Discover Elio Pixar’s Humorous and Heartfelt Space Journey

Discover Elio: Pixar’s Humorous and Heartfelt Space Journey Blasts Off!

Pixar Animation Studios’ latest original feature, Elio, which hits theaters today, Friday, June 20, 2025, is more than just a cosmic adventure. It’s a deeply personal journey that explores identity, belonging, and the profound power of connection. With its signature blend of emotional storytelling and visual innovation, Elio continues Pixar’s cherished tradition of crafting films that resonate across generations.

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At the heart of the story is Elio, an imaginative 11-year-old who suddenly finds himself transported across the galaxy. In a twist of fate, he’s mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to the Communiverse—a vibrant, otherworldly coalition of alien civilizations. What unfolds is a captivating tale of self-discovery, unexpected courage, and the universal desire to find your place.

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Emotional Resonance & Visual Splendor

“Finding a drive for a story always starts with character,” explains director Domee Shi. For Elio, Shi focused on “this idea of a boy that’s just running away from loneliness on Earth.” She notes that Elio’s obsession with being abducted by aliens stems from “his desperation to belong somewhere in this universe.” This specific character drive, she adds, “feels very universal.”

The film’s emotional depth is beautifully matched by its breathtaking visual splendor. “It’s an all-encompassing experience,” says Zoe Saldaña, who voices Elio’s Aunt Olga. “All the work that went into creating this beautiful and colorful universe — the Communiverse — can only be deeply appreciated on a big screen.” The filmmakers collaborated with production designer Harley Jessup (known for Pixar classics like Ratatouille and Coco) to bring the Communiverse to life with dazzling creativity. Drawing inspiration from deep-sea creatures and microorganisms, they crafted a world that feels both alien and inviting. For example, the character Glordon is inspired by the Tardigrade, and the Communiverse’s shape echoes deep-sea jellyfish.

Producer Mary Alice Drumm aimed to counter the typical portrayal of space as a dark, threatening place. Instead, she worked with Jessup to create a version of space in Elio that is a “warm, wish fulfillment colorful place Elio would want to do.” She hopes that for audiences, “hopefully it’s this beautiful aquarium in space you want to go to.”

A “Bucket List Dream” for the Cast

For Zoe Saldaña, joining the Pixar family was a dream come true. “Obviously, Pixar is a bucket list dream of a company to be a part of because their stories are so compelling,” she shared. Now, having watched Pixar movies with her own kids, Saldaña is enjoying “cool mom points” for being a part of Elio.

Yonas Kibreab, who voices Elio, echoed the excitement, stating, “I’m so grateful to be a part of it.” Kibreab hopes audiences leave the movie feeling entertained and realize “how important friends and family are. And if you’re going through grief or you’re feeling some type of way, at the end of the day, it’s all going to be okay.”

Director Madeline Sharafian highlighted Pixar’s unwavering commitment to emotional storytelling. “Something that we were always looking for was to strengthen the moments of emotional catharsis, which I do think is a reason people go see Pixar movies,” Sharafian said. The filmmakers had the luxury of collaborating with Pixar’s animators, who, over three decades, have honed their abilities to bring emotion to a vast array of characters and objects. “Even though there are aliens, that have different modes of ambulation and different numbers of eyes, they still need to be able to be expressive and convey emotion,” Sharafian explained, praising the animators’ ability to emote even with characters like Glordon, who lacks eyes or eyebrows.

With its unique blend of sci-fi wonder and heartfelt storytelling, Kibreab suggests Elio feels almost like a mash-up of WALL-E and Up. “When you put it together, you get Elio,” Kibreab said. “It’s an original and it’s going to be so great.”

“We all have this yearning to belong and to be accepted,” Saldaña concluded. “But in order for that to happen, you have to learn to accept yourself. That’s a big takeaway in the story of Elio.”

As Pixar continues to push the boundaries of animation and storytelling, Elio reinforces the studio’s legacy—inviting audiences of all ages to look to the stars and, ultimately, find themselves.