Animated Arco offers a hopeful time-travel vision the article says Pixar can't match

The French animated film Arco is receiving a North American English-dub release this weekend after festival screenings and an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, and it features voices including Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Portman and Will Ferrell.

Arco, a French animated time-travel film by writer-director Ugo Bienvenu, is arriving in North America in an English-dub this weekend after a run on the festival circuit. The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature and is notable for not being adapted from pre-existing material. The story is set across two future years and follows a young boy named Arco and a girl named Iris as their timelines intersect. The article places Arco in the current animation landscape while noting differences from larger studio trends. Known details: - The narrative alternates between the years 2932 and 2075 and centers on a 10-year-old boy, Arco, and a similarly aged girl, Iris. - Vocal cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Natalie Portman and Will Ferrell, with Juliano Krue Valdi voicing Arco and Romy Fay voicing Iris; Andy Samberg and Flea also provide voices. - Plot elements include a malfunctioning time-travel suit and a trio of pursuing conspiracy theorists voiced in the English dub. - The film features emotionally-sensitive robots in Iris's timeline, including a household robot that blends the voices of her absent parents. - The production is original rather than an adaptation and was well received on the festival circuit, securing an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Summary: The article contrasts Arco's original, visually distinct approach with broader trends in mainstream animation and highlights its festival acclaim and awards recognition. The English-dub North American release is scheduled for this weekend. Awards outcomes remain undetermined at this time.