From initial buzz, this animated treasure is quite remarkable, no more than you could expect from a film that swept Cannes and Annecy. It’s just that when French craftsmanship meets Hollywood stars, you end up expecting something absolutely exceptional.
The Arco teaser has arrived at last, and it is definitively gorgeous. This debut feature from French animation by Ugo Bienvenu is a beautiful piece of 2D animation that is a welcome respite from the CGI norm. It tells the story of a 10-year-old boy from a tranquil future who is flung back to 2075 and encounters a young girl called Iris and her robot friend Mikki in a world where the planet is undergoing an environmental meltdown.
Neon acquired North American distribution rights following the Cannes film premiere and has put together an amazing English voice cast. Natalie Portman, who was a producer of the film along with her Mountain A company and Sophie Mas, heads the talent pool. Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg complete the stellar roster of the English dub version.
Arco Teaser Exhibits Award-Winning Animation
The Arco teaser reveals the film’s beautifully hand-crafted aesthetics and emotional resonance that won it the Cristal Award for Best Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Director Ugo Bienvenu and producer Félix de Givry under his Remembers banner have come up with something that critics are describing both visually resplendent and profoundly optimistic.
“We were blown away when we first looked at the original piece of art,” Portman explained. “The style of Ugo is so distinctive and beautiful. It’s like a level beyond animation.”
November Release Date
The English-language version will debut at Toronto International Film Festival on September 7 prior to opening in U.S. theaters November 14. Boasting its festival credentials and A-list cast, Arco teaser clearly sets this out as a leading prospect for animated feature awards nomination.
He described his reason: “A way of saying to them: Let’s move forward together and create something better.”
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