AroView: Sure to spark the imaginations of both young and old, this is a gorgeous animated fable from France about the meeting of two young minds across two future time zones.

A young boy of the year 2932 blasts through a portal back to a future of 2075, where he meets a young girl growing up in a suburbia of dutiful robots, hologram parenthood and a climate change mitigated by protective shields. Influenced by best of Studio Ghibli films yet also the fine French tradition of boundary-pushing animated tales, this hits the high-water marks of visual splendour, thoughtful ideas and storytelling clarity.

“With his debut feature, Arco, Ugo Bienvenu puts a unique, thought-provoking twist on the solarpunk genre.” ~Oliver Weir, The Film Stage

“From its narrative that blends so many ideas exquisitely, to the gratifying characters and narrative arcs, to the absolutely stunning animation style, Arco is quite possibly the best animated film of the year.” ~Ross Bonaime, Collider

“Like a cross between a Studio Ghibli joint and “Interstellar,” Arco, by the French comic-book artist turned filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, strikes a lovely balance between fantastical kid-friendly wholesomeness and real-world bleakness.” ~Beatrice Loayza, The New York Times