Loulou (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Loulou is an 11-minute animated family drama from the Netherlands about Sam, an eight-year-old grieving his father. After rescuing a butterfly from a lake, he becomes determined to keep his fragile new companion alive, creating a gentle story about attachment, loss and release.

Loulou is a 2026 animated family drama from the Netherlands. At just 11 minutes, it centers on Sam, an eight-year-old boy coping with the death of his father.

When Sam saves a butterfly from a lake, he names his new companion LouLou and tries to protect it. The short film’s premise connects childhood tenderness with the difficult process of holding on and letting go.

Loulou movie details

Story without spoilers

After losing his father, eight-year-old Sam follows a butterfly and rescues it from a lake. He then does everything he can to keep the butterfly, LouLou, alive. The story focuses on Sam’s bond with the fragile creature and the emotional tension between preserving something precious and accepting that it may not be possible to keep it forever.

What to expect

Loulou is an animated short with family and drama elements. Its brief runtime suggests a focused, self-contained story built around grief, a child’s attachment to a small living creature and the contrast between holding tight and letting go. The supplied premise presents an emotionally gentle but potentially poignant experience suited to viewers interested in concise animated storytelling.

Cast and creative team

Loulou is directed by Hanneke van der Linden and written by Rob de Barbanson. No cast members are listed in the supplied information.

Release and production context

Loulou is listed as a 2026 release from the Netherlands, with a release date of October 17, 2026. The film runs for 11 minutes and is produced by Moldybyrd Studios. It is classified as Animation, Family and Drama. No spoken language is specified in the supplied details.

Production companies: Moldybyrd Studios

Movies Dock view

With its short running time and carefully defined central premise, Loulou presents a compact story about childhood grief and the instinct to protect something vulnerable. Its focus on Sam and LouLou gives the film a clear emotional center without requiring a sprawling narrative.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb