Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
A shy kraken teen discovers her royal sea legacy.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is a 2023 American animated teen comedy from DreamWorks Animation. Kirk DeMicco directed it, and Brian C. Brown, Elliott DiGuiseppi, and Pam Brady wrote the screenplay. The voice cast includes Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Colman Domingo, and Jane Fonda. The story centers on Ruby Gillman, a shy kraken teenager who just wants to fit in at Oceanside High. After she breaks her mother’s rule by going into the ocean with potential friends, Ruby learns she is a direct descendant of a long line of krakens who have guarded the sea against evil mermaids for generations, and that she is fated to one day take the throne from her grandmother.
- Release year
- 2023
- Director
- Kirk DeMicco
- Writers
- Brian C. Brown, Elliott DiGuiseppi, Pam Brady
- Production company
- DreamWorks Animation
- Distributor
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $70 million
- Box office
- $46 million
Lore & Background
The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 15, 2023, and was released in the United States on June 30. It received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office, grossing $46 million against a $70 million budget, making it DreamWorks Animation's second-lowest-grossing film to date, following Spirit Untamed in 2021, and the first DreamWorks CGI animation film to make less than its budget outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has gained more popularity on home media.
Reader's Guide
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken represents a modest entry in DreamWorks Animation's filmography, notable for its underperformance at the box office and its subsequent resurgence on home media. The film's narrative centers on themes of identity, family legacy, and the tension between fitting in and embracing one's true nature. Its mixed critical reception and financial results highlight the challenges faced by original animated properties in a market dominated by franchises. The film's voice cast includes notable actors such as Lana Condor, Toni Collette, and Jane Fonda. The story was initially pitched in 2015 under the title Meet the Gillmans, drawing from the writers' personal experiences. Despite its commercial struggles, the film has found an audience after its theatrical run, contributing to discussions about the viability of non-sequel animated films.
Did You Know?
- The film was initially pitched in 2015 under the title Meet the Gillmans.
- It is DreamWorks Animation's second-lowest-grossing film to date, following Spirit Untamed in 2021.
- The Gillman family are loosely based on co-writer Brian C. Brown's real life family.
- The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 15, 2023.
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