The global animated film community is a buzz with excitement as Arco, the highly anticipated directorial debut from French graphic novelist and filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, splashes down at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
As a Special Screening, the 2D sci-fi adventure feature film caught the eye of indie giant Neon, which has pre-bought North American distribution rights.
With Natalie Portman both producing and voicing, and the comparisons already being made to Studio Ghibli, Arco is on its way to becoming one of the year’s most unique and emotionally affecting animated releases.
Key Highlights:
- Ugo Bienvenu’s debut animated feature Arco has been picked up by indie distributor Neon for North American rights after its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
- Directed and voiced by Oscar winner Natalie Portman, the film boasts an impressive cast of Swann Arlaud, Alma Jodorowsky, and Louis Garrel.
- Arco accompanies a 10-year-old boy from the year 2932 as he time-travels using rainbows and arrives in 2075, befriend a girl called Iris in a world that is devastated by climate change.
- Released as a Special Screening, the 2D animated science fiction adventure film has been praised as “France’s answer to Studio Ghibli” and as a probable awards candidate.
- There’s no formal release date yet, but Arco is slated to arrive in 2025, capitalizing on Neon’s excellent record with animated movies.
A Cannes Success for Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco
Ugo Bienvenu’s debut animated feature, Arco, has stormed the 2025 Cannes Film Festival with a Special Screening spot and landed a North American distribution deal with Neon, a driving force in independent cinema. Announced on May 24, 2025, the deal is another victory for Neon, renowned for releasing highly acclaimed animated features such as Flee (2021), an Oscar-nominated film, and Robot Dreams (2023), an Oscar-nominated animated feature, alongside live-action sensations Parasite and Anatomy of a Fall.
Arco, a vibrant 2D animated sci-fi adventure, has been lauded for its poetic storytelling and striking visuals, with comparisons to Studio Ghibli’s emotive masterpieces. Produced by Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas under their Mountain A banner, alongside Félix de Givry at Remembers, the film blends a whimsical premise with profound themes, positioning it as a potential contender in the 2025 awards season.
A Colorful Journey Through Time
Set in a futuristic world where rainbows serve as time-travel conduits, Arco follows a 10-year-old boy named Arco (voiced by Oscar Tresanini) from the year 2932. On his first time-travel flight in a rainbow-colored suit, he crash-lands in 2075, a near-future Earth grappling with climate change and advanced technology. There he encounters Iris (Margot Ringard Oldra), a girl of his age who turns out to be his partner in a quest to go back home. Their adventure plays out against the background of environmental problems and cutting-edge technology, such as nanny robots and holographic family interactions, providing a moving commentary on friendship and human co-existence with nature.
The 82-minute movie, directed by Bienvenu and co-scripted with Félix de Givry, marries hand-drawn animation with a colorful look influenced by the director’s background in graphic novels, such as the critically acclaimed Préférence Système. Voice talents such as Swann Arlaud, Alma Jodorowsky, Vincent Macaigne, and Louis Garrel lend emotional resonance to this family-friendly yet intellectually stimulating story.
Why Arco Stands Out
Arco stands out with its mix of childlike awe and astute observation of climate change and technology. Bienvenu, a renowned French animator and illustrator schooled at top schools like Gobelins and CalArts, brings his own style to the screen, drawing from inspiration by way of Miyazaki and Spielberg. Natalie Portman, who also voices the movie, was effusive in her praise, calling the film’s “joy of beauty” and its capability to address difficult topics without being didactic a positive force in need of “light in the world.”
The setting, in 2075—retractable glass domes shielding dwellings from unpredictable weather and robots taking care of children—is a chilling extrapolation of our own time, and its message about the environment strikes close to home. But the upbeat tone and emphasis on teenage friendship make it a film for all ages, reminding one of such classics as The Iron Giant and Wall-E.
Neon’s Animated Legacy and Arco’s Awards Potential
Neon’s takeover of Arco follows its tradition of promoting daring, imaginative films. The distributor’s success with animated hits such as Flee and Robot Dreams, which both received Oscar nominations, speaks well for Arco’s presence. Trades talk indicates the film may be a surprise contender for 2025 awards, as its cross-culture appeal and incredible craftsmanship have won over Cannes critics
Bienvenu’s leap from short films and graphic novels, such as Marvel’s Ant-Man miniseries, to full-length animation is a testament to his versatility. His painstaking hand-drawn technique, as noted in interviews, enables a “more sensitive reality,” a distinction in a CGI-saturated blockbuster market.
What’s Next for Arco
Although Neon has not officially set a release date, Arco should open in North American theaters in 2025, riding the festival circuit and awards season buzz. The worldwide sales of the film, represented by Gebeka International, have already been attracting interest, with its Cannes premiere creating buzz among worldwide audiences.
For animation enthusiasts, sci-fi buffs, and fans of sentimental storytelling, Arco offers a breathtakingly beautiful and emotionally evocative experience. Monitor Neon’s announcements and festival showtimes for further information on how to see this rainbow-colored quest.