A visually rich, future-leaning animated adventure with real warmth and a strong sense of wonder. It sounds a little uneven narratively, but the craft, optimism, and time-travel premise make it an easy recommendation for families and animation fans.
Arco
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Animation
Wed · 1h 29m
Director: Ugo Bienvenu
Starring: Margot Ringard Oldra, Oscar Tresanini, Nathanaël Perrot
Overview
Ten-year-old Arco lives in a far future. During his first flight in his rainbow suit, he loses control and falls into the past. Iris, a girl his age from 2075, comes to his rescue and tries by any means to help send him back to his own era.
Director
Ugo Bienvenu
Cast
Margot Ringard Oldra, Oscar Tresanini, Nathanaël Perrot
Curator Review
Verdict
A visually rich, future-leaning animated adventure with real warmth and a strong sense of wonder. It sounds a little uneven narratively, but the craft, optimism, and time-travel premise make it an easy recommendation for families and animation fans.
Best for
fans of imaginative sci-fi animation
viewers who like heartfelt time-travel stories
families with older kids
people drawn to optimistic future worlds
animation fans who value visual invention
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted, high-stakes sci-fi thriller
you prefer adult-oriented animation
you need deep worldbuilding explanations
you dislike whimsical or sentimental storytelling
Overview
Arco looks like the kind of animated science-fiction film that leads with feeling and imagery rather than hard rules. The setup is instantly appealing: a child from a far-future world tumbles into the past, and another kid from 2075 has to help him get home. That premise gives the movie room for adventure, friendship, and a gentle sense of cosmic scale without losing its kid-sized emotional core.
Worth noting
The strongest signal here is the craft. The film seems to be admired for its animation, its lived-in future design, and the way it wears its inspirations proudly while still feeling personal. The tone reads as bright, curious, and hopeful, with enough eccentricity to keep it playful for younger viewers and enough visual ambition to satisfy animation devotees.
Bottom line
If there’s a caution, it’s that the story may move faster than its ideas fully develop. But that same breeziness can also be part of the charm, especially for audiences who enjoy films that prioritize wonder over exposition. For families and fans of imaginative sci-fi, this seems like an easy yes.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Ali (3.5★) · 4106 likes
dares to ask the question “what if Miyazaki did not hate birds.” also for some reason arco is wearing what I can only describe as an LGBTQ+ allyship hijab FilmSlop review here
foomaj (3.5★) · 2848 likes
every movie needs 3 goofy team rocket-like grunts chasing the main characters around
Annaïg (3.5★) · 2396 likes
Elles sont hilarantes les totally Spies
Ryan McQuade (3★) · 2191 likes
If you like Ponyo and Interstellar, this one is for you.
James (Schaffrillas) (4★) · 1697 likes
Was genuinely shocked to find out that none of those three guys were voiced by Jason Mantzoukas
Themes
time travel, friendship, future optimism, childhood adventure, family separation, found family, science fiction, coming-of-age
Topics
animated sci-fi, family adventure, time travel, future utopia, optimistic tone, coming-of-age, playful, emotional, visually inventive, French animation