Arco tells the story of two children, the first being Iris (Romy Fay’s voice) living in France in 2075. Babysitting her is a robot, Mikki (Mark Ruffalo) because her Parents’ (producer Natalie Portman, Ruffalo) workplace is far away. One day, while skipping class and going into the woods, she runs into Arco (Juliano Krue Valdi). He inadvertently flies himself into 2075, the past for him, despite his Mother’s (America Ferrera) warnings. Following him in this timeline are three strangely dressed men, Dougie (Flea), Frankie (Will Ferrell), and Stewie (Andy Samberg). The boy has his own problems, losing a magic crystal that helps him fly and travel through time.

From a more distant future, Arco makes the most out of 2075 and teaches Iris literal bird talk. While all of this is happening, Dougie, Frankie, and Stewie, plan to get their way closer to him. Light spoilers, but they’re not bad guys, helping Arco and Iris escape police who are chasing them. All this takes place during a forest fire, where Mikki has to come rescue the trapped children. This 2D animation film looks like an anime by way of Romanian animation before that country’s new wave. There’s a simplicity to the 90s aesthetic there that helps make these characters relatable to its viewers. Arco also doesn’t over-explain its premise but it’s easy to understand the two timelines that it depicts.

Arco IS a film about environmental disasters which can bum viewers out, whether they’re adults or children. Thankfully, the film balances things out with comedy, at least the English dub actors do just that. Dougie, Frankie, and Stewie serve as the film’s comic foils, ambiguously villainous enough until the third act. There’s another way for it to bring levity to otherwise heavy subject matter – through blending its genres. Science fiction is inherently cool, especially through Arco’s rainbow cape that keeps its powers no matter what. And the chase scenes are action-y enough as the kids and the strange adults run through the school.

But eventually, Arco has to confront the issues that it’s only hinting at beforehand, and it is interesting to see a film like this where one of the points of view is someone looking back. Regardless, the forest fire scene is powerful, especially as it depicts Mikki carrying the children out bravely. The adult characters in here, as I previously wrote, are a good mix of comic and dramatic while the two young protagonists here are also on the dramatic side but in the best way. They’re wise beyond their years, understanding the importance of what’s happening yet hoping for the best outcomes.

Arco is available to watch in select Canadian theatres.