Kids Comics Pitchfest 2025 Showcase

Child of the Ocean

On Laurel Island, humans and mermaids once thrived under the Spirit of Water—guardian of vibrant reefs and life - until the last Child of the Ocean stole its power, turning the oceans poisonous and the Spirit wrathful.

12-year-old Marina braved the ocean’s dangers for its beauty. Diving deep with her mermaid friend Freya, she marveled at the healing powers of water and grieved the Spirit’s scars - coral graveyards and venomous creatures. When a storm crippled the Spirit of Water and threatened all lives on the island, Marina is determined not only to heal, but to rebuild the shattered bond with the Spirit. Facing toxic waters and ancient ruins, she learns the Spirit’s power mirrors her heart - not good or evil, but what she pours into it.

My Why:

We are water. It courses through our bodies, pulses in our veins, and pulls us to showers, rivers, and the primal calm of waves. Yet we’ve forgotten this kinship. Coral bleaches to bone, plastic chokes the tides, and we scroll past headlines about dying seas—paralyzed by guilt or apathy. Child of the Ocean asks: how do we reclaim wonder for what we’ve rendered invisible?

To heal the ocean, we must remember it’s not ‘outside’ of us - it is us. Through Child of the Ocean, I want inspire kids to explore the infinite wonders in the world, appreciate nature’s strength and beauty, and discover their power to protect it - one act of courage at a time.