Netflix has been letting audiences fall in love with the breathtaking world of In Waves long before its official trailer finally arrived. The animated romance first caught attention with footage celebrating its place as the first animated film to open Cannes Critics’ Week, followed by a September 2026 clip at the Toronto International Film Festival. Now, the official trailer offers a fuller glimpse of two teenagers falling in love against the sun-soaked shores of Southern California.

The In Waves trailer pairs shimmering ocean reflections, surf culture, and dreamy animation with a bittersweet romance that makes the sea feel like a character in its own right.

The official trailer for In Waves begins like a sun-drenched summer dream, only to reveal a love story headed toward heartbreak. Set against the beaches of Southern California, the animated romance follows AJ, voiced by Will Sharpe, a reserved teenager who loves sketching, and Kristen, voiced by Stephanie Hsu, a spirited surfer who feels most at home in the ocean. Their worlds collide, setting something beautiful in motion.

As their relationship blossoms, Kristen helps AJ confront his fear of the water, turning surfing lessons into tender moments of connection. She introduces him to the ocean and the rich cultural history behind surf culture, while their shared adventures transform an ordinary teenage romance into something far more meaningful. Yet the film's bright, breezy atmosphere gradually gives way to a painful reality when Kristen receives a life-changing medical diagnosis.

The In Waves trailer takes an emotional turn as AJ stays beside Kristen through her illness, showing how love can endure even when the future becomes uncertain. In one particularly heartbreaking moment, Kristen asks him to preserve her memory through his drawings.

“I want to live on through your drawings. Promise me that you will tell our story” she said, giving AJ's art a deeper purpose, turning grief into a promise to keep their love alive.

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Netflix has offered tantalizing glimpses of In Waves through its official trailer and exclusive clips, leaving viewers wondering who brought its gorgeous animated world to life.

Behind the breathtaking visuals of In Waves is Gao Shan Pictures, the French animation studio known for its work on the Oscar-nominated film I Lost My Body. Working under filmmaker Phuong Mai Nguyen, the animation team has crafted a distinctive visual identity for the Netflix romance. Rather than relying on conventional animation techniques, the artists developed a hybrid approach that gives the film its striking graphic novel aesthetic.

The animators created the characters using 3D CGI before transforming them into a hand-drawn-looking 2D style inspired by the original graphic novel by AJ Dungo. This technique allowed Phuong Mai Nguyen and her team to capture delicate eye movements, subtle expressions, and unspoken emotions with remarkable precision. The result is an intimate visual language that brings the tenderness of first love and the weight of grief to life.

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