Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)

In Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, the plot revolves around Ruby, a teenager who hides her kraken heritage for fear of rejection, until a romantic crush on Chelsea, another girl, prompts her to reveal her identity. This relationship is presented with tenderness and emotion, culminating in a kiss on the mouth that the film treats as a natural step of self-discovery, before Chelsea reveals her betrayal as a mermaid. Although the narrative twist exposes the disappointment, the kiss remains without moral questioning, normalizing it for a child audience as part of youthful exploration. This introduces a confusing view of attractions, using compassion for Ruby's shyness so that the viewer accepts without reservation what goes against the common sense of the difference between boys and girls. Furthermore, the mother-daughter conflict highlights a radical female empowerment: female krakens are peaceful heroines versus aggressive male mermen, painting inverted gender roles as ideal. The violence is light fantasy, with transformations and stylized marine battles without blood. There are hints about bodily changes (breasts when transforming) and mild teenage humor. The nuclear family is valued at the end, but the underlying message prioritizes individual 'authenticity' over natural limits, which demands caution for young viewers. Parents, evaluate whether this mixture of adventure and anthropological confusion enriches or distracts from healthy growth.