Pixar has once again launched audiences into a dazzling universe only they could imagine, this time with a spaceship and an intergalactic misunderstanding that catapults Earth’s most unlikely ambassador into the center of a cosmic council. ‘Elio‘ is an ambitious, vibrant, and emotional addition to the Pixar universe. It mixes otherworldly wonder with grounded emotional truth. At its heart, ‘Elio’ isn’t just about realizing we aren’t alone in the universe. It’s about realizing we aren’t alone in our lives.
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A Cosmic Miscommunication
Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab) is an awkward boy who, since the death of his parents, spends most of his time alone, lost in fantasy worlds. His aunt, Major Olga Solis (Zoe Saldaña), is a no-nonsense government scientist responsible for monitoring radar to help astronauts steer clear of debris fields. When a signal from deep space finally connects to Earth, it’s not the seasoned adult who responds, it’s Elio. The galactic community, known as the Communiverse, finds him and beams him aboard their ship, mistaking him for Earth’s official representative. However, when a war-hungry alien (Brad Garrett) is threatening to destroy the Communiverse, he befriends the alien’s son, Glordon (Remy Edgerly), to help him with his plan for peace.
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The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
What unfolds is both a wild cosmic trial and a deeply personal journey. Elio must face a tribunal of strange and silly alien species, all while navigating the emotional terrain of growing up, confronting fear, and discovering where he fits in. Though the stakes are galactic, the emotional core remains intimate and accessible.
Themes of Identity and Belonging
At its core, ‘Elio’ is a film about identity. Elio is a boy who doesn’t yet know who he is or where he fits in, in his family, or on his planet. That his first big adventure happens far from Earth seems like a deliberate choice. In the cold vacuum of space, stripped of familiar landmarks, Elio is forced to come to terms with himself and his life.
The film also touches on themes of grief. ‘Elio’ explores how kids fill emotional voids with imagination. After the death of his parents, Elio uses his love of aliens and longing for another world as a coping mechanism. It’s in these solemn moments that Pixar’s magic truly shines.
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The Voice Cast
Yonas Kibreab delivers a standout vocal performance, capturing Elio’s vulnerability, humor, and quiet bravery. His voice work brings authenticity to a character who oscillates between self-doubt and wide-eyed wonder. Kibreab’s natural delivery makes Elio feel like a real kid, awkward, imaginative, and emotional, and he anchors the film’s emotional core with a sense of authenticity that deepens the story’s impact.
Zoe Saldaña is grounded and heartfelt as Olga, portraying an Aunt torn between her obligation and love for her nephew and the life she imagined for herself. Her performance brings warmth and weight to a character navigating between personal sacrifice and professional responsibility. Saldaña captures the quiet ache of a parental figure who wants to protect her child while also excelling at her career, conveying layers of frustration, resilience, and deep familial love.
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Visual Excellence
Visually, ‘Elio’ is among Pixar’s most stunning works to date. The design of the alien world and creatures is both whimsical and richly detailed. From dazzling waterfalls to larger-than-life courts, the animation constantly surprises and delights. Pixar uses color, motion, and design not just to impress, but to reflect Elio’s inner journey as it shifts from dark, lonely palettes to vibrant bursts of color as his confidence grows.
The Galactic Council is a particular highlight. From large aliens to tiny aliens, each member is animated with such specificity and flair that it evokes memories of the ‘Monsters, Inc.’ character gallery. These visuals never overpower the plot, instead, they serve as playful accessories to Elio’s story.
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How It Fits in the Pixar Legacy
‘Elio’ may be one of Pixar’s most personal films, rooted in introspective storytelling that explores not just what characters do, but how they feel and why they struggle to express it. It sits comfortably alongside ‘Luca,’ ‘Turning Red,’ and ‘Inside Out’ in a new wave of Pixar films that focus on interior emotional development as much as external adventure, creating narratives where the stakes are just as much about self-acceptance as they are about external challenges.
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It’s also part of a clear pivot toward stories told from children’s perspectives, particularly kids navigating their identity in increasingly complex worlds, whether it’s the cultural expectations of family, the awkward transformations of adolescence, or, in Elio’s case, the existential question of who you are and where you want to be.
A Message for All Ages
‘Elio’ is a film that speaks directly to the quiet, thoughtful kids, the ones who live a little more in their heads, and who dream of faraway places and feel things a little more deeply than they let on. And in doing so, it reminds adults what that felt like.
In a time when animated films are increasingly packed with irony and rapid pacing, ‘Elio’ dares to slow down and feel. It trusts its young audiences with complicated emotions, and it trusts adults to remember how complicated childhood actually was.
Ultimately, ‘Elio’ is a story about connection to others, to home, and to self. For that reason, it joins the ranks of Pixar’s best. Even in the vastness of space, it turns out what matters most is knowing where you belong.
Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly
Cinematography: Jordan Rempel, Derek Williams | Editor: Steve Bloom, Anna Wolitzky
Director: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi | Writer: Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones, Adrian Molina | Producers: Alice Clendenen, Lindsey Collins, Pete Docter, Mary Alice Drumm
By Rachel Squire
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Rachel Squire is a passionate writer with a strong commitment to authentic storytelling and ethical journalism. As a writer for Hollywood Insider, she brings a deep appreciation for cinema’s power to inspire positive change. She values promoting meaningful media over gossip and sensationalism, and strives to contribute to a culture of integrity and substance in entertainment journalism.
Rachel Squire is a passionate writer with a strong commitment to authentic storytelling and ethical journalism. As a writer for Hollywood Insider, she brings a deep appreciation for cinema’s power to inspire positive change. She values promoting meaningful media over gossip and sensationalism, and strives to contribute to a culture of integrity and substance in entertainment journalism.
