Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken - What We Know So Far

The talented folks that brought audiences such entertaining experiences as the "Shrek" and "How To Train Your Dragon" films are once again back in action with a delightful tale from under the sea that changes things up from the genre in a fascinating manner. "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" will entertain fans with a heartfelt family-friendly narrative and offer a new take on the titular mythical beast.

When it comes to DreamWorks movies, there have been a number of good and bad examples to choose from over the years. There are even some DreamWorks films fans will unfortunately never get to see, but luckily for them, "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" is not one of them. The film is yet another collaboration between DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, which has worked out well in the past when it comes to launching a franchise, and the property potentially could be destined for that same outcome, opening up a whole new world for audiences to explore with plenty of remarkable characters introduced along the way.

Fortunately, for anyone curious to learn more about the teenaged sea creature's escapades in animation, there is no need to venture to the ocean's depths as many of the things fans need to know about the film have already risen to the surface.

"Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken," has had a fascinating journey from the concept's inception to its premiere date. While it seems like a new endeavor that popped up overnight, the project has been in the works for some time. According to theGWW.com, the film's idea surfaced back in 2021, and the project's title in its early stages was "Meet the Gillmans." Originally the movie was supposed to be released in 2022. But that later changed, as production was set to kick off that same year. Eventually, the name was changed to what it is now, and presumably, not long after, the release date for the animated feature film was revealed. Fans should mark their calendars because they will get to go on a spectacular adventure when "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" makes a splash in theaters on June 30, 2023.

Parents and their kids will definitely not want to miss what's in store when the film is released, especially considering what the exciting narrative has in store for viewers.

Many people hear the word "Kraken" and most likely immediately think of the giant mythical beast seen in films like "Clash of the Titans" or the professional hockey team from Seattle. But as far as Ruby Gillman is concerned, everybody has a lot to learn about the Kraken, especially the teenage ones. The DreamWorks animated feature looks to completely alter people's thoughts on the underwater dweller.

The movie centers around the titular 16-year-old high school student Ruby Gillman, who is either being ignored by her crush or most of the student body at Oceanside High. And to make matters worse, the poor girl has an overprotective mom that, oddly enough, will not allow her under any circumstance to even venture into, of all things, the water. But teenagers rarely listen, and her rule-breaking results in a game-changing discovery — Ruby is actually a Kraken. But instead of destroying ships, these super-powered sea creatures are the chosen guardians of the ocean, with one major enemy they are charged with keeping at bay. It turns out mermaids are actually evil creatures that must be stopped at all costs, and with the help of her warrior queen grandmother, Ruby will have to prove she has what it takes to live up to her family's legacy as a teenage Kraken.

The plot only adds to the many reasons there are to check out "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken."

When the release date was put out, several other secrets were also revealed, like the fact that DreamWorks Animation has put together a stellar cast for the film. Playing the titular star of the movie with her exemplary voice talents is Lana Condor. The actress has made a name for herself in previous works such as "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Alita: Battle Angel," the "To All the Boys" movies, "Moonshot," and the series "Deadly Class." "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" is her first animated motion picture, and it's probably a safe bet it won't be her last.

Condor is joined by Academy Award nominee Toni Collette, known for her work in "Hereditary," "Knives Out," and the series "The United States of Tara." In the movie, Colette plays Ruby's stick-in-the-mud mother. Also in the mix playing Ruby's grandmother, the Warrior Queen of the Sea, is Oscar winner Jane Fonda who fans know from her work in films like "Klute," "Coming Home," "80 For Brady," and the series "Grace and Frankie." Making up the rest of Ruby's family is Colman Domingo from "Fear the Walking Dead" as her dad, Sam Richardson from "Veep" as her uncle, and "Council of Dads" star Blue Chapman as her younger brother.

Going up against Ruby will be Chelsea, the popular girl in school who is also a menacing mermaid. The flick's villain is brought to life by Emmy winner Annie Murphy, who viewers know from the "Schitt's Creek" series. And leading all these talented players is a seasoned director in the realm of animation.

The announcement regarding the release date and cast also featured the news of the individual sitting in the director's chair for "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken." Academy Award nominee Kirk DeMico is the person helming the animated affair for DreamWorks Animation. But while he may not be among the people in his field who have achieved the status of being a household name, this is far from the acclaimed filmmaker's first run when making animated cinema. He has previously directed the films "Vivo" and "Space Chimps," but his biggest claim to fame would probably be "The Croods" which was a big box office success earning over $580 million and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars in 2015.

In addition, Kelly Cooney Ciella will serve as the film's producer, and Faryn Pearl will serve as co-director. Among the two, their credits include "The Croods: A New Age," "Trolls," and "Trolls World Tour." Pam Brady, whose previous efforts include "South Park," "Hot Rod," and "The Bubble," is responsible for writing the movie. And from the looks of the film's trailer, their hard work has paid off.

Suppose the cast, premise, and people behind the scenes weren't enough to convince moviegoers to give "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" a chance. In that case, the well-crafted and visually impressive trailer will probably be enough to seal the deal. The first glimpse at what the DreamWorks Animation title has to offer proves that people may have the wrong idea about the Kraken. The promo quickly gets people up to speed that the mythical beasts are basically the Avengers of the deep and that Ruby Gillman is about to embark on an incredible journey of self-discovery and change. 

While she's on land pretending to be a human, she looks blue, but when Ruby goes into Kraken mode under the sea, the fledgling warrior turns a luminescent purple, most likely to warn her enemies she is ready for action. The teaser also shows off Ruby's Kraken powers which include super speed, camouflage, body armor, and laser eyes. And that isn't all because when her nemesis Chelsea the Mermaid goes into Kaiju mode, the teenage Kraken will answer the call in a big way.

The trailer arguably proves that fans are in for one amazing adventure when the film washes up in theaters, and they should not sleep on the new hero's arrival in "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" on June 30, 2023.