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2025 was a big year for animated movies, with Disney’s Zootopia 2 breaking box office records, Pixar’s Elio winning audiences’ hearts, and Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Amid this high-profile competition, however, stood an independently made French film that managed to top them all in terms of cinematic brilliance.Filled with memorable characters, fantastic animation, and a story that brings many elements together effortlessly, Arco is a rare discovery in the animation genre, offering something genuinely new for audiences to enjoy.

This French Oscar Hopeful Takes Us to Another World

Produced by Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, the title refers to ten-year-old Arco, a boy living in 2932, where humanity has learned to time-travel. Prohibited from traveling himself before he is twelve, he steals his sister’s time-traveling cape and magic gemstone to travel back to the time of the dinosaurs, but instead crashes into the year 2075, where he befriends a young girl named Iris. Determined to get Arco home, the pair (along with Iris’ robot nanny, Mikki) learn that they may be the only ones who can save the Earth from peril.

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Movies about the future often speak to the anxieties of the present, but the language of Arco is one of hope. Our hero’s idyllic timeline and his insistence that Iris’ future isn’t written yet, deliver a message that our fate is in our hands, that is written by the choices we make in the present. It’s a story that views the world with the wonder of a child, never losing sight of the beauty of friendship and discovery.

Animation That’s Both Spectacular and Moving

The film has been compared to the work of Hayao Miyazaki, not only due to its wonder-filled, colorful aesthetic, but also its ability to weave whimsy with reality. Many animated films aim for either visual ambition or intimate, character-based storytelling, but it’s a rare film that combines them both.

Both Arco and Iris live in extraordinary times – the former in a brightly colored, aspirational timeline filled with adventure and otherworldly architecture; the latter in a world not dissimilar to our own, but with fantastical elements such as robot nannies and holograms. The hand-drawn animation balances past and present, feeling nostalgic in a genre where computers dominate, but also offering design that looks cutting-edge.

These flourishes are not just for show, however, as the beauty of the visuals serves to highlight the journey of the characters, and vice versa. Arco crash-lands, leaving a trail that resembles a rainbow, which Iris follows to find her new friend. This colorful introduction outlines the story’s intentions, offering hope and adventure as we come along for the ride.

‘Arco’ Truly is a Family Movie for Everyone

In previous generations, a family movie would often aim squarely for younger viewers, but Arco is a prime example of how the medium has moved on. From the early 2000s, studios such as Pixar, Dreamworks, and Studio Ghibli all began making movies that entertained the kids, but had something for the accompanying adults. Arco represents the next step in that evolution, where films can meet people of all ages on an emotional level.

The story speaks to a deeper message about the environment, family, and responsibility, something that will be clear to children without losing their attention, as well as grasping adults who can read into the greater subtext. Better still, it can tap into that sense of fascination that children have, and adults remember, allowing everyone to gasp at what is unfolding.

What ultimately comes across to all generations is how sincere the film feels at its core. Long after the plot resolves, the film’s spirit continues to resonate, offering a rare blend of optimism and artistry that feels both refreshing and necessary. It can spark conversations between younger and older viewers that wouldn’t happen in a less thoughtful movie.

Arco is a testament to what can happen when creativity is allowed to flourish without compromise. Rather than leaning on nostalgia or formula, Ugo Bienvenu’s film charts its own path, inviting viewers to embrace curiosity and courage in equal measure. In a year filled with impressive releases, Arco earns its place by reminding us why animated storytelling remains one of cinema’s most powerful forms, regardless of budget.Arco is available to rent or buy on VOD services.