In a season of highly praised animated features, “Arco” is a time-traveling fable as 10-year-old Arco, a boy from a peaceful, distant future, accidentally travels back to the year 2075.

He discovers an imperiled world, befriends Iris and her robot Mikki as they search for how best to get Arco home since his time travel gizmo is broken.

“Arco” premiered at Cannes in a French language version, was subsequently named best feature at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and is now a Best Animation Feature Oscar nominee.

Natalie Portman, one of the film’s producers, helped recruit Will Ferrell, Flea, Mark Ruffalo and Andy Samberg for the English voice cast. She also plays Iris’s mother.

Writer-director Ugo Bienvenu, sitting next to Portman in a virtual press conference, was asked about his vision of our planet’s future.

“I don’t have a clear view of what the world should be,” he answered in French-accented English. “The movie is platform for our imagination, to bring a vision of what could be a better future if we are taking care of the world. I want the audience to just think about it and have a little bit of hope.”

“The movie,” Portman said, “is about believing in the possibility of things that could be better. I felt it was so important to put this movie out. We don’t know the outcome. Our responsibility is to manage for a better future. It could be very good, it could be very bad. We don’t know exactly.”

As for the planet’s future, if she could change anything?

“I would have people cooperating, instead of being against each other. Humans, when we work together, can do extraordinary things.”

Bienvenu had a surprising answer when asked how long he’s been a sci-fi enthusiast.

“In fact I wasn’t science fiction fan. I was like 27 when I saw (his first). I thought it was for geeks. But I was wrong!

“Science fiction helps us think about what happens today and where we’re going. Obviously, I have been more influenced by movies I saw as a child. ‘Star Wars’ to me is like a samurai movie. But it is science fiction.

“I try to use human consciousness when I draw. It allows me to go a bit further. As a kid I read tons of comic books. Here I was thinking of Peter Pan, the Little Prince. But it wasn’t conscious; it was my unconscious working.”

If Portman had to choose between going back to the past or the future?

“I would be more interested in the future. Because any time you go in the past, women would have less rights than they do now! The future I think would be much better.”

“Arco” opens Friday