Comparing anything to Hayao Miyazaki, especially an animated film, takes courage. But Arco more than earns it. Written and directed by French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, the film was part of the official selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and its newly released trailer solidifies its claim as “the year’s most visually enchanting animation.”
Set in a dreamworld bursting with color, Arco brings together children from two different futures. One is time traveler Arco from the utopian year 2932 (voiced in English by Juliano Valdi, in French by Oscar Tresanini); the other is Iris (Romy Fay and Margot Ringard Oldra), living in a far darker 2075. Arco’s unauthorized time jump with his “rainbow cloak” causes these two worlds to collide—and the trailer hints that this encounter is not just a sci-fi story, but an emotional tale of friendship.
Visually almost poetic in its beauty, Arco guides the viewer between a radiant and a grim future. Distributed by NEON, the film contrasts the aesthetics of both worlds: one a technological utopia, the other a dystopia on the brink of collapse. Yet both timelines share a common thread—machines and adults restricting children under the guise of protection. Amid this oppression, the trailer shows Arco and Iris quickly growing close and forming a friendship that transcends time.
Director Ugo Bienvenu previously co-created the short-lived but visually ambitious Marvel’s Ant-Man animated series for Disney XD. Translating comic book aesthetics into cinematic language, Bienvenu now crafts a far more personal, futuristic fable with Arco. The voice cast is equally impressive: Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Samberg, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ legendary bassist Flea.
Arco generates high expectations not only technically but also narratively. As the latest in “future tales” that appeal to both children and adults, it melts humor, melancholy, and questions about humanity in the same pot. While transforming the theme of time travel into a friendship story, it once again reminds us of animation’s emotional power.
Following the trailer’s release, the film is already a frontrunner for “2025’s most beautiful animated film,” alongside strong contenders like KPop Demon Hunters. Yet according to many critics, Bienvenu’s film stands apart not just for its animation quality, but for its emotional depth.
🎬 Release Date: 14 November 2025
🎟️ Distribution: NEON
🎨 Director & Screenwriter: Ugo Bienvenu
🎙️ Voice Cast: Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Samberg, Flea
Arco is not just a visual feast; it feels like a colorful letter written to humanity’s future, the pure curiosity of childhood, and the timeless power of friendship.
