'Arco' Wins Best Animated Feature at the National Board of Review!

The highly anticipated film 〈Arco〉, expected to be a strong contender at the Academy Awards, has won the Best Animated Feature at the 97th National Board of Review (NBR), marking a strong start in the Oscar race.

The animation 〈Arco〉, which tells the adventure and friendship of a future boy 'Arco' who rides a rainbow through time and a girl 'Iris' dreaming of a blue tomorrow on a gray Earth, has won the Best Animated Feature at the National Board of Review, which can predict the outlook for the Oscar race. Following last year's win by director Gints Zilbalodis for 〈Flow〉 at the National Board of Review, which also went on to win at the Academy Awards, global interest in this year's winner 〈Arco〉 is growing. Despite strong competitors like 〈K-Pop Demon Hunters〉 and 〈Zootopia 2〉, 〈Arco〉 is receiving solid support from critics and audiences for its original storytelling, stunning visuals, and warm message about the future of humanity.

After being nominated for the Golden Camera at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and winning the Cristal Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the win at the National Board of Review further solidifies 〈Arco〉's position in the Oscar race. Notably, NEON, the North American distributor that successfully led the Oscar journeys of 〈Parasite〉 and 〈Anora〉, has joined as a partner for 〈Arco〉, and Natalie Portman, captivated by the director Hugo Bienvenu's artistic visuals, has come on board as a producer, raising expectations even higher.

The 97th National Board of Review Best Animated Feature winner 〈Arco〉 is scheduled for domestic release in the first half of 2026.