“I’m a bargaining chip!” –Glordon
Pixar, renowned for its enchanting animated films, presents its latest movie, Elio. What sets Elio apart is its captivating fusion of sci-fi and coming-of-age themes, a unique blend that is sure to pique the interest of Pixar fans and families alike.
The story follows a young boy named Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) who is coping with life-changing loss and living in a new place with his aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña). He longs for acceptance and to fit in, and he believes he needs to leave Earth to find that. Therefore, he devises a plan to utilize his radio and other means to reach out to the cosmos and summon aliens to abduct him.
When his message is received, Elio ends up at The Communiverse. In this place, all the different aliens coexist, except for the battle-ready Hylurgians. The Hylurgians, led by Grigon (voiced by Brad Garrett), wish to destroy the Communiverse. When Elio befriends Grigon’s son, Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly), the two come up with a plan to use Glordon as a bargaining chip to save everyone in the Communiverse.
Surely, bringing the screenplay from Julia Cho, Mark Hammer and Mike Jones to life wasn’t an easy task, but in the hands of capable animators and directors, Elio soars. Directed by Domee Shi (Turning Red) and Madeline Sharafian (feature film directorial debut), Elio is bright, magical, and full of relatable themes for both kids and adults. No stranger to family relationships on-screen, the directing duo had previously collaborated on Turning Red (Shi as director and Sharafian as a story artist), as well as Shi serving as a story artist on Incredibles 2 and Sharafian as a story artist on Coco. The pair used their past Pixar experiences to bring Elio to life.
The incredible voice cast brings everything together, particularly Yonas Kibreab as Elio and Remy Edgerly as Glordon. The two give spirited performances as the new friends navigate the Communiverse and come to terms with their differences. Together, they learn that sometimes what sets you apart is one of your most significant assets. The film works as well as it does in part because of Kibreab’s and Edgerly’s fantastic performances throughout. Whether during comedic moments or emotional ones, the two voice actors were pitch-perfect, nailing each line delivery with ease. Zoe Saldaña is also a standout as Tia Olga. While she’s not the main character, and therefore, doesn’t have as many lines, she is still great in her role, especially in some of the more emotionally charged moments in the film’s third act.
The animation in Elio is top-notch, as expected from Pixar. When the story moves from Earth to outer space and the Communiverse is first introduced, the shift in the colours and textures is so bright and bold. It does a phenomenal job of making the Communiverse distinct and diverse, especially with the introduction of all the space species. While some might look a little familiar, like Ambassador Questa (voiced by Jameela Jamil), who exhibits marine creature-like traits, it was fantastic to see all the different beings in the Communiverse and their distinct looks, personalities, and customs. Spending a lot of time with Glordon, it was easy to appreciate his design from his leech-like mouth with many rows of teeth to the ombre colours of the scales along his body, and the smatterings of fine fluff all over. From the various alien designs to the different parts of the Communiverse, the Pixar animators did a fantastic job in every aspect of Elio.
Of course, the stunning animation needs to be paired with something, and Elio delivers with a heartfelt story. Full of relatable themes, including processing grief, the need to belong and found family, Elio pulls on the heartstrings in more ways than one. Most of us aren’t strangers to feeling alienated or as though we don’t belong, and Elio takes on the challenge of tackling these themes. Elio feels so alone that the only thing he can think to do is reach out, hoping that someone else in the cosmos will find him and want him. It’s a sad thought, but it’s also a genuine experience for many people. The writers touch on these themes for both Elio and Glordon, who find one another during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Their emotional journey, from feeling lost and alone to finding a sense of belonging, is a powerful and relatable one.
Elio is a treasure trove of relatable themes and important messages that linger long after you leave the theatre. It underscores the fact that families come in many shapes and sizes, and it’s okay to choose yourself, what you love, and your dreams. It’s a love letter to those who feel different or like they don’t fit in, but also proves that your differences are what make you unique. Elio is a warm embrace for anyone who has ever felt left out of place, a reassurance that they are valued and accepted.
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