A warm, breezy coming-of-age fantasy with strong summer atmosphere, gentle humor, and a sincere story about friendship, identity, and belonging. It’s lighter and less emotionally complex than Pixar’s very best, but its charm, visual beauty, and emotional clarity make it an easy recommendation.
Luca
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Animation · Family
Thu · 1h 35m
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman
Overview
Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
Director
Enrico Casarosa
Cast
Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, breezy coming-of-age fantasy with strong summer atmosphere, gentle humor, and a sincere story about friendship, identity, and belonging. It’s lighter and less emotionally complex than Pixar’s very best, but its charm, visual beauty, and emotional clarity make it an easy recommendation.
Best for
families looking for an accessible animated film
viewers who like tender friendship stories
fans of sunlit coastal settings and nostalgic summer vibes
audiences drawn to identity-and-belonging themes
people who prefer low-stakes, character-driven animation
Skip if
you want a high-concept or especially ambitious Pixar story
you dislike sentimental coming-of-age arcs
you need fast-paced comedy with constant set pieces
you’re looking for darker fantasy or bigger emotional swings
Overview
Luca is one of Pixar’s most relaxed and affectionate films, built less around spectacle than around mood, friendship, and the feeling of a perfect summer day. The Italian Riviera setting is vivid and inviting, and the movie uses that postcard beauty to frame a simple but effective story about hiding who you are, testing the boundaries of friendship, and learning where you belong.
Worth noting
What makes it work is its sincerity. The film never feels cynical about childhood or difference, and it keeps its emotional stakes small enough to stay intimate. The humor is gentle, the character dynamics are easy to like, and the animation has a breezy, hand-painted warmth that suits the story well.
Bottom line
It’s not among Pixar’s most layered or surprising films, and some viewers may wish it pushed harder on its ideas. But as a piece of family-friendly summer storytelling, it’s charming, emotionally clear, and easy to revisit.
Top Letterboxd reviews
•°▪︎James▪︎°• (4.5★) · 24199 likes
My god, these fishes gay... good for them
Jay (3.5★) · 15424 likes
how does luca guadagnino sleep at night knowing the best film about self identity discovery in one italian summer was from pixar in 2021
James (Schaffrillas) (4★) · 12884 likes
I want shorter Pixar movies with less ambitious stories filled with likable characters who vibe more and do less and I'm not kidding
james💫 (5★) · 11661 likes
i swear i’ve seen the ending where alberto sits next to a fireplace crying for 5 minutes before
ty (5★) · 7376 likes
Me: I won’t cry today "Some people, they’ll never accept him. But some will. And he seems to know how to find the good ones." Me: oh never mind
Themes
friendship, self-acceptance, identity, belonging, childhood, summer, secrecy, coming of age
Topics
coming-of-age, family animation, fantasy comedy, summer nostalgia, Italian Riviera, friendship, identity, self-discovery, wholesome, adventure