Why ‘Arco’ Is 2025’s Most Daring Animated Adventure
In a year packed with wildly different animated films, French fantasy ‘Arco’ delivers a moving, inventive tale that weaves two timelines and offers a rare spark of hope for what’s ahead.
With 2025 bringing a flood of animated releases from all corners of the globe, it’s not easy for any one film to stand out. Yet, among the year’s most talked-about titles, a French fantasy called Arco has managed to make a real impression. While international hits like Ne Zha 2 and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle have drawn crowds, and recent favourites such as Flow, The Boy and the Heron, and Pinocchio still linger in the minds of punters, there hadn’t been a fresh release that truly deserved to be mentioned in the same breath—at least, not until now. Some of the much-hyped projects, like Pixar’s Elio or Andy Serkis’ take on Animal Farm, ended up being a bit of a letdown.
Animation often gets boxed in as something for the kids, but the best of the bunch can hit home for all ages. Arco might not pull the same numbers as Dog Man or The Bad Guys 2, but it’s a cracking example of a story that simply wouldn’t work in live-action. It’s a film that’s both thoughtful and full of energy, showing just how much the medium can do when it’s not afraid to take risks.
Time Travel, Two Timelines, and a Glimpse of Tomorrow
Most sci-fi flicks these days seem obsessed with doom and gloom, but Arco takes a different tack. It puts forward the idea that there’s still a chance for a brighter future—if we can just avoid leaning too hard on our gadgets. The film’s approach to time travel is a bit of a standout, blending two timelines in a way that feels fresh. The main action is set in 2075, where humans have just about trashed the planet and built robots to handle the basics. It’s all a bit too close to home, until Arco himself (voiced by Juliano Krue Valdi) pops up, having travelled back from the year 2932.
At its heart, Arco is a classic adventure yarn about a bloke out of his depth, trying to find his way back. But it’s also a warning about the long-term fallout of the choices we’re making now. The folks in 2075 might reckon their actions won’t matter much in their own lifetimes, but by 2932, things have gone so far backwards that people are living like cavemen. The film asks what it means to lose the promise of the future, and how that loss can sting for those living in the present.
Characters, Colour, and a Nod to Animation’s Greats
It’s Iris, a young girl voiced by Romy Fay, who decides to step up and make sure there’s actually something worth going back to. Arco himself seems pretty happy to stick around in the past, but Iris isn’t having it. The film is packed with surprisingly grown-up ideas, but it still keeps things lively with a bright colour palette and a bit of slapstick for the younger crowd.
What makes Arco even more special is that it’s not based on any old book or story—it’s a true original. Still, it tips its hat to some of the legends of animation. There’s a gentle respect for nature that brings to mind Studio Ghibli, and the action scenes have a pace that would fit right in with Disney’s old-school fairy tales. The oddball robots in Arco even look a bit like the strange creatures from the French classic Fantastic Planet.
Indie Spirit and a Shot of Optimism
This year, Arco is one of several films put out by indie distributor Neon, who don’t always get their projects into heaps of cinemas. Still, it’s the sort of film that’s worth tracking down when you get the chance. There’s a real sense that cinema could do with more of the optimism and originality that Arco brings to the table.