Is it better to live without the knowledge that the end might come soon, savoring every moment in the process, or to enjoy a more carefree existence where the time, moment, and circumstance of death is never considered? Having a terminal or incurable disease can affect the way a person approaches every opportunity and relationship, creating the opportunity for tremendous appreciation of things that might otherwise not seem momentous and also inviting the potential for a great deal of heartbreak. In Waves chooses to emphasize the positive in its tender love story set against backdrop of the vast, beautiful ocean.
AJ and Kristen each have their separate passions – he skateboards and she surfs. When they meet, they quickly become close and realize their feelings for each other. When Kristen is diagnosed with cancer, the limits of what previously seemed like a boundless romance begin to weigh on them. Despite the uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to spend a long life together, they forge ahead to create lasting moments of connection, even if they’re not always on the same page about what’s meaningful and what they each need to ensure that they don’t get too hurt along the way.
This animated film is based on the 2019 graphic novel of the same name by AJ Dungo, based on his own experiences losing a partner. Phuong Mai Nguyen makes an assured feature directorial debut with a sensitive and moving depiction of instant, poignant chemistry and the way in which riding a surfboard and feeling attuned to the water adds such a degree of warmth and magic to each moment. The ocean has rarely felt as vivid or three-dimensional as it does here, leaping off the screen to convey its temperature, glow, and sparkle.
This is largely a two-person story, though other characters figure into the storyline, including friends and family members who come and go as they two navigate a difficult journey together and apart. Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu prove to be excellent choices to voice AJ and Kristen, both adept at comedy with recent TV roles on Too Much and Laid, respectively, and experienced in more subtle genre fusion with award-nominated performances in The White Lotus and Everything Everywhere All at Once. These roles feel more serious but still full of personality, and Sharpe and Hsu embody them well.
Animation offers a wonderful canvas through which to explore the notion of grief, and AJ’s passion for drawing also figures in significantly, as this film’s graphic novel basis indicates. To adapt this in live-action wouldn’t feel nearly as creative or fitting, and it’s also a film that, due to its Netflix release, will likely be seen mostly by audiences on their home screens, an experience that should still be just as rewarding as watching in a theater. This is a story with beauty embedded within its narrative that feels just as potent in its visual presentation.
In Waves is a film that finds a (relatively) comfortable and accessible way to engage with notions of grief and loss, and the way in which people consider how close they can get when they know that something isn’t going to last forever. There’s a real sincerity that comes across from its straightforward presentation and then the magical way in which images and memories are preserved through drawings and the sound of the ocean. In Waves is a film that, like its protagonist for her partner, lingers long after the credits roll, able to capture something that can feel fleeting but is far more resilient and lasting.
Movie Rating: 8/10
In Waves makes its international premiere in the Discovery section at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and will be released on Netflix on December 11th.
