There's no giant at all. What's washed ashore is just the corpse of a whale, as is suggested near the end by the narrator. And the story is told through the scientist's perspective, with his fantasy where the whale is imagined to be a giant. That explains all the other people's reaction.
43 Reviews
Beached.
Pjtaylor-96-1380445 June 2021
'The Drowned Giant (2021)' is about an introspective scientist who travels to a seaside town in order to see the water-logged body of a beached giant for himself. It's essentially a commentary on the way in which tragedies become spectacles, spectacles become commodities and, eventually, commodities become valueless. The carcass of the large man is treated by the public as not only an oddity to ogle but also as a sort of amusement park sideshow to clamber on, take selfies with and, even, deface. Eventually, as the flesh begins to rot from the body's bones, people start to take souvenirs. The protagonist never engages in such behaviour, visiting the site often but viewing the giant in a much more sympathetic light. Through narration, he ponders the existence of such a large and previously unknown creature, before drifting onto other subjects that are decidedly more existential. Although not all the much happens over the course of the narrative, it often achieves an odd kind of serenity that makes it effortless to watch. It's strangely engaging because of this, even if it isn't massively exciting. It's a nice change of pace from most of the other entries in 'Love, Death & Robots (2019-)'. 6/10.
Causeway of death.
southdavid28 May 2021
Netflix's "Love, Death and Robots" series returns for a second run. Overall, I enjoyed the first season and wrote short individual reviews for each episode and I think I'll take the same approach here.
A giant naked human washes up on the beach, near a small coastal town. Steven (Steven Pacey) a scientist investigates both the body itself, but more effectively the reaction of the crowds that come to see the spectacle. Once the initial awe has died down, the body falls into decay, abuse and eventually disbelief that the event ever happened.
This, perhaps, is what more of the series should be - and adaptation of an existing short story where animation is probably the most cost-effective way of telling the tale. This is an adaptation of a JG Ballard story the themes of which are hotly debated. I took it to be allegorically about the standard human reaction to any major news story, celebrity or even piece of new technology. Approach with caution, embrace, exploit, tire of, abuse, discard, deny - seems like a cycle that matches. Though I acknowledge there are other readings, including more literal ones about our use of animals, which I can see.
Visually this was pretty strong, though still clearly an animated style rather than attempting photo realism.
I feel like this second season was stronger than the first overall. The shorter run allowed for less repetition and thankfully there was a movement away from some of the more childish aspects that dogged the first run. Hoping for another 8 in 2022.
A giant naked human washes up on the beach, near a small coastal town. Steven (Steven Pacey) a scientist investigates both the body itself, but more effectively the reaction of the crowds that come to see the spectacle. Once the initial awe has died down, the body falls into decay, abuse and eventually disbelief that the event ever happened.
This, perhaps, is what more of the series should be - and adaptation of an existing short story where animation is probably the most cost-effective way of telling the tale. This is an adaptation of a JG Ballard story the themes of which are hotly debated. I took it to be allegorically about the standard human reaction to any major news story, celebrity or even piece of new technology. Approach with caution, embrace, exploit, tire of, abuse, discard, deny - seems like a cycle that matches. Though I acknowledge there are other readings, including more literal ones about our use of animals, which I can see.
Visually this was pretty strong, though still clearly an animated style rather than attempting photo realism.
I feel like this second season was stronger than the first overall. The shorter run allowed for less repetition and thankfully there was a movement away from some of the more childish aspects that dogged the first run. Hoping for another 8 in 2022.
Existential dream - 7.5
jewgreen20 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Lots of silly bad reviews based on "no action", disgusting", "plot holes, scientists wouldn't do that", etc. Nothing will help these people. Consider that you are watching an animated short, and revel in it's slice of a world, a time, that we don't need to know.
Just as in music, many people could have many interpretations, which is a good thing. I see this on three possible levels - 1) allegory of humans and beached whale or possibly the earth, 2) a commentary on society and how it reacts to an event., or 3) a consideration of a man's life upon death, and how people interact with that. I like this third one. Maybe the graffiti is things people say about him after death, maybe the femur is some lasting thing this person did, maybe the narrator is reflecting on why this impacted him and not concerned with feeding you details on how a giant could exist? There are so many paths of exploration here and it's sad to see people toss it away because it didn't give them a shallow, immediate experience that much sub-standard film gives you.
Great stuff.
Just as in music, many people could have many interpretations, which is a good thing. I see this on three possible levels - 1) allegory of humans and beached whale or possibly the earth, 2) a commentary on society and how it reacts to an event., or 3) a consideration of a man's life upon death, and how people interact with that. I like this third one. Maybe the graffiti is things people say about him after death, maybe the femur is some lasting thing this person did, maybe the narrator is reflecting on why this impacted him and not concerned with feeding you details on how a giant could exist? There are so many paths of exploration here and it's sad to see people toss it away because it didn't give them a shallow, immediate experience that much sub-standard film gives you.
Great stuff.
Portrait of the scientist as a lazy useless dork
NeonRainSurfing27 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't hate the episode, but I felt frustrated very early on by a lack of believability. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly fine with the giant on the beach. But the first thing I thought was "why is there not some police, even one?" to keep vandals away and protect from an obvious health hazard?
That was before they actually showed the vandalism.
And the main character... doesn't behave like a scientist at all, but like some amateurish art critic - even discounting his pompous 18th century phrases.
He just looks at the corpse (which is quite unlike an actual, bloated drowned corpse), and does... nothing.
He doesn't attempt to discover anything about it. Not where it comes from, not what it eats, not if its dna is like our own, no sign, scar, or other clue, not if there are others, not if any sea animal took a bite... nothing.
You'd think someone would be interested, but no.
That was before they actually showed the vandalism.
And the main character... doesn't behave like a scientist at all, but like some amateurish art critic - even discounting his pompous 18th century phrases.
He just looks at the corpse (which is quite unlike an actual, bloated drowned corpse), and does... nothing.
He doesn't attempt to discover anything about it. Not where it comes from, not what it eats, not if its dna is like our own, no sign, scar, or other clue, not if there are others, not if any sea animal took a bite... nothing.
You'd think someone would be interested, but no.
Kinda wish this episode had a climax
thefoochie14 May 2021
This episode didn't really have a climax like the other episodes, but that's okay, I guess. I like that they don't give us an explanation to why there's a giant human washed up on the beach, because we don't need one. Instead of trying to explain it, the episode shows us what it's like for a human corpse to rot, which was very interesting. I really liked the ending, and how the giant's parts were being used all across the town. A somewhat anticlimactic finale, but still a good episode.
Very deep
gianmarcoronconi12 March 2022
An episode that is throughout its duration a very deep reflection on life and on how everything is fleeting and no matter how big and important it is, everything is forgotten even if sometimes small things are kept as memories. One of the heaviest and most profound episodes of the entire series.
A good script make a good art
00Yasser14 May 2021
weird
tylervt2 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe i just didnt get it, but this episode was just weird.
It seemed an attempt at something philosophical but, for me at least, didnt work.
I think the biggest issue with this episode is that in this world, the people reaction to this event made absolutely no sense. If something like this ACTUALLY happened there would no doubt be endless research into it, normal people would not be aloud to be climbing all over it, (and if they were i find it hard to imagine that people would really want too).
And it makes no sense that it would just be "forgotten" within a couple months and the narrator says.
An event like this would stay in people minds for a LONG time.
And that there is no climax or explination to the story made it feel almost pointless.
It seemed an attempt at something philosophical but, for me at least, didnt work.
I think the biggest issue with this episode is that in this world, the people reaction to this event made absolutely no sense. If something like this ACTUALLY happened there would no doubt be endless research into it, normal people would not be aloud to be climbing all over it, (and if they were i find it hard to imagine that people would really want too).
And it makes no sense that it would just be "forgotten" within a couple months and the narrator says.
An event like this would stay in people minds for a LONG time.
And that there is no climax or explination to the story made it feel almost pointless.
Not action packed or attention grabbing per-say but phenomenal
jadabolain14 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This one sticks out to me. I really enjoyed the script, the voice acting, the premise. It seems pretty accurate as to how humans would really react if something like this were to happen and it really puts everything into a philosophical clarity. Makes you have appreciation for things that are difficult to put into words. I really enjoyed this one. 10/10.
Faux Intellectual Narration Brings it Down
pkchuwithaprtyhat16 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The idea of this episode is so interesting but it gets brought down by the cringy pseudointellectual 'philosophical' narration of the vaguely defined 'scientist'. The narration pretends to be so deep and meaningful but doesn't lead anywhere. Its obvious that they tried to use as many big words they could to sound 'scientific' and complex, but it just comes across as forced and ultimately fails to make any point about anything. I did like the last line about the giant getting up and walking down the street picking up the bits of himself - it was evocative and is a bittersweet taste of what could have been.
Additionally, the episode doesn't explore a ton of other things that would likely happen in this case - museums taking bits of the body, universities fighting to get dibs on the body for investigation, how would police approach this - is it a murder?, would tourism boom in the town? Would the body eventually explode like beached whales are known to? Etc. Etc.
Additionally, the episode doesn't explore a ton of other things that would likely happen in this case - museums taking bits of the body, universities fighting to get dibs on the body for investigation, how would police approach this - is it a murder?, would tourism boom in the town? Would the body eventually explode like beached whales are known to? Etc. Etc.
J. G. Ballard no credit
dwaynemayo6018 May 2021
This is the exact story I read as a kid, a loooong time ago. Original publish date was 1964. It was nicely done visually but I think the script was an exact dcopy of what I read in J. G. Ballard story. I find it very disturbing that I watched and rewatched the credits and the beginning and saw no mention of J. G. Ballard. I don't know how this isn't plagiarism. I'm gonna look and see if I can find the original story but some of the lines I distinctly remember word for word. Maybe it's so old that the copyright statute is expired. I still find it slimy that they did not even mention the original author and claimed it as their own story.
Gulliver's last travel
noxaman11 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The reverse Gulliver's Travels was a very unique idea. The narration was a little hollow, but suited the story well enough. Ultimately this was a rather literal look at "what would people do if a big dead guy washed up on the beach." In that, I think the short is right on the money.
It should've had a different art style
imxhill5 March 2022
This is the last episode I watched. It's about the body of a giant floating on the beach, and it's told from the perspective of a scholar who sees it.
As soon as the episode begins, it shows graphics that cannot be distinguished from real life. But after that, when human characters appeared, it was a little distracting because it was kinda weird-looking. The surrounding environment and objects are very well done, but there were moments when the animations of human characters couldn't keep up with the environment, so there were some distracting moments.
It is an episode that is likely to be divisive, and on one side, you may feel very bored, while on the other, you may praise it for being philosophical and for its literary-feeling. I also felt that it was just fine and worth-watching, but as I remember this episode, it had some unique vibes to it.
As soon as the episode begins, it shows graphics that cannot be distinguished from real life. But after that, when human characters appeared, it was a little distracting because it was kinda weird-looking. The surrounding environment and objects are very well done, but there were moments when the animations of human characters couldn't keep up with the environment, so there were some distracting moments.
It is an episode that is likely to be divisive, and on one side, you may feel very bored, while on the other, you may praise it for being philosophical and for its literary-feeling. I also felt that it was just fine and worth-watching, but as I remember this episode, it had some unique vibes to it.
A look at humans, not for everyone but I really like it!
chinbagdeluxe21 May 2022
This episode is a slow burner about how inhumane the average human can be, and how quickly we can move on from something. At least that's my interpretation. This isn't buried under piles of obscurity or pretentious dialogue, just a simple, interesting idea that I enjoyed. I can completely understand why people wouldn't like this episode, since it's very different to the others, and I don't see myself rewatching this as much as the others but I like it. 8/10.
Oh and people are taking the story waaay too literally, obviously this wouldn't really play out how it did, but this episode isn't about that.
Oh and people are taking the story waaay too literally, obviously this wouldn't really play out how it did, but this episode isn't about that.
Far from engaging
thebenjaminnunn4 June 2021
A Metaphor For Now
elvisleeboy26 July 2021
If this episode can be seen as an analogy for the treatment of whales, several of the poor reviews can serve as a metaphor for a spoilt and spoon-fed generation who consequently need everything explained to them, incapable of appreciating the joy of unanswered questions.
Both art and entertainment are like a mirror - If an idiot looks in, you cannot expect a sage to look out.
What you get out of a piece such as this, will largely depend on what you yourself have to bring to the table. The more open the mind is, the wider the capacity enabling the enjoyment of a subtle and thoughtful effort like this.
The 'I don't get it' reviews and complaints about the verbosity and supposed pseudo-intellectualism of the episode, presumably from those who prefer the relatively mindless-but-entertaining stylised gratuity of other episodes, is indicative of a generation of people who have not only never read a book in full, but are unashamed of that fact and balk at anything that does not do all the work for them.
There are plenty of works that tie everything up in a nice little bundle, in which all the thinking has been done for the audience, epitomised by Spielberg and which certainly has its place, but to repel anything that even attempts to try something different and commits the heinous crime of asking questions the audience is required to answer themselves, speaks of a lazy anti-intellectual attitude from a generation interested only in easy short-cuts that allow them to appear intelligent on a surface level, rather than putting in the hard work required in order to gain genuine intellect.
The very fact that, rather than applaud the effort to do something different, whether it has hit the mark or not, shows a demographic of people who are determined to condemn us all to an endless stream of predictable cliché and things we have already seen a thousand times before.
In the same way popular music has become inconsequential background noise, consisting of little more than the copy & paste ransacking of songs already written and then presented to an intellectually undemanding public to whom integrity, originality and depth are are simply not required, so it will be with visual art.
There will no longer be room for artists with something original to say or anything new to try, because the continual dumbing down that has now been going on for decades, will render it completely unnecessary, and the only people who will benefit are opportunists interested solely in making money, who will keep exploiting the all-too-easy route of pursuing the endlessly fruitful cash-cow that is pandering to the unthinking, who in turn will continue unwittingly to provide the rest of us with proof that being stupid is like being dead - It is only painful for others.
Both art and entertainment are like a mirror - If an idiot looks in, you cannot expect a sage to look out.
What you get out of a piece such as this, will largely depend on what you yourself have to bring to the table. The more open the mind is, the wider the capacity enabling the enjoyment of a subtle and thoughtful effort like this.
The 'I don't get it' reviews and complaints about the verbosity and supposed pseudo-intellectualism of the episode, presumably from those who prefer the relatively mindless-but-entertaining stylised gratuity of other episodes, is indicative of a generation of people who have not only never read a book in full, but are unashamed of that fact and balk at anything that does not do all the work for them.
There are plenty of works that tie everything up in a nice little bundle, in which all the thinking has been done for the audience, epitomised by Spielberg and which certainly has its place, but to repel anything that even attempts to try something different and commits the heinous crime of asking questions the audience is required to answer themselves, speaks of a lazy anti-intellectual attitude from a generation interested only in easy short-cuts that allow them to appear intelligent on a surface level, rather than putting in the hard work required in order to gain genuine intellect.
The very fact that, rather than applaud the effort to do something different, whether it has hit the mark or not, shows a demographic of people who are determined to condemn us all to an endless stream of predictable cliché and things we have already seen a thousand times before.
In the same way popular music has become inconsequential background noise, consisting of little more than the copy & paste ransacking of songs already written and then presented to an intellectually undemanding public to whom integrity, originality and depth are are simply not required, so it will be with visual art.
There will no longer be room for artists with something original to say or anything new to try, because the continual dumbing down that has now been going on for decades, will render it completely unnecessary, and the only people who will benefit are opportunists interested solely in making money, who will keep exploiting the all-too-easy route of pursuing the endlessly fruitful cash-cow that is pandering to the unthinking, who in turn will continue unwittingly to provide the rest of us with proof that being stupid is like being dead - It is only painful for others.
Worst Episode
irrrrmak18 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This was the worst episode of this season for me. Animation was amazing but this was all. Rest was trash. I understand that it's supposed to be a metaphor for whales that are washed up on the shore and i'm not saying that we should treat it differently or more respectfully just because it resembles a human. But first of all, whales live in seas so its not a surprise when they appear on the shore. What is this giant?? Why is it here? These should be researched and there are literally scientist sent there to do that. But all they do is climb on it and wave or having a stupid monologue about it. If they are actually scientists of any sort, i can say that they are very bad at their job. Especially the monologue guy, he made me very angry because the things he said didn't mean anything. It sounded like a very poor attempt to be profound, he wasn't. Overall, a waste of very good animation and a consept.
A great analogy
VinnyLSH18 May 2021
Was expecting attack on Titan, got necrophilia creeps, and than ended up slightly more depressed.
The scientist offers an empathetic lens towards the way humanity treats and views whales or any other animals. We often forget how insignificant, how narrow our experience and perspectives are. It is truly a humbling experience.
The scientist offers an empathetic lens towards the way humanity treats and views whales or any other animals. We often forget how insignificant, how narrow our experience and perspectives are. It is truly a humbling experience.
Fool's gold.
keyed-3067017 May 2021
Made me reflect on life and death
leadamelli4 June 2022
The story was more of a walk along the thoughts of the protagonist than about the giant itself. It provided us with the perspective of a man about a very peculiar event and how it caused different different reactions.
It gave us the chance to experience a reflective approach of life and death. Very entertaining and, more importantly, it interpellates our own behaviours.
I believe films should make you feel emotions ask yourself questions. This one made me kept wondering about many topics.
It gave us the chance to experience a reflective approach of life and death. Very entertaining and, more importantly, it interpellates our own behaviours.
I believe films should make you feel emotions ask yourself questions. This one made me kept wondering about many topics.
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