DEEP Takes Families on a Journey of Adventure

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres this week and On Demand from director Julio Soto Gurpide and Lionsgate is a journey below the sea in the future with an octopus called DEEP.

It is the year 2100, a very rambunctious octopus called Deep (voiced by Justin Felbinger) and his family live in a colony in the depths of the ocean. The human race is gone and the sea creatures need to find their place again.

Along with the guardian of the abyss called The Kraken (Dwight Schultz), Deep enjoys his time hanging out with friends Evo (Stephen Hughes) the angler fish and shrimp Alice (Lindsey Alena).

When Deep’s colony becomes trapped below a cavern, he must locate a whale named Nathan (Lewis Macleod). The Kraken assures him that Nathan is the only one that can move the boulder trapping them all.

The problem is in finding Nathan and it isn’t going to be easy! Deep and his friends embark on a journey that will take them to the submerged subways in New York and other perilous places. Along the way they meet Maura (Elisabeth Gray), an eel who finds herself becoming part of the journey.

When the group of friends realizes what it is going to take to save their colony, nothing will stop them.

Deep is a young yellow octopus who doesn’t know any other world than this. Spending his time with friends and little adventures, he doesn’t stray to far away from home. That all changes when it comes to helping the survival of the colony. Getting help from friends Evo and Alice, they are his reminder to stay focused.

Evo and Alice also cracked me up with their antics. Angler fish aren’t the prettiest fish in the sea but Evo is endearing nonetheless. Alice is full of  one-liners, side comments and calling Deep out when things get a little dangerous. When Maura joins the band of adventurers, it becomes a learning experience for them all.

The Kraken does his best to take care of those in his charge, even while an ocean of another kind comes dangerous close to them all. He believes in Deep and his friend Nathan to come to their rescue.

Other cast include Jess Harnell as Luigi, Phil LaMarr as Artie, Bob Bergen as Ralph, William Salyers as Darcy, Anna Vocino as Norma, and Joe Hernandez as Rico.

DEEP is an animated tale of friendship, loyalty and doing the right thing at all costs. The animation uses every color of the spectrum to be sure. There is something about ocean characters that kids just love and DEEP cover a wide range of them.

That is what parents who take their kids to the movies want to see. They want a story that engages kids yet everyone has a good time as well. There is music, fun, quirkiness and all of it adds up to a fun night at the movies.

Its going to be difficult to choose one favorite character from them all but I think I’m going to have to go with Alice. She is small but size doesn’t keep her from standing up when others think she is an easy target. That’s one of the many life lessons DEEP brings.

In the end – a new hero will rise from the deep!