Phantom Boy

A sick boy with a special gift, an injured police officer in a wheelchair, a journalist with a mind of her own—and a scarred villain who threatens New York City with a computer virus. Against this backdrop, an unusual alliance develops between a child and an adult, between the invisible and the visible, between fantasy and reality. Eleven-year-old Leo (Gaspard Gagnol) has a rare ability: he can leave his body, glide through walls, and fly through the city unnoticed. When he meets Alex (Edouard Baer), a police officer who is confined to bed after an attack, the two begin to work together. Using Leo's phantom form, they pursue a criminal mastermind who plans to destroy New York's infrastructure. They are assisted by quick-witted reporter Mary (Audrey Tautou), who is always one step too close to the truth – and becomes the hunted herself. PHANTOM BOY is the second feature film by French directing duo Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol, whose debut Une vie de chat was nominated for an Oscar in 2012. This film was also celebrated worldwide, including at film festivals in Toronto, Annecy, and Berlin. The Folimage production combines hand-drawn animation with a melancholic atmosphere reminiscent of American noir – but with a childlike perspective and supernatural lightness. Despite serious themes such as illness and isolation, the film retains its warmth, tension, and stylistic sophistication.