Pixar movie that shares similarities with Turning Red. Prior to Turning Red, Pixar released Luca, which is set on the Italian Riviera in 1959. Luca follows the story of the title character, a young sea monster boy named Luca who transforms into a human while on land but reverts to his monster form when in contact with water. Alongside his friend Alberto, Luca explores the town of Portorosso, experiencing life as a human despite his parents' strict rule against interacting with humans.

Both Ruby Gilman, Teenage Kraken and Luca feature main characters who are sea creatures longing to live among humans while facing parental restrictions that keep them away from the ocean and land, respectively. However, unlike Luca and Turning Red, Ruby Gilman, Teenage Kraken quickly sidelines its deeper emotional aspects in favor of a clichéd and foreseeable storyline with a predictable antagonist. In contrast, Luca and Turning Red delve deeply into the personal growth and development of their characters.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing comparison between "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" and two notable Pixar movies, "Turning Red" and "Luca." While "Ruby Gillman" enjoyed initial popularity on Netflix, its similarities to these Pixar films have come under scrutiny. The author effectively highlights the parallels in the themes of generational trauma and mother-daughter relationships, but also points out the shortcomings of "Ruby Gillman" in fully developing these concepts.

Overall, the article serves as a reminder of the high standards set by Pixar in the animation genre. While "Ruby Gillman" may have borrowed certain elements from Pixar's successes, it ultimately fell short in delivering the emotional depth and engaging storytelling that have made Pixar movies so beloved. The comparison between the films underscores the importance of originality and execution in creating truly memorable cinematic experiences.