THE coming-of-age sea monster story “Luca” by Disney/Pixar has been granted a theatrical release date on the Chinese mainland Aug. 20.

“Luca” is the feature directorial debut of Enrico Casarosa, who was Oscar-nominated for his Italy-set Pixar short “La Luna.” “Luca” follows two teenage sea monsters — Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) — who have an adventure when they venture out of the Mediterranean Sea and into a village, where they take human form.

The Hollywood Reporter’s critic said the film’s “Mediterranean flavor and disarming lessons about the value of friendship and acceptance provide fresh charms, while the breathtaking beauty of the film’s environments both underwater and above the surface brings additional rewards.”

The film was created for a typical Pixar theatrical rollout but the studio pivoted to premium video-on-demand in response to the pandemic and strategic priorities to bolster its direct-to-consumer business. “Luca” easily topped the list of the top 10 most watched movies for the week of June 14-20 on streaming, according to Nielsen’s latest ratings, with a huge 1.57 billion minutes of viewing time. The family film also released theatrically in non-Disney+ markets in mid-June and has grossed US$30 million to date.

Major pictures still awaiting a run at Chinese mainland screens include Disney/Marvel’s “Black Widow,” Warner Bros.’ “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” as well as upcoming titles like Warner’s “Reminiscence” and Legendary’s “Dune.”(SD-Agencies)