The idea that animation should only be used for certain stories is an archaic one. Animation is such an expensive, labor-intensive process that it causes filmmakers to ask, “Does this need to be animated?” before embarking on a multi-year journey to realize their projects. However, the exclusion of talking animals and magical realms doesn’t have to mean putting down the pencil and picking up a camera; animation is a medium for adult, human stories as well. It may be harder to make, but that’s what gives the art value. In Waves embodies the sentiment of art for art’s sake, a film with an experimental presentation but a simple coming-of-age story. Not everything works, but In Waves reaches for something audiences need to see more films reach for.
Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, In Waves is adapted from AJ Dungo’s autobiographical graphic novel. It follows AJ, played by Will Sharpe, as he prepares to leave high school and encounters Kristen, played by Stephanie Hsu, who goes on to change his life forever. Her passion for surfing and the ocean takes root in AJ, and their love blossoms rapidly and brightly. But when Kristen is diagnosed with cancer, their relationship and their dreams for the future come into doubt.
Being based on an autobiography is In Waves’ biggest strength. In a story as emotionally heavy as this, and especially when depicting the lives of modern teenagers, it can be difficult for the dialogue to strike the right pitch. Having them sound too adult can feel inauthentic, and misguided attempts to make them spout relevant slang only breed disaster. In Waves suffers from none of that and showcases dialogue that feels true to these people who are mature enough to understand the gravity of their situation but without the emotional development to deal with it healthily.
Another strong aspect of AJ’s story is his own and his friend group’s ethnic backgrounds. Despite all being born and raised in L.A., they feel drawn to different parts of the globe, hitting that age where you begin to wonder about your roots and the fundamentals of who you are. Again, none of this is too overt; it comes up naturally in conversation, as if Dungo has recalled each line word for word. Kristen feels especially connected to Hawaiian culture, something connected to her love for surfing. She often talks about the traditions of surfing in Polynesian culture and the ways in which it was stifled by colonization.
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Picture Credit: Silex Films
The concept of regaining freedom by taking to the waters is such a fascinating and subtle theme throughout In Waves. It simultaneously has cultural relevance and personal relevance to the characters. Surfing is represented as allowing for a pure connection to the earth, to be part of something seemingly endless, to literally be a drop in the ocean. In Waves is about releasing your grip and embracing the chaos of life; it’s about riding the wave.
For as much as In Waves is sophisticated thematically, its visuals left something to be desired. In Waves shoots for an experimental look, building completely 2D backgrounds and having the human characters be CG models that were possibly rotoscoped. In terms of the backgrounds, you’d be hard-pressed to find any issues. There is a crayon-like quality to some of the background textures and skylines. Sometimes that’ll be mixed in with some watercolor effects for clouds and rain. It is a wonderful way to show the transitional period that the characters are in, and I’d happily browse a gallery lined with these paintings.
The more uncomfortable visuals come from the character animation. The CG movement feels a little too smooth and polished sometimes, as if some more blemishes would have added to its authenticity. A big problem comes with the facial animations, which are often lacking detail with mouth movements that feel very unnatural. Even hair textures can feel extremely wrong, especially in darker lighting. It’s not easy to pull off a style this experimental, and one half of it is absolutely excellent, but the character animation was distracting enough to almost make a deep dent in the emotional impact of the story.
I’d much rather see somebody take a swing like In Waves than go for something safe and unspectacular. A lot of people might truly connect with the way In Waves looks, and I’d implore everyone to try and look past it even if it doesn’t appeal. The humanity of the story feels so fresh and unsanitized for animation, and I’d love nothing more than to see the medium used to explore more adult stories. Some of the best animated films of all time come from people unafraid to stick to what they know works, what is safe. In Waves can inspire a tsunami of artists to go that one step further.
In Waves will appear at the Annecy Film Festival all week, arrive in French theaters on July 1st, and come to Netflix in most regions later this year.
