Arco

In the distant future, ten-year-old Arco (Juliano Krue Valdi) dreams of time-travelling with his family. Unable to wait until he’s old enough, he steals a rainbow-coloured flight suit alongside its crystal power source and takes a solo trip, crash-landing in the year 2075. He’s rescued by Iris (Romy Fay), a young girl with absentee parents (Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman) who’s raised by a robot nanny (voiced by a blend of Ruffalo and Portman’s voices), and together they work to find a way to get him back home. Drawing upon 80s animation, director and co-writer Ugo Bienvenu delivers a visually striking and upliftingly optimistic feature debut.

While the abundance of robot workers, hover vehicles, and advanced technology paints 2075 as an exciting future, torrential storms and forest fires are so severe and commonplace that protective bubbles have been installed around buildings. There are constant rumblings about an impending blaze, the rising smoke in the background acting as atmospheric foreshadowing for looming disaster. Instead of being another cynical take on a future ravaged by global warming, Bienvenu imbues his film with a message of hope that the world can get better. This intent is beautifully conveyed in the warmth and friendship shared between the protagonists as well as within the numerous heartfelt moments that unfold throughout the runtime and the joyous soundtrack that accompanies them.

The feature is also a treat to look at. A vibrant and oversaturated colour palette combined with retro and expressive character designs resembles a colourful Saturday morning cartoon. The level of detail on display in each frame is remarkable. The rainbows that streak across the sky as Arco flies, the lush foliage within the forest, or the flames that eventually engulf the area, everything draws viewers into this strange and wonderful world.

For as magnificent as the visuals are, however, the plot is disappointingly formulaic. Every story beat goes exactly where audiences expect them to go, leaving little room for surprises along the way. The worst offenders are a trio of oddball brothers voiced by Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, and Flea. Not only are their true motivations obvious, but their character arcs are left unfinished.

With Arco, Bienvenu has created a delightful and nostalgic outing that offers a hopeful outlook on a possible future. For all its incredible strengths, though, the tale it tells is one that’s all too familiar.

Andrew Murray

Arco is released nationwide on 20^th March 2026.

Watch the trailer for Arco here: