The animated film Luca (2021) tells a heartwarming story about friendship, self-discovery, and acceptance set in a picturesque seaside town in Italy. The story begins underwater, where a young sea monster named Luca Paguro lives with his family. His parents are overprotective and constantly warn him about the dangers of the human world above. Luca, however, is a curious and imaginative boy who dreams of seeing what lies beyond the surface. One day, while exploring near the shore, he meets another sea monster named Alberto, who has been living on land in secret. To Luca’s surprise, when sea monsters come out of the water, they magically transform into humans.
Alberto introduces Luca to the wonders of the human world—walking, eating, exploring, and dreaming of adventure. Together, they build a strong friendship and spend their days imagining a life of freedom, especially dreaming of owning a Vespa to travel the world. However, their happiness is threatened when Luca’s parents discover what he has been doing. Fearing for his safety, they decide to send him to live deep underwater with his uncle. Refusing to give up his newfound sense of adventure, Luca runs away with Alberto to the nearby coastal town of Portorosso, a colorful place full of humans who have no idea that sea monsters exist.
In Portorosso, the two boys meet Giulia, a spirited human girl who befriends them. She invites them to join the annual Portorosso Cup, a race involving swimming, eating pasta, and biking. Winning the race would give them enough money to buy their dream Vespa. However, the town bully, Ercole Visconti, is determined to win and humiliate them. As Luca, Alberto, and Giulia train for the competition, Luca grows fascinated by the human world, especially Giulia’s love of learning. For the first time, he begins to imagine a future that’s bigger than just owning a Vespa—he dreams of going to school and exploring new ideas.
Conflict arises when Alberto reveals his true identity as a sea monster in front of Giulia and the townspeople. Terrified, the humans turn on him, and Luca, afraid of being rejected, denies being one too. This betrayal deeply hurts Alberto and drives the two friends apart. However, during the race, Luca faces his fear and chooses to reveal himself as well to protect Alberto, showing the people of Portorosso who he truly is.
By the end, Luca’s courage helps the town realize that sea monsters and humans are not so different after all. The people of Portorosso accept Luca and Alberto for who they are, and Giulia invites Luca to study with her in Genoa. Although it means saying goodbye to his best friend, Alberto supports his decision, proud of how far he has come. Luca’s journey from a frightened sea creature to a brave, curious boy captures the film’s central message: friendship and love can overcome fear, and true belonging comes from being yourself. Luca is a touching, visually stunning story about growing up, accepting differences, and finding your place in the world.
