NEON Drops Dazzling New Trailer for Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco, a Stunning Sci-Fi Fable About Time, Friendship, and Hope

NEON’s Arco redefines animated sci-fi — a luminous tale of friendship, time travel, and hope from director Ugo Bienvenu.

NEON has unveiled the brand-new trailer for Arco, the breathtaking animated feature from visionary French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu (Mondo Domino), ahead of its theatrical release in January 2026. The film — which premiered at Cannes 2025 and went on to win the Cristal Award for Best Feature Film at the Annecy Animation Festival — has already earned a reputation as one of the most emotionally stirring and visually rich animated experiences of the decade.

Written, directed, and produced by Bienvenu, Arco tells the story of a 10-year-old boy from a peaceful, far-future civilization who is suddenly thrown backward in time to the year 2075, where Earth teeters on the brink of collapse. There, he befriends a spirited young girl named Iris and her loyal robot companion Mikki. Together, the trio embarks on a heartfelt and high-stakes journey to return Arco home — a quest that may also determine the fate of the planet itself.

A visually stunning odyssey through time and memory, Arco blends hand-drawn warmth with futuristic world-building, capturing the melancholy of films like The Iron Giant and the wonder of The Little Prince. Critics have praised Bienvenu’s animation style for its painterly precision and thematic boldness — an exploration of humanity, technology, and childhood innocence in the face of extinction.

Adding even more star power, Arco features an all-star voice cast including Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and Andy Samberg. Produced by Remembers (Bienvenu and Felix de Givry) and mountainA (Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas), the film balances its grand sci-fi premise with an emotional intimacy rarely seen in contemporary animation.

“Arco is a wondrous odyssey filled with hope and optimism for our future,” reads NEON’s official release. “It’s a story about the power of connection, and how even the smallest act of friendship can ripple across time.”

With its vibrant visuals, powerful performances, and deeply human message, Arco continues NEON’s legacy of championing bold, auteur-driven cinema — and positions Bienvenu as one of the most exciting voices in modern animation.

Arco opens in theaters everywhere January 2026 from NEON.