Fast-rise stars Charles Melton ("Dec May," "War") and Stephanie Hsu ("Everything Everywhere" and "Miss Miser") will be the sound of "waves", and the California-themed animated features are adapted from the celebratory graphic souvenirs of Illartator AJ Dungo.

The film, described as an "unconditional first love story, and a story about loss and memories", is produced by Silex films, Charades and anonymous content, is directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, a former student of French animation schools Gobelins and La Poudrière. Silex produces Phuong Helmed plot for the animated series "Brazen" and has been included in the Oscar shortened for her brief "My Home".

Charades and anonymous content will show promotions to buyers in the upcoming Cannes market.

“After just announced as one of five titles on the Annecy Animation display cabinet, “Surfs,” following the shy teenager AJ in Los Angeles, he falls deeply in love with a vibrant surfer Kristen. Their shared passion for the ocean becomes a source of strength as they face the devastating effects of the disease together.

The film blends personal narrative with surfing history, reflecting the emotional depth of Dungo’s original work. The graphic novel has received international acclaim, including the BD FNAC-France Inter Award (2020, France), Prix des Libraires du Québec (2020, Canada) and the American Library Association Alex Award (2020, USA). This is also the official choice at the French Angoulême International Comics Festival.

"In the Waves" is also co-produced by France 3 Cinéma and Belgium's Panique! It is written by Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux, and by the film "Mythomaniac of Bataclan" written by Joachim Lafosse ("Love Love") and Laurent Cantet ("Arthur Rambo") and Warner Bros. Discovery, hosted by Philippot.

The film marks Melton's first voice role in animation features. Meanwhile, the beard is one of the sounds of "wild robots". Both will lead the English sound "wave". The French version will be led by Lyna Khoudri ("French dispatch") and Rio Vega ("Deerskin")

Melton is represented by CAA, 111 Media and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. HSU is represented by CAA and Hanson Jacobson.