Film Review - Deep Sea (2023)

East Asian animation has been dominated by one country for many years: Japan. Anime has been a significant aspect of nerd culture and mainstream pop culture for a long time, with its popularity constantly growing. A new anime TV show seems to come out every week, and a good number of anime films are released annually. There are conventions, film festivals, and streaming services dedicated to anime.

I bring this up because Deep Sea is not anime; it is a Chinese animated film. In general, Chinese animation is rarely discussed or advertised. For a British cinema-goer, Deep Sea represents one of the few times a film like this is making its way to the big screens. The film is about Shenxiu, a young girl who has been experiencing deep sadness since her mother left. Her father has moved on and started a new phase of his life with his new partner, leading to a disconnect between Shenxiu and the rest of the family. While on a cruise, a storm occurs, sending our lead into a colourful, dream-like world where we meet a cast of vibrant and eccentric characters.

Deep Sea is a truly gorgeous and breath-taking piece of animation. The imagery transports you to another world that will leave you in sheer awe. There is a moment when the ocean splits in two, and our characters run down the middle of it. This scene had me on the edge of my seat and is one of the most stunning sequences I have ever seen in any animated film.

The animation creates many moments of sheer wonder that are only possible in an animated film. However, good animation can only take you so far. While film is a visual medium, it must also have a strong narrative. Deep Sea’s narrative is hit-and-miss for me. The themes of loss and sadness are truly gut-wrenching and are communicated expertly through the visuals, but the restaurant hijinks detract from the more compelling moments. The film also starts to overstay its welcome as we approach the ending.

Issues aside, Deep Sea is a one-of-a-kind film. It is visually unique and gorgeous, and while the story is not perfect, it allows the film to be more than just a visual spectacle. I hope that with the release of Deep Sea, we will see more Chinese animated films on the big screen.