Netflix has established itself as one of the strongest platforms for animation, and this year is shaping up to be its biggest. While Brad Bird’s long-awaited Ray Gunn is getting most of the attention (and rightfully so), one film that I kept hearing about at TIFF was In Waves. Based on a true story, it’s the story of first loves, soulmates, and grief set against the sun-kissed beaches of Southern California.
In Waves is directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, from a script by Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux adapted from AJ Dungo’s graphic novel. The voice cast is led by Will Sharpe, best known for The White Lotus and The Electric Life of Louis Wain, and Stephanie Hsu, an Oscar nominee for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
SYNOPSIS: Set against the sun-soaked surf culture of Southern California, IN WAVES, based on a true story, explores the joy of finding your soulmate, the courage it takes to live life to the fullest, and the enduring power of love to shape who we become and what we leave behind.
In Waves opens in select theaters on November 27th, before moving to Netflix on December 11th. December is shaping up to be a jam-packed month.
