Luca

On a sun-soaked stretch of the Italian Riviera, a shy boy named Luca spends a summer that upends his expectations. He and his daring friend Alberto hide a startling secret, they live underwater as sea creatures and only look human on land. Hungry for thrills and a Vespa that represents freedom, the pair team up with a local girl, Giulia, whose street smarts and kindness open the town to them in small ways. Their plans collide with a prideful bully and a community wary of outsiders, so Luca and Alberto have to juggle games, new loyalties, and the problem of staying hidden while they taste what growing up feels like.

Directed by Enrico Casarosa and developed with creators Simon Stephenson and Jesse Andrews, the film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2021, premiering on the Disney+ streaming service. The voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Emma Berman.

The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, recognizing its place among that year's standout animated releases. It also appeared on several critics' shortlists and received attention during awards season for its design and score.

Luca's sun-drenched visuals and old-school seaside setting sparked a noticeable fan response, from illustrations and cosplay to social media threads about Italian summer nostalgia. The movie's look, the Vespa dream motif, and its playful monster-to-human conceit became recurring images in fan art and online conversations, helping keep the film in cultural circulation beyond its initial release window.

Critics and audiences gave the film generally positive notices, reflected in a solid IMDb rating of 7.789/10. Reviewers often praised its warmth, simple pleasures, and visual charm, while some wanted more depth in the plot. The movie centers on friendship, identity, and acceptance, showing how fear of difference shapes small-town behavior and how curiosity and companionship can push someone to take risks.