Animated films frequently tackle grand fantasy quests, but the most lingering projects tend to be quiet, personal recollections of human connection. Netflix has released the debut trailer and imagery for In Waves, a tender animated romance anchored by Oscar and Tony Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Emmy nominee Will Sharpe (The White Lotus).
The production serves as the feature directorial debut of Franco-Vietnamese filmmaker Phuong Mai Nguyen, who adapted author AJ Dungo’s acclaimed 2019 graphic memoir of the same name.
Set along the sunlit coastline of Southern California, the story tracks the real-life romance between high school sweethearts AJ and Kristen.
Hsu voices Kristen, an avid surfer whose spirit and connection to ocean culture draw Sharpe’s character, a shy, skateboarding teenager with a fear of open water, out of his shell.
Through beachside lessons and shared Pacific tides, Kristen introduces AJ to the roots of surfing and Hawaiian heritage. Their bond faces an abrupt test when Kristen receives a severe medical diagnosis, shifting their carefree relationship into a battle against illness and grief.
Bringing Graphic Memoir to Animated Life
Beyond providing Kristen’s voice in the English-language version, Hsu executive produces the film alongside Sharpe, ensuring that the source material’s vulnerability remains front and centre.
Director Nguyen explained that the production team sought to balance heavy emotional stakes with the joyful momentum of youth.
“I wanted to make a film that highlights the tenderness and the resilience in this couple and their group of friends,” Nguyen said. “I wanted the film to convey, through the characters, an urgency to live and to believe in the future.”
The visual style blends hand-painted 2D background landscapes with stylised character models, paired with an original musical score by French artists Oklou and Rob.
Nguyen noted during festival appearances that animating breaking surf and rolling coastal waters without photorealistic computer-generated effects proved to be the production’s central technical hurdle. The ocean serves as a visual mirror for the characters’ internal emotional states.
Festival Acclaim and Awards Season Positioning
The project enters the winter cinema calendar carrying strong critical momentum from European and North American film festivals.
In Waves made history earlier this year by becoming the first animated feature chosen to open Cannes Critics’ Week. It subsequently competed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival before screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, Busan, and Mill Valley.
The picture holds a 94 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its delicate handling of youth romance and loss.
Netflix acquired international distribution rights following the Cannes market premiere and will position the film as a core contender in the Best Animated Feature race.
In Waves opens in select cinemas on 27 November 2026, before streaming globally on Netflix on 11 December 2026.
