The Deep (TV series)

The Deep
Company type	Television series
Industry	Animation, Entertainment
Founded	December 1, 2015; 10 years ago
Founder	Tom Taylor, James Brouwer
Headquarters	Australia, Canada
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Robert Chandler (Executive Producer)
Products	Animated TV show
Parent	WildBrain (Nerd Corps Entertainment)

The Deep is a computer-generated animated TV show inspired by the comic book series authored by Tom Taylor and James Brouwer, published through Gestalt Comics. The project was developed under the guidance of executive producer Robert Chandler and secured by Technicolor. Production was handled collaboratively by Australia's A Stark Production and the Canadian company Nerd Corps Entertainment (now known as WildBrain). The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) commissioned the series, which first aired on 7two on 1 December 2015. It subsequently premiered in Canada the following month on Family CHRGD. On 8 February 2018, a third season was confirmed, followed by an announcement on 26 July 2021 for a fourth season featuring 13 additional half-hour episodes.

Synopsis

Set during the 22nd century, the narrative revolves around the Nekton family, a group of underwater explorers who travel aboard their sophisticated submarine, the Aronnax. Their mission involves investigating unexplored ocean regions to unravel secrets hidden beneath the sea. The disappearance of Will Nekton's parents during their expedition to find the legendary lost city of Lemuria drives the family's ongoing quest. Assisted by their close friend Nereus, they discover their heritage as descendants of Lemurians, which fuels their determination to solve underwater enigmas.

The overarching storyline focuses on their pursuit of Lemuria, beginning with uncovering the Chronicle of the Deep and deciphering its contents, gathering fragments of the Ephemycron, encountering colossal Monumentials, and ultimately locating Lemuria itself. Nonetheless, several episodes diverge from this primary plotline.

Following their discovery of Lemuria in season three, the central narrative shifts direction. Season four centers on tracking down William Nekton’s missing parents, who had reached Lemuria months earlier. Not all episodes align with this storyline. Tragically, William’s parents are found deceased, victims of a living monumental nautilus that hunts for a key essential to maintaining oceanic equilibrium.

The Nekton family

Antaeus "Ant" Nekton (voiced by Vincent Tong) is the youngest member of William and Kaiko Nekton's family. He is adventurous and deeply intrigued by myths and supernatural occurrences. Recognized as the "Chosen One" among Lemurian royal descendants, Ant possesses the ability to activate various Lemurian technologies. He keeps a pet fish named Jeffrey.
Fontaine Nekton (voiced by Ashleigh Ball for seasons 1–3 and Shannon Chan-Kent in season 4) is Ant’s elder sister. Courageous and spirited like her brother, she often playfully teases him but always acts as his protector. She is also admired by Smiling Finn.
William "Will" Nekton (voiced by Michael Dobson) is a former Olympic swimmer turned oceanographer and father to Ant and Fontaine. He upholds his family's tradition by dedicating himself to exploring the oceans.
Kaiko Nekton (voiced by Kathleen Barr in seasons 1–3 and Elfina Luk in season 4) is William's spouse and serves as both a marine biologist and pilot of the Aronnax. She is also skilled in mechanical engineering.
Jeffrey is Ant’s intelligent pet yellowback basslet who frequently participates in or initiates adventures on his own.
Jacques and Katherine Nekton are William’s parents who vanished prior to the series' events. They return in season four after having arrived in Lemuria weeks before the rest of the family but were ultimately killed by a monumental nautilus.

Protagonists

Professor Fiction (voiced by James Higuchi) serves as the Nektons' chief scientific consultant and is the creator behind the Aronnax and Knights. While his inventions often need adjustments, they prove highly effective once fully operational.
Bob Gorman (voiced by Michael Kopsa) acts as a trusted associate and supporter of the Nekton family.
Jess Gorman (voiced by Shannon Chan-Kent) is Bob’s daughter, Fontaine’s closest companion, and the object of Ant’s affection.
Commander Pyrosome (voiced by Nicole Oliver) heads the World Oceans Authority and usually communicates through video conferencing.
Kenji Nokumura (voiced by Lee Tockar) is a solitary former designer of kaiju movie props who lives in isolation on an island.
Nereus (voiced by Lee Tockar) is a mysterious mentor to the Nektons, founder of the Order of Guardians, and sibling to Lemuria’s final queen. He offers enigmatic yet crucial advice during their quest for Lemuria.

Antagonists

Captain Hammerhead (voiced by Michael Dobson): The pirate leader of the Dark Orca and father to Smiling Finn and Mad Madeline. Despite his tough demeanor, he aims to be a responsible parent.
Smiling Finn Hammerhead (voiced by Samuel Vincent): A teenage pirate reluctantly following in his father's footsteps, harboring mutual feelings with Fontaine.
Mad' Madeline Hammerhead (voiced by Kazumi Evans): An avid pirate enthusiast and daughter of Captain Hammerhead, openly antagonistic toward Ant and the Nektons but coveting their technology.
Danny Boy (voiced by Brian Drummond): The Dark Orca’s First Mate and mechanic, frequently struggling with faulty equipment that leads to constant malfunctions.
Proteus (voiced by Brian Drummond): Once a Guardian, now a defector who advises Alpheus Benthos before being expelled from his submarine.
Alpheus Benthos (voiced by Andrew Francis): A descendant of a renegade Lemurian royal lineage, he seeks Lemuria driven by self-interest, utilizing a nuclear fusion-powered submarine accompanied by AI A.R.I.A. Calm and calculating, he regards Ant as his adversary.
Dolos (voiced by Brian Drummond): A narcissistic treasure hunter focused on wealth, operating from the Floating Black Market alongside his pet octopus named Hydra.
Devil Daniels (voiced by Trevor Devall): A popular "monster hunter" vlogger whose fabricated exploits clash with the Nektons’ objectives. He prioritizes audience engagement over truthfulness or animal protection.

Non-human characters

A.R.I.A. is the sophisticated artificial intelligence running Alpheus Benthos’ submarine, developed by Alpheus’ father and integrated as the vessel’s central AI system.
The Kraken, also known as The Terror, is an enormous octopus-like Monumential imprisoned behind Lemuria’s gates. It attempts to break free and attack anything nearby when the gates open.
The Monumential Turtle is an immense sea turtle initially mistaken for Tartaruga Island. Featured in "The Purple Tide," it is among the more benevolent Monumentials.
The Monumential Ray is a colossal torpedo ray residing beneath Catatumbo Bay, Venezuela. It produces powerful electrical discharges used to unlock Lemuria’s gates, accompanied by smaller electric rays.

Factions

World Oceans Authority: Functions as maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue unit, focusing on apprehending offenders and providing emergency assistance, occasionally partnering with the Nektons.
Monumentials: Gigantic, ancient marine beasts, predominantly aggressive. They were subdued into a dormant state for thousands of years by Lemurian technology but are now reawakening; only the Queen's Sceptre can control them.
The Guardians: Formed by Nereus after Lemuria’s collapse to safeguard its heritage. They operate helicopters and small vessels, wield specialized staffs for communication management, and don dark grey robes trimmed with gold. Most members descend from Lemurian lineage.

Lemurian

Ephemycron: A timeworn navigational device that aligns with celestial bodies and global markers established by the Lemurians. It projects maps highlighting hazards, Monumentials, and significant locations. Central to the first season’s narrative, it unlocks Lemuria’s gates and is operable only by the youngest heirs in each Lemurian royal family (Ant and Alpheus).
The Chronicle of the Deep: A scroll preserving Lemurian cultural wisdom and artifact whereabouts, discovered in a deep-sea cave during "Here Be Dragons." It can be unfurled in various manners to disclose different contents.
The Sceptre of Queen Dorieas: The exclusive instrument for commanding Monumentials and returning them to slumber after awakening. Integral to the third season’s storyline, it activates underwater, possesses self-repair capabilities if damaged, and adheres solely to its legitimate bearer.

Nektons

Knights: Mechanized exosuits engineered by Professor Fiction for the Nektons. The White Knight represents the most basic model. Ant pilots the Shadow Knight, capable of high speeds and equipped with stealth functions. The Swamp Knight is a sizable amphibious variant. Will operates the Mag Knight, the largest and most formidable model. Fontaine controls the Mimic Knight, which resembles a mermaid and features echolocation alongside color-shifting abilities. Jeffery uses the Jeffery Knight—a compact fishbowl on wheels—for mobility and protection beyond the Aronnax. Knights are generally constructed from carbon fiber composite materials.
Aronnax: The Nektons’ submarine, reputed as the "world’s largest," serves as their living quarters and includes amenities such as a library, medical center, laboratory, kitchen, sleeping areas, a moon pool, among others. It contains interconnected tubes linked to aquariums facilitating Jeffery’s movement inside. Powered by a water engine, batteries, and a conventional screw propeller, it reaches a maximum speed of . Its titanium hull endures extreme heat and corrosive conditions.

Season 1 (2015–16)

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Broadcast and distribution

The show was broadcast on Ici Radio-Canada Télé in Canada and on Universal Kids in the United States. Globally, The Deep aired on channels including CBBC (United Kingdom), RTS Deux (Switzerland), Marvel HQ (India), La Trois and Ketnet (Belgium), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark), SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland), Okto (Singapore), Super RTL (Germany), TVP ABC (Poland), and eToonz (South Africa). In the United States, it debuted on Netflix on June 1, 2016.

Home media

In Australia, the series has been made available on DVD through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC DVD label.

Awards

The Deep earned several nominations, notably a 2018 BAFTA and four AWGIE awards recognizing its writing. It secured the 2017 AWGIE award for Best Children's Television (C-classification) for the episode titled "Beware the Sentinels," penned by Thomas Duncan-Watt.

Reception

Critical response to the series was largely favorable. Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media described it as a "remarkable family-oriented adventure" that conveys "outstanding themes about collaboration, problem-solving, and drawing strength from loved ones," deeming it an "ideal choice for family viewing."

External links

The Deep graphic novels published by Gestalt Comics
Official series website