18 Jun REVIEW – ‘Elio’ is a cosmic coming-of-age story with heart, humour, and a hint of weirdness
Pixar has long been the gold standard of animated storytelling, and with Elio, the studio ventures into the cosmos to explore themes of identity, belonging, and self-worth. Directed by Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi, Elio is a vibrant, emotionally resonant film that blends sci-fi adventure with heartfelt character development. While it may not reach the emotional heights of Inside Out or Up, Elio stands out for its tremendous heart, visual splendour, and the poignant journey of its young protagonist.
At its core, this is a film about identity, grief, and connection, filtered through the eyes of a lonely boy who just wants to feel seen. While its beautiful animation, sense of adventure, and playful alien designs will easily charm younger audiences, the film’s real strength lies in how it quietly but confidently explores universal feelings of loss and belonging. This isn’t just another space adventure. It’s a tender reflection on what it means to feel out of place, and the quiet hope that somewhere, someone might understand you.
The film introduces us to Elio Solis (Yonas Kibreab), an 11-year-old oddball who feels like an outsider in his own world. After the tragic loss of his parents, Elio is raised by his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), an orbital analyst with dreams of becoming an astronaut. Despite her aspirations, Olga prioritises caring for Elio over her career ambitions. Elio, meanwhile, is a loner who finds solace in his fascination with aliens, believing that somewhere in the universe, someone might truly want him. This longing is encapsulated in his heartfelt line: “There are thousands of planets in the universe. One of them has to want me. Because no one here does.”
Elio’s life takes a dramatic turn when he sneaks into Olga’s workspace and records a message to the stars, unwittingly framing himself as Earth’s leader. This impulsive act leads to his abduction by the Communiverse, an intergalactic council of aliens who represent the universe’s greatest minds. Mistaken for Earth’s ambassador, Elio is thrust into a cosmic adventure where he must navigate the complexities of alien diplomacy and confront a looming threat from Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a worm-like warlord denied membership to the Communiverse.
In a bid to prevent intergalactic conflict, Elio volunteers to negotiate with Grigon, hoping to prove his worth and find a place where he truly belongs. Along his journey, Elio encounters Glordon (Remy Edgerly), Grigon’s son. Initially viewing Glordon as a means to an end in his bid to mediate a treaty with Grigon, Elio soon forms a genuine friendship with the alien, discovering common ground in their shared feelings of isolation and desire for acceptance. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the film, highlighting the universal need for connection and understanding.
Visually, Elio is expectedly a feast for the eyes. The Communiverse is a marvel to behold, depicted as a kaleidoscope of colours and imaginative designs, each alien species uniquely rendered with meticulous detail and creativity. The animation team has crafted a universe that feels both fantastical and grounded, allowing audiences to immerse themselves fully in Elio’s interstellar journey. The film’s use of colour and light enhances the emotional beats, with warm hues underscoring moments of connection and cooler tones reflecting Elio’s initial loneliness.
The voice performances are uniformly excellent. Kibreab brings a nuanced vulnerability to Elio, capturing the character’s insecurities and growth with authenticity. He’s instantly lovable and deeply empathetic, allowing an audience to be easily taken along for the ride on both his emotional and physical journey. Saldaña’s portrayal of Olga balances strength and tenderness, conveying a guardian torn between personal dreams and familial responsibilities. Edgerly infuses Glordon with charm and depth, making the alien both relatable and endearing. Garrett lends his distinctive voice to Lord Grigon, imbuing the antagonist with a mix of menace and pathos.
Composed by Rob Simonsen, the film’s gorgeous score complements the narrative beautifully. The music underscores the emotional journey, with motifs that evolve alongside Elio’s character development. The soundtrack blends orchestral elements with electronic textures, reflecting the fusion of human emotion and sci-fi setting. Molina, Sharafian, and Shi playfully inject numerous references to other sci-fi classics like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Alien, and there’s obviously heavy inspiration from something like E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial. Thankfully, it all feels like warm homage rather than lazy plagiarism.
One of the strengths of Elio lies in its exploration of identity and belonging. The film delves into the complexities of self-discovery, illustrating how understanding and acceptance often come from the most unexpected places. Elio’s transformation from a self-doubting boy to a confident individual resonates deeply, offering a message of hope and empowerment. Beneath its vivid intergalactic worldbuilding and crowd-pleasing humour, Elio is quietly, consistently shaped by grief and isolation.
It’s there in Elio’s eyes when he watches other kids play with their parents. It’s there in the way he speaks softly to himself when no one else is listening. It’s there when he lashes out at Olga when she’s trying her best to be his parental figure. And it’s deeply embedded in the film’s structure, where an only child who feels invisible on Earth becomes the unexpected centre of a universe desperate for connection. Without ever wallowing in sadness, the film captures the isolating fog of losing loved ones and growing up without feeling wanted, grounding its high-concept premise in something human and heartfelt.
Olga’s grief, though less overt, hangs just as heavily. Her overprotectiveness and professional sacrifices aren’t just acts of love; they’re acts of atonement, of someone trying to fill the crater left by family tragedy. Elio doesn’t force either character to directly verbalise their sorrow, but it pulses beneath every scene. What makes the film so moving is how it treats loneliness not as a permanent condition, but as something that can be transformed through empathy, friendship, and open-hearted connection. Grief is never “solved,” but it’s softened by understanding and that might be the most hopeful message of all.
Most importantly, the film subtly yet powerfully teaches viewers of all ages that what sets us apart is often what makes us special; something omnipresent in numerous Disney classics like Dumbo, Frozen, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Elio’s journey isn’t just about saving a galactic council or befriending a misfit alien child; it’s about learning to stop shrinking himself to fit into a world that doesn’t yet understand him. The film never turns Elio’s “quirks” into a punchline. Instead, it gradually reveals how Elio’s deep empathy, active imagination, and emotional honesty (traits that once made him feel like an outsider) are precisely the qualities that make him an ideal bridge between vastly different worlds.
What’s especially lovely is how that lesson is never forced. It emerges naturally through Elio’s choices, his failures, and ultimately, his courage to be fully himself even in the face of ridicule or rejection. Kids watching might see a version of themselves in Elio’s struggles with bullies or in his yearning to be seen. Adults might recognise the quieter tragedy of Aunt Olga’s stalled dreams or remember their own adolescent feelings of not fitting in. The film gently reminds both that the goal isn’t conformity, it’s connection, and that connection becomes most meaningful when we show up as our full, unfiltered selves. That’s a powerful message, no matter how old you are.
In saying that, Elio also plays things a little too safe. The film lacks the risk-taking energy found in Pixar’s greatest classics, especially the similarly space-themed WALL-E. Its emotional and narrative beats feel a touch too familiar, echoing the studio’s earlier triumphs without carving out much new ground. Framed as a story about combating seclusion, the film channels this universal ache through traditional values and tidy sentiments. There’s naturally comfort to be found in its conventionality, but, in an era where the animation genre is pushing towards more nuanced and progressive storytelling, it can land as a well-meaning rerun instead of something radical or revelatory.
Regardless, Elio stands as a testament to Pixar’s ability to craft stories that are both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The film’s blend of imaginative world-building, compelling character development, and heartfelt themes makes it a worthy addition to the studio’s esteemed catalogue. While it may not quite reach the pinnacle of Pixar’s highest achievements, Elio offers a meaningful and visually stunning experience that will resonate with audiences of all ages. As someone who similarly felt like a lonely outsider as a child, it certainly resonated with me. I’ll admit it. There were tears, something that always signifies another Pixar home run.
It’s a cosmic coming-of-age tale that explores the universal desire for connection and self-acceptance; something always worth celebrating in a world so divided and one that often deems “oddness” as a flaw to be crushed. Through its engaging narrative, vibrant animation, and strong performances, the film delivers a message of hope and belonging. Despite its lack of true boldness, Elio still shines as a heartfelt journey that encourages viewers to embrace their uniqueness and seek out the places where they truly belong. And it finds its place as one of the best Pixar films of recent times.
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Shirley Henderson
Directors: Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi
Producer: Mary Alice Drumm
Screenplay: Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones
Cinematography: Derek Williams, Jordan Rempel
Editors: Anna Wolitzky, Steve Bloom
Music: Rob Simonsen
Running Time: 98 minutes
Release Date: 19th June 2025 (Australia)