Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Deep (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Deep (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 92 min · Thai
Echo score 29
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Julio Soto Gurpide
Starring
Phil LaMarr, Jess Harnell, Stephen Hughes, Dwight Schultz, Lucien Dodge, Lewis Macleod
Budget
$6M

In a post-apocalyptic future set in 2100, humanity has evacuated Earth's surface, leaving a submerged world. Deep, a brave octopus, teams up with his friends Evo, a charming angler fish, and Alice, a worried shrimp, to find a safe haven. They are joined by Maura, a clever moray eel, as they navigate a dangerous underwater realm filled with comical challenges and unexpected obstacles.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (11)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (4)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

11 main characters · contains spoilers

Deep Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Deep (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Deep

    Deep is Kraken's grandson, a curious but bored young sea-dweller who longs for human-made objects and adventures beyond his home. He is eager, impulsive, and brave, often leading the group on risky gambits. Deep’s optimism keeps the team moving, even when his choices spark conflict and danger.

    • 🌊 Curious
    • 🧭 Adventurous
    • 🫧 Loyal
  • Evo

    Evo is an anglerfish and Deep’s friend who provides cautious perspective to the group. He values safety and loyalty, balancing Deep’s impulsiveness with a pragmatic view of their perilous voyage. Evo’s companionship helps the team endure long, treacherous undertakings.

    • 🧭 Cautious
    • 🌟 Faithful
    • 🐟 Ocean-dweller
  • Alice

    Alice is a shrimp and one of Deep’s close allies. She brings practicality and humor to the group, often mediating tensions and facilitating teamwork. Her quick thinking helps the trio navigate tricky situations and maintain morale.

    • 🦐 Practical
    • 💪 Resourceful
    • 🫶 Loyal
  • Maura

    Maura is a Moray eel who initially appears as a predator but joins the team after acknowledging her loneliness. She becomes a valuable ally, using her strength and cunning to protect the group. Maura’s loyalty grows as trust is earned, and she proves to be a formidable fighter in battles.

    • 🐍 Powerful
    • 🧩 Strategic
    • 🐙 Loyal
  • Norma

    Norma is a vampire squid who performs musically aboard the ship and holds crucial information about Nathan’s location. While initially intimidating, she reveals a sense of drama and wisdom, offering guidance through her interactions with the crew.

    • 🎭 Charismatic
    • 🎶 Musical
    • 🦑 Enigmatic
  • Rico

    Rico is the leader of the yeti crabs who dwells near the Brooklyn Bridge area and challenges the group to a dance battle. His charisma and romance with Alice demonstrate the lighter, playful side of a world under threat. Rico’s role evolves from rival to ally as the journey progresses.

    • 🦀 Charismatic
    • 💃 Playful
    • 🧭 Leader
  • Darcy

    Darcy is a penguin who collaborates with his assistants to devise a plan to freeze the underwater world and escape on Ark-3. He embodies a calculating antagonist whose schemes threaten the team’s safety. Darcy’s machinations create the central conflict they must outmaneuver.

    • 🐧 Cunning
    • 🧊 Scheming
    • 🧭 Ambitious
  • Luigi

    Luigi is a walrus who helps Darcy distract the main characters. He, along with Ralph, represents the opportunistic side of conflict but can also be swayed by the group’s determination to survive. Luigi’s interactions reveal the undercurrents of alliance and betrayal in a desperate world.

    • 🪵 Stoic
    • 🐘 Brash
    • 🐬 Social
  • Ralph

    Ralph is a dolphin who assists Darcy in their plan to trap the heroes. He embodies the mischievous yet intelligent nature of oceanic creatures who navigate loyalties amid danger. Ralph’s choices influence the stakes of the escape and resistance.

    • 🐬 Clever
    • 🎯 Determined
    • 🧭 Agile
  • Nathan

    Nathan is the white whale who holds the key to helping their home, the one Deep and his friends seek. He represents a beacon of hope and guidance, whose location drives the expedition. Nathan’s presence signals the potential for salvation amid catastrophe.

    • 🐋 Wise
    • 🗺️ Guiding
    • 🌟 Central
  • Kraken

    Kraken is the elder sea creature and the grandfather of Deep, a protector who established the original underwater colony. His legacy and wisdom anchor the community, even as the younger generation seeks new paths. Kraken’s influence shapes the mission's stakes and the group’s sense of duty.

    • 🦑 Wise
    • 🛡️ Protective
    • 🐙 Ancient

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:56

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Deep Take Place?

The setting of Deep (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Post-apocalyptic future

The events unfold after a catastrophic ecological collapse that floods the planet. Society has retreated to underwater habitats and surviving ships, shaping a harsh, survivalist era. Technology and alliances guide the crew as they quest for a way to repair or escape the ruined world.

Location

Deep Sea Colony (Atlantic Ocean), Flooded New York City (Brooklyn area), Titanic wreck site, Arctic Ocean near Greenland

The story centers around a safe marine colony built in the deep sea of the Atlantic after a global ecological catastrophe. The explorers travel through submerged landscapes, passing famous wrecks like the Titanic and roaming through a flooded urban ruin that once was New York. The journey ends in the Arctic, where an ice-bound scene underscores the harsher extremes of this new world.

  • 🌊 Oceanic Frontier
  • 🧭 Journey
  • 🗺️ Submerged City
  • 🧊 Arctic Environment

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:56

Was this helpful?

4 major themes

Deep Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Deep (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    In a flooded Earth, every decision hinges on staying alive amid dwindling resources and dangerous predators. The characters adapt to an underwater frontier where wreckage, reefs, and hidden dangers define daily life. Their resilience is tested as they navigate hostile environments and scarce supplies.

  • Quest

    Deep leads the group on a long voyage guided by landmarks and legends to find Nathan, the whale who can help. The journey tests trust and cooperation among unlikely allies. Each new location reveals both dangers and potential hope for a better future.

  • Bond

    Friendships cross species lines as Deep, Evo, Alice, and Maura form a fragile alliance. Initial mistrust gives way to loyalty, even when predators are involved. The evolving relationships become a core force driving the team's decisions and sacrifices.

  • Hope

    The discovery of Ark-1 and Ark-2, and the eventual plan to secure Ark-3, injects a sense of possible renewal for sea life and the wider ecosystem. The characters' efforts to thwart Darcy's freezing scheme emphasize restoration over retreat. In the end, the pursuit of Nathan and the freeing of Kraken symbolically point toward rebuilding a damaged world.

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:56

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Deep Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Deep (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie Deep set?

Deep is set in a post-apocalyptic underwater world in the Atlantic Ocean. After a global ecological catastrophe floods the planet, humanity retreats to underwater habitats while the ocean surface remains submerged. The story features locations like a deep sea colony, the flooded ruins of New York City near Brooklyn Bridge, the Titanic wreck site, and the Arctic Ocean near Greenland.

  • underwater world
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • flooded city
  • setting
  • post-apocalyptic
Q2

What time period is Deep set in?

Deep is set in the year 2100, in a post-apocalyptic future after a catastrophic ecological collapse has flooded the Earth. Society has retreated to underwater habitats and surviving ships, creating a harsh survivalist era where technology and alliances are essential for survival.

  • 2100
  • future
  • post-apocalyptic
  • time period
  • ecological collapse
Q3

What are the main themes in Deep?

The movie explores four major themes: Survival in a dangerous underwater world with dwindling resources and predators; Quest as Deep leads a journey to find the white whale Nathan; Bond as friendships form across species between unlikely allies; and Hope as the characters work to restore their damaged world and secure a future for sea life.

  • themes
  • survival
  • quest
  • bond
  • hope
  • friendship
Q4

Who is Deep the character?

Deep is a young curious octopus who is the grandson of Kraken, the elder sea creature who founded the original underwater colony. He is eager, impulsive, and brave, often leading risky missions despite his youthful restlessness. Deep longs for human-made objects and adventures beyond his home, and his optimism keeps the group moving forward even during dangerous moments.

  • Deep
  • octopus
  • Kraken
  • protagonist
  • character
Q5

Who are the main characters in Deep?

The core group includes Deep (an adventurous octopus), Evo (a cautious anglerfish who provides practical perspective), Alice (a quick-thinking shrimp who mediates tensions), and Maura (a powerful moray eel who becomes a loyal ally). They are joined by Norma the vampire squid, Rico the yeti crab, and pursued by the villainous penguin Darcy and his helpers.

  • characters
  • Deep
  • Evo
  • Alice
  • Maura
  • cast
Q6

What happened to Earth in Deep?

In Deep, a catastrophic ecological collapse caused massive flooding that submerged the entire planet's surface. Humanity evacuated to underwater habitats and surviving ships, abandoning Earth entirely. The ocean now covers what were once major cities, including flooded New York, and the surviving sea creatures must navigate this dangerous new world while searching for hope and salvation.

  • flooded Earth
  • ecological collapse
  • catastrophe
  • world state
Q7

What is the tone of Deep?

Deep has a predominantly hopeful and whimsical tone. While it begins in a post-apocalyptic setting, the story quickly establishes a clear mission of salvation focused on community and recovery. The film balances tense moments like zombie piranhas and villainous schemes with humorous challenges like dance battles and playful character designs, keeping the overall mood light and accessible.

  • tone
  • hopeful
  • whimsical
  • comedic
  • family film
Q8

Who is Nathan the whale in Deep?

Nathan is a white whale who represents a beacon of hope in the story. Deep and his friends embark on their quest specifically to find Nathan, believing he holds the key to helping their home. His location drives the expedition, and he symbolizes the potential for salvation and rebuilding in the damaged post-apocalyptic world.

  • Nathan
  • white whale
  • hope
  • quest goal
Q9

Who is Kraken in Deep?

Kraken is Deep's grandfather and the elder sea creature who established the original underwater colony. He is a respected protector whose legacy and wisdom anchor the community. Though the younger generation seeks new paths, Kraken's influence shapes the mission's stakes and the group's sense of duty to their home.

  • Kraken
  • grandfather
  • colony leader
  • elder
Q10

Who is the villain in Deep?

Darcy is the main antagonist, a penguin who schemes to freeze the underwater world and escape on Ark-3. He represents a calculating threat whose machinations create the central conflict the heroes must overcome. Darcy is assisted by Luigi the walrus and Ralph the dolphin, who represent the opportunistic side of survival in a desperate world.

  • Darcy
  • villain
  • antagonist
  • penguin
  • villainous plan

Movie threads

More Movies Like Deep, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Deep tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Post-Apocalyptic Found Family Adventures like Deep

Hopeful journeys where a quirky group bands together to rebuild a broken world. Discover movies like Deep, where a hopeful crew of misfits navigates a dangerous, altered world on a critical mission. These similar adventure stories blend peril, quirky humor, and a strong theme of teamwork, perfect for viewers seeking uplifting tales of resilience and found family.

  • hopeful
  • adventurous
  • friendship-driven
  • perilous
  • uplifting
  • quirky
  • Tone: hopeful, adventurous
  • Pacing: steady, quest-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically begin in a world changed by disaster, establishing a clear goal that requires a journey. The core group, often composed of distinct personalities who learn to rely on each other, faces episodic challenges that test their resolve and ingenuity. The central conflict is external, but the heart of the narrative lies in the bonds formed and strengthened along the way.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared optimistic core within a post-crisis setting. They combine the adventure of a linear quest with the emotional satisfaction of characters finding strength in unity, creating a specific vibe that is both exciting and heartwarming.

Quirky Underworld Team Expeditions like Deep

Lighthearted expeditions through bizarre environments, led by an unlikely crew. If you liked the underwater journey in Deep, you'll enjoy these movies featuring quirky animal teams on expeditions through strange worlds. Find similar animated adventures with steady pacing, lighthearted peril, and a focus on funny character dynamics and imaginative settings.

  • quirky
  • lighthearted
  • adventurous
  • imaginative
  • friendship-driven
  • underwater
  • Tone: lighthearted, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a straightforward expedition structure, moving the team from one visually distinct location to the next. Each segment introduces a new, often comical challenge that showcases the team's unique abilities and personalities. The stakes are tangible but the resolution is consistently achieved through cleverness and teamwork rather than brute force, maintaining an upbeat feel.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific combination of setting, character design, and tone. The emphasis is on the joy of exploration with a charming crew, where the environment itself is a character and the threats are inventive rather than grim, creating a distinct family-friendly adventure experience.

Every angle

Deep (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Deep in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app