25 Minutes of Elio: Prepare for an Emotional Rollercoaster at Pixar!

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During my childhood, watching early Pixar films was like unearthing a hidden treasure. It’s wonderful to witness the next generation of children anticipate another golden age of original movies from the studio. Although Pixar Animation Studios‘ most recent commercial triumph was undeniably last year’s “Inside Out 2”, I appreciate that they’ve remained faithful to their origins by creating a multitude of new characters and storylines through films like “Elemental”, “Turning Red”, “Luca”, and now the upcoming release of “Elio”. After catching a glimpse of 25 minutes of “Elio” at the studio, I have faith it will be another high-quality film for everyone to enjoy.

Recently, Pixar extended an invitation to TopMob, along with several other media professionals, to visit their studio in Emeryville, California this past month. There, we were privileged to watch a twenty-five minute segment of the upcoming movie and get insights into its production directly from the filmmakers. Now, I’m thrilled to recount my personal experience of witnessing some of the movie!

I Saw The Elio Opening Sequence, And It Had Me Emotional From The Jump

I had the privilege of being given four distinct glimpses into a 25-minute excerpt from the movie titled Elio. The first glimpse introduced us to our protagonist, Elio, an 11-year-old boy who has recently lost both his parents. In this scene, he is nestled beneath a table at a museum’s dining establishment, deep in thought as his Aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña) discusses a space-themed lunch with him. However, Elio remains silent and withdrawn, clinging to his legs. In his solitude, Elio discovers a space exhibit where a projection show captivates him from the floor as he lies there, spellbound.

The display showcases a stunning series with minimal dialogue, mainly focusing on its narration about the wonders of space. Surprisingly, it drew me into the character of Elio, and the profound emotions it promises to delve into. I find myself intrigued by how this film is examining how escape serves as a coping mechanism during grief. Reflecting, I can’t help but think: “Once again, Pixar is going to tug at my heartstrings.”

Elio’s First Contact With Aliens Wasn’t What I Was Expecting, But I’m Intrigued

This leads me to the subsequent part of the movie featuring Elio, where he encounters aliens for the first time. As the story progresses, it’s revealed that after Elio experiences a profound moment at the space museum, he becomes increasingly fascinated with extraterrestrial life and does everything within his power to encounter them. During our exclusive interviews the following day, co-director Madeline Sharafian shared her thoughts on what alien media Elio might have been exposed to:

He’s incredibly passionate about aliens; I’m certain he has seen every classic alien film. It’s likely he’s watched E.T. an extraordinary number of times, and his affinity for Close Encounters might be even greater due to the ending where the main character gets to travel to space.

Instead of seeing how Elio manages to encounter aliens, I learned that he accomplishes his task and winds up in a breathtaking place called the Communiverse, enticing me to catch Elio at the cinema rather than on Disney+ first. What left me astonished was discovering that Elio isn’t taken by a specific alien species but an enchanting environment inhabited by leaders from various galaxies who assemble to share knowledge. They are searching for intellects of exceptional caliber when they find Elio, but there’s a comical misunderstanding – they believe he’s the leader of Earth, which is not the case.

The Movie’s Exploration Of Isolation And Belonging Was Especially Poignant In The Footage

When I discovered that Elio intended to pretend as Earth’s leader to realize his dream of being kidnapped, my enthusiasm for the movie grew even stronger. In the third segment, I met a charming little alien named Glordon, who is the offspring of a formidable alien leader known as Lord Grigon. (You might recognize him from the trailer; the filmmakers said they drew inspiration for the adorable character without eyes from puppies, axolotls, and silk worms.) I witnessed a scene where Elio and Glordon formed a friendship as they traversed the Communiverse together. In a touching exchange between them, Elio confided that he felt like those who “wanted” him (his parents) were no longer there, to which Glordon replied that Elio seemed “okay” to him.

In this scene, I found a strong resonance as it underscored the theme of Elio grappling with both connection and solitude, by immersing himself in an unfamiliar environment. This young character yearns for a broader community, yet finds himself at odds when the film delves deeper into this concept. It’s fascinating to see how Pixar, with its talented animation team, tackles profound themes. Although children may enjoy the superficial storyline, adults like myself will likely be moved by the relatable sentiment of feeling misunderstood, a sensation that many of us have experienced at some point in our lives.

The closing part of the video we viewed appeared to be towards the end of the film, where it’s revealed that the Communiverse plans to create a duplicate of Elio to conceal his departure from Earth. It’s unclear how or why, but eventually, Elio reconnects with Aunt Olga due to feeling left out (FOMO) upon seeing her with his clone and yearning for his life on Earth. In a poignant moment, Elio feels as though he hasn’t been missed at all, but Olga assures him “I’ve missed every bit of you.” This moment solidified my decision to watch this movie and shed plenty of tears. I believe it will be a touching film that emphasizes the significance of human connection.

I’m really eager to learn more about the parts left unexplored and the grand conclusion they hinted at during the preview. Fans and I will finally get to witness the entire movie when “Elio” releases in cinemas on June 20th. Here’s hoping that movie enthusiasts, including myself, turn out to watch movies like this one, as the studio has revealed plans for sequels, such as “Coco 2”, after its success.

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2025-05-27 19:08