We get plenty of animated films that look at brightly colored worlds and fascinating timelines. In the world of animation, you can go anywhere and do anything. That’s part of the fun of these worlds that are bound only by the lengths of imagination.

The film Arco, which gets a wide release this Friday, is a brightly colored glimpse of the future. It got a limited release in 2025, earning an Academy Award nomination as Best Animated Feature. And it’s likely this bright, colorful world will appeal to viewers of all ages.

It’s another animated feature told in an anime style. But unlike All You Need is Kill, released earlier this month, this one has a more family-friendly feel. It’s about a boy who goes on an adventure, and the family that never stops looking for him.

Arco (Juliano Valdi) lives with his family in the future. There, humanity has mastered the ability to travel through time. But there are age limits that restrict its use. Despite his eagerness to be a part of traveling to different times and worlds, Arco is too young.

But one day, he steals a suit and decides to try it. He ends up dumped in 2075, where the world is slowly degrading. He comes across a young girl named Iris (Romy Fay), whom he befriends. But this isn’t his home, and without the training of others in his world, he doesn’t know how to get back home.

Iris, with the help of her robot minder Mikki (Mark Ruffalo/Natalie Portman), tries to get Arco back home. Meanwhile a group obsessed with people from the future has locked on to Arco and wants to get some answers. Can he get back before it’s too late?

Arco is a fascinating film and story. It made its debut in Cannes last summer and got a limited run in the Fall. It has both a French and dubbed version, and you’ll likely have an option of which to view in theaters. It’s a simple enough story, but deeply emotional.

I enjoyed Arco when I saw it in the Fall. It made the list of my favorite animated films of 2025, and I’m not surprised it’s on the Academy Award list. It will likely entertain, fascinate, and move audiences. It’s a beautifully told story that has an amazing visual style. The use of color and the world-building is captivating.

The story is simple to follow and not all the pieces work. The group of adults seeking Arco—voiced in the dubbed version by Flea, Andy Samberg, and Will Ferrell—felt like a bit of a weird distraction. That part of the story didn’t work for me, and your mileage on it may vary.

But I was charmed by the end and the twist of how Arco finds his way home. I think most viewers will be taken with this sweet story, too. Arco opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 30.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.