A boy must get back to his own world in the eco-conscious animated adventure ‘Arco’

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The French animated film “Arco” blends a sense of childlike wonder with the harsh realities of climate change. It’s a hopeful story set in the future, focusing on the adventurous spirit of children. The film received another boost of good news on Thursday morning with an Oscar nomination.

While animator Ugo Bienvenu’s debut feature, written with Félix De Givry, openly aspires to the playful awe of Spielberg and classic stories such as “Peter Pan,” it also feels of a piece with the unadorned postwar poignancy of René Clément’s “Forbidden Games” and the animated Japanese tale “Grave of the Fireflies.”

We first meet Arco, a cheerful 10-year-old boy (voiced by Juliano Valdi), who is caring for animals at his family’s vibrant home. This home is special – it floats among the clouds on a large platform! His parents and older sister soon return from a journey to the age of dinosaurs, flying through the air and leaving rainbow trails. They brought back plants to help their family live a self-sufficient life. Arco dreams of flying with them, but he’s told he needs to wait until he’s older.

A determined kid never needs much encouragement, and Arco is no exception. When he impulsively takes his sister’s flying device for a nighttime adventure, he unexpectedly lands in the year 2075. He finds a future Earth struggling with constant natural disasters and heavily reliant on technology. That’s when he meets Iris, a friendly and honest schoolgirl whose life is filled with futuristic conveniences: holographic parents (voiced by Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman), a robot nanny, and automated robots handling everything from teaching to policing. Every home and building is also protected by retractable domes designed to withstand severe storms and fires.

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The creators of the French animated science fiction film explain how they developed two different visions of the future for their story: one ravaged by fire, and another taking place after a great flood.

Iris meets Arco when he crash-lands in the woods, and they quickly become friends. They work together to try and send Arco back to his own time, while also learning about each other’s lives. But with massive wildfires approaching, getting Arco home isn’t easy, especially because they’re being followed by three nosy and argumentative explorer brothers (Andy Samberg, Will Ferrell, and Flea) who think Iris and Arco are hiding something important.

“Arco” is a visually charming sci-fi film with a style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, blending beautifully drawn characters and natural landscapes with futuristic technology. While visually appealing, the story feels a bit thin – its simplicity sometimes hinders the narrative. Unfortunately, the adult brothers in the film aren’t very well-developed and come across as unsettling rather than humorous.

The animation isn’t consistently strong. The backgrounds are generally more appealing than the characters, and Iris and Arco’s eyes sometimes look strangely empty, which is noticeable in a film that relies so much on their emotional connection. The adult characters often wear futuristic sunglasses, creating a sense of distance. When the animation and story work well together, though, “Arco” feels like a fondly remembered cartoon from childhood – charmingly sincere and a little bit clumsy.

The film “Arco” is surprisingly impactful, particularly when considering the future of humanity. It’s a touching reminder that children possess a powerful imagination and a natural ability to connect with others – qualities we should encourage, not stifle, if we want to adapt to the challenges ahead.

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2026-01-23 23:31