With Elio, Pixar once again launches audiences into an emotional rollercoaster—this time with a sci-fi adventure that’s as visually dazzling as it is thematically rich. Directed by Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, this intergalactic coming-of-age story feels like a love letter to childhood outsiders, classic science fiction, and the enduring human need for connection
The film follows Elio Solis, an imaginative 11-year-old boy who’s accidentally beamed into space and mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador by a pan-galactic organisation known as the “Communiverse.” Voiced with warmth and humour by Yonas Kibreab, Elio is the perfect Pixar protagonist—vulnerable, curious, and wise beyond his years. After losing both parents in an car crash, Elio feels as though he no longer fits in at home or at school.
Zoe Saldaña brings grounded emotion and strength to the role of Olga, Elio’s aunt and caregiver. A dedicated military scientist, Olga’s work inadvertently sets the stage for her nephew’s unexpected interstellar adventure. The complexity of their relationship gives the story its emotional core, anchoring the film’s cosmic spectacle in something deeply human.
But Elio is more than a charming space odyssey—it’s steeped in the spirit of science fiction classics. There are unmistakable nods to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Flight of the Navigator, and especially Contact. Like Jodie Foster’s character in Contact, Elio embarks on a journey that’s as much about inner discovery as it is about alien worlds. The film even channels the philosophical curiosity of Carl Sagan, blending science and soul in a way that invites wonder rather than overwhelm. There are floating citadels, sentient clouds, beings of pure energy, and a truly unforgettable scene involving a stargate-like wormhole that’s pure 2001: A Space Odyssey for kids.
What’s remarkable is how Elio takes these ideas—existential loneliness, cosmic diplomacy, the nature of identity—and renders them with accessibility and heart. Younger viewers will be charmed by the quirky aliens, bright colours and fast-paced adventure. Adults, on the other hand, will recognise the layered themes of belonging, grief and how connection can often come from the most unexpected corners of the universe.
The film doesn’t shy away from emotional complexity, either. Elio’s struggles with isolation and self-worth are deeply resonant, especially for children (and grown-ups) who’ve ever felt like they didn’t quite belong. But Pixar balances that melancholy with humour and hope, crafting a story that’s both a celebration of the outsider and a heartfelt reminder that even the loneliest among us can find family—even if it’s lightyears away.
Visually, Elio is stunning. The animation is bold, surreal, and constantly inventive, creating a vibrant alien universe that feels like a mashup of Miyazaki dream logic and Moebius-inspired cosmic art. Every frame feels like it belongs in a sci-fi artbook, and the design of the Communiverse—a psychedelic blend of retro-futurism and otherworldly geometry—is among Pixar’s most daring world-building to date.
In the end, Elio stands as a bold and beautiful entry in Pixar’s canon—a film that dares to dream big and think deeply while still delivering laughs, wonder, and warmth. It speaks to the alien in all of us, reminding us that sometimes, being lost is just the first step to being found.
