Greetings again from the darkness. ‘Arco, phone home’. OK, that’s not actually a line of dialogue in this Oscar nominated animated feature film from w-d Ugo Bienvenu, co-director Gilles Cazaux, and co-writer and Felix de Givry … but the line sure fits. Taking place in the future, the film’s strong themes are family, friends, and coming-of-age.
Hundreds of years in the future, ten-year-old Arco is tending to the family’s animals while his mother, father, and sister are off time-traveling. When told the age limit for such travel is twelve, Arco does what any young boy would do … he snatches his sister’s rainbow travel cloak while she’s sleeping and takes off to see what he’s been missing. Of course, things go wrong for Arco and he crash lands in the year 2075. Young Iris throws the trio of rainbow hunters (comic relief in Scooby-Doo mode) off his trail, and takes Arco home so Mikki, her robot nanny, can provide first aid.
The vibrant colors of Arco’s home are in the style of Studio Ghibli animation, and the bubble homes of Iris’ era speak clearly to the environmental message being delivered. Actually, there are a number of ecological issues covered here, yet the main focus is one of hope and the importance of family and friendship. You’ll notice some familiar voices, including Natalie Portman (also a producer), Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, and Andy Samberg. This is a family film (not for the toddlers) with substance, and it certainly hasn’t been simplified or dumbed down for kids. It’s worthy of the Oscar nomination.
Opening in theaters on January 30, 2026
Movie Reviews from the Dark 