Children of the Sea

Alienated from her direct surroundings, young teenager Ruka has always felt a connection to the sea. One sunny day at the aquarium where her father works, she meets two boys who were raised by manatees, Umi and Sora, and immediately clicks with them. While her summer holiday is unexpectedly transformed into a magical adventure occasioned by new friendships, strange things start happening in the ocean: whales appear in New York, animals disappear from the aquarium and a meteorite impact attracts all sea life.

Following the mind-boggling Mind Game, Genius Party and Tekkonkinkreet, Japanese Studio 4°C returns with a coming-of-age story full of imaginative twists, in which today's climate crisis plays a major role. As always, the animation studio makes the utmost use of its resources, creating the most beautiful, experimental, colourful, Kubrick-esque images. Children of the Sea could well be the most stunning, enchanting animated film of the year.