Acclaimed French animation 'Arco' set for China release

The award-winning French animated science fantasy film "Arco" will be released in China on Jan. 17, and at the Beijing premiere on Saturday, director and writer Ugo Bienvenu shared his connection with China and said he made the film "to give the world a hug."

Director Ugo Bienvenu greets the audience at the Chinese premiere of "Arco" in Beijing, Jan. 10, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Road Pictures]

"Making this film, what I wanted to do was give the world a hug, conveying positive, beautiful and uplifting energy," Bienvenu said via video link, describing his original creative aspiration. In his view, sci-fi has become too pessimistic, and he set out to create a sunnier vision of the future.

The film tells the story of Iris, a 10-year-old girl living in 2075, who witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow-colored jumpsuit fall from the sky. It's Arco. He comes from a distant, idyllic future in the year 2932, where time travel is possible. With his device broken, Iris must help him find a way back while three conspiracy theorists pursue them, determined to prove he traveled from the future.

Rainbow elements appear throughout the film, an image Bienvenu said emerged from his subconscious. He uses them to connect the two time periods, transforming a natural phenomenon into something fantastical.

Bienvenu said his multicultural upbringing shaped his creative approach. He grew up in Mexico, Guatemala and Chad before moving to Shanghai at 18, forging a deep bond with China. His family ties to the country—through his wife, who is of Chinese-French heritage, and their child—have further strengthened this connection. These experiences, he said, have given him a unique perspective on and identification with China.

Describing China as a country that "looks forward," Bienvenu said it has shown greater action and responsibility on environmental issues than the West — a statement that drew applause.

Actor Natalie Portman produced the film and lent her voice to the English dub. It will be screened in both French and Chinese in China, with the French edition featuring voice actors Margot Ringard Oldra and Oscar Tresanini, and the Chinese version starring child actors Gao Shuqiao and Chen Yitong.

As a surprise for Chinese audiences, Bienvenu showcased a personally drawn and signed illustration of the film's protagonists, Iris and Arco, dressed in Chinese-style attire and joined by a rainbow.

Director Ugo Bienvenu's illustration of "Arco" protagonists Iris and Arco, unveiled as a gift to Chinese audiences at the Chinese premiere in Beijing, Jan. 10, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Road Pictures]

The film premiered in the Special Screenings section at Cannes on May 16. It won the Cristal Award for best feature at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and best animated film from the National Board of Review. It was also nominated for best animated film at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards and the 83rd Golden Globes. On Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 49 critics' reviews are positive.