After winning the Cristal for a Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu’s directorial debut Arco went on to be nominated at every major awards ceremony this past season, only to be eclipsed by Netflix’s cultural juggernaut, KPop Demon Hunters.

While the latter’s success is undeniable, Arco is more than worthy of recognition, emerging as a charming and delicately handled sci-fi fable with a powerful ecological message.

In the year 2075, the Earth is constantly ravaged by storms, wildfires and other extreme weather phenomena. Nevertheless, life continues, with communities living beneath giant protective bubbles and most everyday tasks being conducted by robots.

Read my full South China Morning Post review here