The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has announced a raft of titles that have been selected to compete in this year’s Official competition and Contrechamp competition streams.

In total, 21 features have made the cut as the annual event edges closer to kicking off on June 8. And there’s a strong contingent of kid-friendly titles in the running this year:

• Arco – France (Remembers, Mountaina)
  Director: Ugo Bienvenu
  This sci-fi tale explores the unique concept that rainbows are actually time-travelers by tagging along with a tween boy from the future who is rescued by a young girl from the past.

• Dandelion’s Odyssey – Belgium/France (Miyu Productions, Ecce Films, UMedia)
  Director: Momoko Seto
  In a unique blend of ecology and fantasy, this CG-animated feature follows four dandelion achenes that float off and become stranded on an unknown planet where they must fight for survival.

• Into the Mortal World – China (Guangdong Winsing Company)
  Director: Zhong Ding
  In a record-breaking year for Chinese animation, thanks to the success of Ne Zha 2, this fantasy feature is aiming for audiences of all ages with a premise about a divine man and a young girl on Earth who team up on an exciting mission.

• Little Amélie or The Character of Rain – France (Ikki Films, Puffin Pictures, Maybe Movies)
  Directors: Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
  Based on a same-name 2000 novel by Amélie Nothomb, this 2D-animated film tells the story of a young girl who experiences a significant shift in perspective once she hits her third birthday.
• Olivia and the Invisible Heartquake – Belgium/Chile/Spain/France (Corenlius Films, Vivement Lundi!, Pyramide Films)
  Director: Irene Iborra
  The only stop-motion feature film in the Official competition, this international co-pro revolves around a 12-year-old girl who convinces her younger brother that they’re characters in a movie—in order to protect him from the harsh reality of their family facing poverty.

• Tales From the Magic Garden – Czech Republic/France/Slovakia/Slovenia (Maurifilm, Artichoke, Zvviks, Vivement Lundi!)
  Directors: David Sukup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, Jean-Claude Rozec
  This pic is competing in the Contrechamp competition, which usually focuses on more offbeat features. It’s about three kids who spend the night telling stories at their grandfather’s house after the death of their grandmother.

• Space Cadet – Canada (Les Films Outsiders)
  Director: Eric San
  Also chosen for the Contrechamp competition, Space Cadet is based on San’s 2011 graphic novel about a robot guardian raising a young science-loving human girl.

This lineup of competition films follows the Young Audiences Short Films selections that were revealed last month. And the full list of Official competition and Contrechamp competition selections are available on the Annecy website.

Featured image: Little Amélie or The Character of Rain