Pixar is back, and this time they’re launching us into deep space—with a shy 11-year-old as Earth’s unexpected ambassador. Elio, hitting theaters on June 13, is the studio’s latest original adventure, and it’s got all the ingredients we love: emotional depth, gorgeous animation, quirky humor, and just a dash of existential wonder. Buckle up—this isn’t your average school field trip.
Meet Elio: Dreamer, Outsider… Galactic Representative?
Elio is your classic Pixar kid—curious, misunderstood, and just a little lost in his own head. He’s always believed that there’s intelligent life out there. What he didn’t expect was for those life forms to believe in him. After being accidentally beamed up to a vast interstellar summit, Elio is mistaken for the official leader of Earth. Oops.
Now, the fate of our planet’s reputation lies in the hands of a wide-eyed preteen who’s more comfortable doodling aliens than dealing with them face-to-face. What could go wrong? Or, more Pixar-like—what could go heartbreakingly, hilariously, and ultimately beautifully right?
Pixar’s Power Trio: Molina, Sharafian, and Shi
Elio isn’t just another space romp—it’s being guided by some of the brightest minds in Pixar’s creative galaxy. Codirectors Adrian Molina (Coco) and Madeline Sharafian (Coco, We the People) bring the emotional and cultural storytelling chops, while Domee Shi, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Bao and Turning Red, adds her signature blend of warmth, weirdness, and wonder.
Together, they’re crafting a narrative that explores big universal themes—identity, belonging, and what it means to find your voice—in a visually stunning interplanetary setting.
Aliens, Identity, and Cosmic Catastrophe
True to Pixar tradition, Elio looks like it’ll balance laughs and feels with high-stakes storytelling. The film’s alien summit is more than just a colorful backdrop—it’s a crucible for Elio’s growth. As he navigates alien diplomacy (and possibly galactic disaster), he’ll also confront what it means to be seen, to be chosen, and to step into something bigger than himself.
It’s classic Pixar: a genre playground used to explore very human truths, all wrapped in dazzling animation and inventive world-building.
Another Pixar Original? Yes, Please.
In an era of sequels and spin-offs, Elio stands out as an original concept—and that’s something to celebrate. With its imaginative premise and a creative team that knows how to make us laugh through our tears, this film is shaping up to be the kind of heartwarming, mind-expanding story that made Pixar a household name in the first place.
Will Elio Soar—or Crash-Land?
Pixar rarely misses when it comes to emotionally rich storytelling, and with a trio of powerhouse creatives behind it, Elio could very well become the next Inside Out or Up. Whether he sticks the landing or fumbles through space diplomacy, one thing’s for sure: Elio’s journey will remind us that sometimes the most unlikely leaders are the ones who simply dare to believe they belong.
