The world premiere of the English-dubbed version of Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco hit at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Based on the previously released trailers and stills, audiences may have been braced for a sort of Ghibli pastiche. Instead, they were treated to a colourful coming-of-age tale that turned out to be a gorgeous work of maturity, introspection, and quiet philosophy. 

Arco (Juliano Valdi) lives in the sky in the year 2932. His family use rainbows to travel through time. But, at just 10 years old, Arco is not yet allowed to. One day, his impatience gets the better of him, and he steals his sister’s rainbow to time-travel to see the dinosaurs. But time travel is more difficult than he imagined, and he winds up stranded in the year 2075, where he meets Iris (Romy Fay). Together, they work against the clock to get Arco back to his family before it is too late.

From its opening moments, Arco draws you into a world that feels both alien and deeply familiar. There is a sense of wonder in its balance of beauty and curiosity. The animation is nothing short of arresting, too. Bienvenu’s vision of the future unfolds with a confidence that feels both artistic and cinematic. While it is easy to see Ghibli’s DNA in the film’s texture, Arco never falls into the trap of imitation as Bienvenu draws on his background as an illustrator to craft something distinctly his own. 

Every frame is deliberate and every colour is chosen with intention. The film’s palette bursts with soft pastels and clean, hard-edged contours that give its character and environment a sculptural quality. It illuminates a future that feels tactile, built, yet impossibly far away. It’s the kind of visual that makes you wonder what goes on beyond the screen. Beinvenu doesn’t just imagine the future, he renders one that feels lived in, fragile, and very human. 

What may catch audiences most off guard, though, is how mature Arco is. For a film that is seemingly targeted at children, it doesn’t shy away from heavy themes such as climate change, parental absence, and the uneasy intersection of technology and caregiving. But Bienvenu handles these themes with a grace that makes them accessible, without ever talking down to his audience. It’s a rare animation feat for a film to successfully engage with both children and adults. And by the time the film reaches its conclusion, it’s impressive to see the film fully commit to the consequences of Arco’s actions. It’s an ending that feels both inevitable and devastating in its honesty. It left me both shaken and impressed. 

Arco really is one of those rare animated films that is accessible as it is mature. It’s visually stunning, emotionally grounded, and quietly daring with its thematic exploration. Bienvenu has crafted something that feels timeless yet distinctly of this moment. It is a story about the future that is meant to reflect the present. Beautiful and melancholic, Arco invites you to dream, reflect, and even ache a little. I walked in expecting a charming film, but what I got was something truly special.

Arco arrives in select theatres on Friday, January 30.