Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe’s Acclaimed Animated Romance ‘In Waves’ is Heading to Netflix

It’s Cannes season, and Netflix is ​​already making a splash – literally. We get our first major acquisition from the 2026 festival, with Netflix acquiring global rights (except France) to the animated romance. in waves.

First confirmed overnight DiversityNetflix reportedly won a highly competitive bidding war for the feature, with its price rumored to be in the mid-seven figures. Netflix’s official social accounts quickly confirmed the news soon after the initial report came out.

The deal was negotiated by Anonymous Content, CAA Media Finance and Charades on behalf of the filmmakers.

Here’s Netflix’s confirmation tweet:

Here’s a summary of everything you need to know about the new animated pickup.

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What is in waves About this?

in waves is an adaptation of the 2019 graphic memoir by AJ Dungo. The film started the prestigious Semaine de la Critique (Critics’ Week) It received rave reviews at Cannes, with critics praising its emotional depth and gorgeous, elegant animation style.

critic on rotten tomatoes In Waves is equally being praised as a beautifully bittersweet and emotionally resonant old-fashioned romance. Although some reviewers say the film sometimes relies on familiar tropes, these minor flaws are easily forgiven thanks to the authentic, real-life heart behind AJ and Kristen’s joyful but painful journey, leading it to be compared to poignant indie dramas like The Fault in Our Stars.

Set in Los Angeles, the coming-of-age story follows AJ, a shy teen who is passionate about skateboarding and drawing, and Kristen, a passionate surfer. The two fall deeply in love and begin planning a future together, but tragedy strikes when Kristen is suddenly diagnosed with an illness. Together, they overcome enormous adversity through the strength of their relationship, the support of their community, and a shared, deep connection with the ocean.

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Who is behind these waves?

The project boasts some fantastic talent, especially in the recording booth.

oscar nominee Stephanie Su (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fall Guy) and BAFTA-winner Will Sharp (The White Lotus, Beef) are leading the voice cast for the film.

is in the director’s chair Phuong Mai NguyenJoe is bringing AJ Dungo’s graphic novel to the screen using a script fanny bardino And samuel doux.

Silex Films produced the feature, with Priscilla Bertin and Judith Nora serving as producers. The executive producing team includes stars Will Sharp and Stephanie Hsu, along with David Levine, Yohan Comte, Carol Baratan, Pierre Mazers, Nick Shoemaker.

(A quick note on why Netflix doesn’t have the rights in France: Diafana is handling domestic distribution there, which is standard practice for many of these European co-productions!)

Speaking on the acquisition, in an exclusive quote to Variety, Anonymous Content’s David Levin and Nick Shumaker had this to say:

“From the beginning, we were energized by Mai’s unmistakable talent and AJ’s story’s ability to deeply impact audiences. This exciting partnership with Netflix will ensure that our romantic, coming-of-age story reaches people around the world.”

Priscilla Bertin of Silex Films said:

“I am so pleased with this partnership with Netflix and their enthusiasm for ‘In Waves,’ which gives us the opportunity to reach the widest possible audience and share this deeply moving true love story with the world.”

There is no information about the release date yet. Since it’s already premiering at Cannes, we could see it removed from the service in late 2026 or early 2027, but we’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear more.

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Are you looking forward to watching In Waves on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.