But curiosity and the urgings of another, more land-accustomed sea monster, Alberto , compel Luca to swim up to a beach and stride ashore.
Walking comes quickly enough, though, and through Luca’s eyes we see the wonders of surface-dwelling anew — the blue sky, the swaying trees, the rustling grass.
Alberto, more confident and reckless than Luca, calls a phonograph a “magic singing lady machine” and believes the stars in the night sky are little glittering anchovies.
The whole town lives in fear of them — a concern mirrored by Luca’s family who quake at the thought of “land monsters.” Revealing their true natures would be suicidal, and all it takes is a water balloon or a bit of rain to ruin their human disguises.
It would be easy to label “Luca,” which arrives Friday on Disney+, “minor Pixar.” Its visuals, while beguiling, don’t push new digital ground the way many Pixar animations have.
But I think the modesty of “Luca” is part of what makes it great.
In sweet sea monsters that just want to do what other kids do, “Luca” finds a simple and beautiful metaphor for all those who feel like they need to hide themselves to fit in.
release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for rude humor, language, some thematic elements and brief violence.