Pixar Animation Studios’ latest original feature, Elio (which hits theaters on Friday), is more than a cosmic adventure — it’s a deeply personal journey that explores identity, belonging, and the power of connection. With its signature blend of emotional storytelling and visual innovation, Elio continues Pixar’s tradition of crafting films that resonate across generations.
At the heart of the story is Elio, an imaginative 11-year-old who finds himself transported across the galaxy and mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to the Communiverse — a vibrant, otherworldly coalition of alien civilizations. What unfolds is a tale of self-discovery, courage, and the universal desire to belong.
Emotional Resonance & Visual Splendor
Finding a drive for a story “always starts with character,” director Domee Shi said. For Elio, Shi explained that they were able to home in on “this idea of a boy that’s just running away from loneliness on earth.” She noted that Elio is obsessed with being abducted by aliens because of “his desperation to belong somewhere in this universe.”
“Even though it’s a very specific kind of character drive for him, it also feels very universal,” Shi said.
The film’s emotional resonance is matched by its visual splendor. “It’s an all-encompassing experience,” Zoe Saldaña, who plays Elio’s Aunt Olga, said. “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 worked with production designer Harley Jessup — whose previous work includes Pixar classics like Ratatouille and Coco — to bring the Communiverse to life with dazzling creativity. Drawing inspiration from deep-sea creatures and microorganisms, the team crafted a world that feels both alien and inviting. For instance, the character Glordon takes inspiration from the Tardigrade, and the shape of the Communiverse was inspired by deep-sea jellyfish.
Producer Mary Alice Drumm wanted to counter the idea in some films of space being a dark, threatening place and instead worked with Jessup on the version of space in Elio being a “warm, wish fulfillment colorful place Elio would want to do.” She added that for audiences, “hopefully it’s this beautiful aquarium in space you want to go to.”
Pixar: A Bucket List Dream Company
For 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 said. Now, having watched Pixar movies with her kids, Saldaña gets “cool mom points” for being a part of Elio for Pixar.
Yonas Kibreab, who plays Elio, echoed the excitement of being in a Pixar film: “I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”
Kibreab’s hope for audiences is that they leave the movie theater feeling like they’ve been entertained during their adventure with Elio. He added. “I also hope that they 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 emphasized Pixar’s 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 working with the animators at Pixar, who over three decades have honed their abilities to bring emotion to a variety 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 said, noting that, “the animators at the studio are so gifted that they could do a lot with with within a limitation — like Glordon doesn’t have eyes or eyebrows — but they can really emote with him.”
With its blend of sci-fi wonder and heartfelt storytelling, Kibreab notes that Elio feels almost like 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 said. “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 continues the studio’s legacy — inviting audiences of all ages to look to the stars and find themselves.
More About Elio
For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers — in Disney and Pixar’s all-new feature film Elio, the universe calls back! The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. So, when he’s beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide, Elio’s all in for the epic undertaking. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions, and somehow discover who and where he is truly meant to be.
Directed by Madeline Sharafian (Burrow Sparkshort), Domee Shi (Bao short, Turning Red) and Adrian Molina (co-screenwriter/co-director of Coco), and produced by Mary Alice Drumm (associate producer of Coco), the film features the voices of Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Zoe Saldaña as Aunt Olga, Remy Edgerly as Glordon, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa and Shirley Henderson as OOOOO. Elio releases in theaters June 20, 2025.
