Arco Review
There’s something about animated stories about family reunions and exploring other parts of the world that creates such an enjoyable experience. Such films can show this, whether it be through a fantastical, larger-than-life world or a time that might be coming in the future. However, there’s also a fine line when it comes to blending all these ideas together in a way that feels meaningful. For a studio like Neon, they have touched upon this type of storytelling previously with Robot Dreams, a moving family-inspired film that was celebrated for its deep companionship. This year, Neon continues that push with Arco, which is an endearing watch of its own.
Nominated for Best Animated Feature for the 2026 Oscars, Arco sees a young boy from the far future, also called Arco (Oscar Tresanini/Juliano Krue Valdi), who wants to be like the rest of his family, who are time-travelers. When Arco decides to venture out on his own, he accidentally travels back to 2075, where humanity relies on technology to keep them safe. To his aid comes Iris (Margot Ringard Oldra/Romy Fay), who’s caring for her baby brother with the help of her robot, Mikki, while her parents are away. Together, Iris and Arco must find a way to fix Arco’s time-travel device all while avoiding getting caught by a trio of conspiracy theorists.
Arco’s story, from the get-go, may pull from other films, but it definitely does enough to stand out on its own. Particularly, it’s through the relationship between Arco and Iris that truly carries this film as the reliance they share is truly heartfelt. Iris doesn’t necessarily show hesitancy when she comes across Arco, but instead a compassionate curiosity to understand him. She’s someone who has both agency, yet empathy because she’s unable to have that close connection she’s shared with her parents.
The fact that Iris’ parents barely have time to spend with their daughter creates his gaping hole that is happily filled when Arco arrives. Although both of them, who are voiced by Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman respectively, have shown some care for Iris, they’re overworked. Sure, Mikki’s presence tries to fulfill that need, but he mostly lies within the background as Iris and Arco embark on their journey together. It’s a bit sad when Mikki doesn’t return until later in the second act, but by then, the connection that the two main characters share is already strengthened.
Surprisingly though, director Ugo Bienvenu, in his directorial debut, is able to weave the arcs of his characters very well. The conspiracy theorist gang, who believes that they saw Arco (or something like him) in the past, isn’t so menacing, but more so wacky for most of the film. While their spying shenanigans lead to some back-and-forths that drive the film’s humor, their involvement near the end of the film does make you feel a bit sympathetic for them. This also goes for Mikki, who gets more of a heroic role when things gradually get heated for Arco and Iris.
Visually, Arco is a beautiful spectacle that just grabs you with its retro-futuristic, yet earthy aesthetic. The character animations are very fluid and capture their emotions nicely, whether it be Arco and Iris sharing a lunch together or the trio going nuts. The most unique of these visuals obviously comes with Arco’s magical time-travel device, which feels like it came out of Dragon Ball Z with its rainbow trails and floating heads whenever Arco uses it. Although most of the animation is quite nice, the English dubbing could have been better implemented as some of the movements don’t necessarily line up with what’s said.
The general story of Arco itself definitely feels reminiscent of other animated films like Ponyo and Mirai. It’s a family reunion narrative, but at certain points, it also makes you question the environmental impact of the choices some make. This secondary story is layered in between Iris trying to help Arco, as bits and pieces, like a big thunderstorm to a forest fire, suggest that bad things are on the way. However, it’s in the interactions that Arco and Iris share that are able to tie both storylines naturally as Arco shares his past with Iris. That said, the film does try to introduce a romance side story with Iris’ friend, but it’s mostly background material until it’s mentioned near the climax.
Arco is a visually impressive and emotionally sweet piece about friendship and connection, showing Ugo Bienvenu as a good director as well as Neon’s confidence in animation. It’s a solid follow-up to their animation filmography following Robot Dreams and should not be dismissed as just another family movie, but rather a distinct character exploration.
Arco is playing in theaters.
Rating: ★★★★
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.