Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Blu-ray review

Sep 24, 2023- Permalink

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is the story of Ruby (Lana Condor), a typical high school student with one big secret: she and her family are actually krakens, the creatures that have been a part of seafaring myths for ages. When it turns out that one of her friends, Chelsea (Annie Murphy), is actually a mermaid, who have battled the krakens for eons, Ruby must accept who she is and what powers she has. The voice cast of this computer-animated family film also includes Toni Collette, Colman Domingo, and Jane Fonda. Though the plot may seem a little familiar, say, “Turning Red beneath the waves,” Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is an enjoyable film for family viewing. Universal has just released a Blu-ray/DVD combo set and I had a chance to look.

The 1080p AVC encoded digital transfer is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The computer animation, from characters to backgrounds, is beautifully detailed and the colour palette is stunning. I usually say “popping” primaries, but this image takes colour to explosive. Black levels are nice and deep. Audiences of all ages will find something in the video presentation to captivate them.

On the audio side of things, you have the choice of an English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack as well as a Spanish Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 track and a French (Canada) Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Subtitles are available for English SDH, French and Spanish. It’s a nicely immersive soundtrack (underwater pun not intended) and the surrounds will put you into the scenes nicely with ambient sounds and action effects. The subwoofer adds a nice, deep (ocean) floor to the track and the score is bright an dynamic. Dialogue is clear and centred and never gets overwhelmed by everything else going on.

In the US, the Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken set comes with a Blu-ray, a DVD and a digital code. Once again there is no digital code in the Canadian version. Is it something we said? There’s an audio commentary by directors Kirk DeMicco, Faryn Pearl, and other members of the production team, deleted scenes with introductions, a look at the recording of the voice performances, a look at kraken lore, a couple of featurettes on the voice cast, prom stories, a look at female empowerment in the story and the women on the creative team, and an animation guide.

Though Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken may tread some familiar territory, a great cast, beautiful imagery and positive message will make it and its audience get along swimmingly.