Fast-rising stars Charles Melton (“May December,” “Warfare”) and Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) are set to headline the voice cast of “In Waves,” the California surf-themed animated feature adapted from illustrator AJ Dungo’s celebrated graphic memoir.
Described as an “unconditional first love story, and tale of loss and memories,” the film — produced by Silex Films, Charades and Anonymous Content — is directed Phuong Mai Nguyen, a former student of French animation schools Gobelins and La Poudrière. Phuong helmed episodes of the Silex-produced animated series “Brazen” and was Oscar-shortlisted for her short “My Home.”
Charades and Anonymous Content will show a promo-reel to buyers at the upcoming Cannes market.
“In Waves” — which has just been announced as one of five titles at the Annecy Animation Showcase — follows AJ, a shy teenager in Los Angeles, who falls deeply in love with Kristen, a vibrant surfer. Their shared passion for the ocean becomes a source of strength as they face the devastating impact of illness together.
The film blends personal narrative with surf history, reflecting the emotional depth of Dungo’s original work. The graphic novel has received international acclaim, including the BD Fnac-France Inter Award (2020, France), the Prix des Libraires du Québec (2020, Canada), and the American Library Association Alex Award (2020, USA). It was also an official selection at the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France.
“In Waves” is also co-produced by France 3 Cinéma and Belgium’s Panique! It is written by Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux, screenwriters of movies by Joachim Lafosse (“After Love”) and Laurent Cantet (“Arthur Rambo”) and Warner Bros. Discovery’s soon-to-release first French original miniseries, “The Mythomaniac Of The Bataclan,” directed by Just Philippot.
The film marks Melton’s first voice role on an animated feature. Hsu, meanwhile, was among the voice cast of “The Wild Robot.” The two will lead the English voice cast of “In Waves.” A French version will be led by Lyna Khoudri (“The French Dispatch”) and Rio Vega (“Deerskin”)
Melton is represented by CAA, 111 Media, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Hsu is represented by CAA and Hanson Jacobson.
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