A Love Story for the Modern Era

If you remember the 1970s classic Love Story for its ability to turn a simple, tragic premise into a cultural phenomenon, then In Waves is its West Coast, aquatic successor. Premiering at the Annecy Film Festival after a strong debut at Cannes, director Phuong Mai Nguyen’s animated feature manages to do something rare: it takes a story of profound grief and makes it feel as fluid and rhythmic as the ocean itself.

Based on A.J. Dungo’s 2019 graphic novel, the film follows the relationship between A.J. (voiced by Will Sharpe), a water-phobic skateboarder, and Kristen (Stephanie Hsu), a surfer who treats the waves with religious devotion. Their "meet-cute" at a high school party is standard fare, but the film quickly pivots into a deeper exploration of how two disparate worlds collide. Kristen doesn't just teach A.J. how to swim; she teaches him how to exist in a world where the tide is always turning.

The Weight of the Waves

What elevates In Waves above typical romantic melodrama is its willingness to confront the reality of loss without losing its visual grace. As the narrative progresses, the film shifts from a story of budding romance to a harrowing account of Kristen’s cancer diagnosis. The animation, which is as gorgeous as it is restrained, captures the transition from the sun-drenched optimism of their early days to the clinical, quiet reality of A.J.’s role as a caregiver.

Nguyen’s direction is particularly effective in how it handles the history of surfing. By weaving in the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku and the spiritual connection surfers have with the sea, the film provides a necessary context for why Kristen’s decision to undergo an amputation—rather than give up surfing—is not just a plot point, but an act of existential defiance. It is a memoir of grief that refuses to let the audience drown in despair, opting instead to show how life continues in waves.

Why Netflix Is Betting Big

Netflix picked up the film out of Cannes with a clear strategy in mind. While the streamer has a massive library of animated content, In Waves represents a shift toward more mature, prestige-leaning animation that can compete during the upcoming awards cycle. With a runtime of 90 minutes, it is a tight, focused production that avoids the bloat often found in modern animated features.

Key Takeaways

  • A True Story Foundation: The film is a faithful adaptation of A.J. Dungo’s 2019 graphic novel, grounding its emotional beats in a real-life memoir of loss.
  • Stellar Voice Performances: Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu provide the emotional anchor for the English-language version, bringing a grounded, human quality to the animation.
  • Awards Potential: Netflix is positioning this as a major contender for the next awards season, signaling a push for more prestige-focused adult animation.

The Road Ahead

For Netflix, the success of In Waves will be measured not just by its streaming numbers, but by its ability to secure a foothold in the animation categories at the Academy Awards. The film is currently slated for a global rollout, and the studio’s marketing team is already beginning the long process of courting voters. With the film’s festival run now in full swing, the next major hurdle will be the fall release window, where the studio will determine if this intimate, tearjerking story can capture the attention of a global audience during the crowded year-end awards race.