Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu Make a Splash at TIFF with Netflix’s Animated Oscar Hopeful ‘In Waves’
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In Waves: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Visual Splendor
By Jack Giroux | September 21st, 2026 - 12:37 pm
Picture Credits: Getty Images / Netflix
In Waves is a cinematic experience that surpasses its modest size. Currently wowing audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and poised to be one of Netflix’s prime animated Oscar contenders, this feature—adapted from AJ Dungo’s graphic novel and personal story of love and grief—is a testament to honest emotions and stunning visuals. The latter presented a technical marvel for director Phuong Mai Nguyen and her team of animators, particularly when it came to depicting water.
Water, as animators know, is a complex subject. It’s fluid in motion, unpredictable, and posed a unique challenge for In Waves. The film follows young artist AJ (Will Sharpe) and his deep love interest, surfer Kristen (Stephanie Hsu), who battles cancer. Their journey is set against the backdrop of vibrant waves, which Mai Nguyen described as both a challenge and inspiration:
“From the first day that I worked on the project, I was thinking, ‘Okay, the water and the surfing scenes are going to be our big challenge.’ Adapting waves into an animated movie... we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of work.’”
The film is an independent production, acquired by Netflix after wowing audiences at Cannes Film Festival. We previously delved into the magic of In Waves with our review and an exclusive interview with the creative team in June, during its showing at Annecy.
“We’re also a very indie, low-budget movie,” shared Mai Nguyen, “so that was another challenge to think about. Because we couldn’t have very realistic CGI rendering for the waves... but somehow, I felt like it was a motivation for me to push forward toward something more creative.”*
The creative process began with hand-drawn sketches and extensive research.
“I looked up references, and I drew a lot, too, with my team,” she continued. “We did a lot of drawings before we started the movie... it helped us figure out the look that we wanted for the waves and also for the entire film.”
The ocean, Mai Nguyen emphasized, was more than just a backdrop; it symbolized the characters' feelings and their emotional journey:
"The ocean is symbolizing the characters’ feelings and their journey... It's not only a background but becomes that thing that really embodies the theme, from the first frame to the ending. The waves are there.”
In Waves is a cinematic experience that dives deep into the human condition, all while mesmerizing viewers with its artistic depiction of water—a testament to Phuong Mai Nguyen’s skill and vision.