Pixar’s Elio: A Surprising Blend of Heart and Horror in Animation

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As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, let me tell you that Pixar’s latest offering, “Elio,” takes an unusual turn for this beloved studio. Instead of the usual heartwarming tales we’ve come to expect, they’ve dared to delve into the realm of horror – a genre seldom explored by Pixar. Yet, it remains quintessentially Pixar with its emotional narrative centered around a child yearning for connection with extraterrestrial beings in space. However, certain spine-tingling moments in the movie are downright chilling, in the most delightfully terrifying way possible.

The movie (undergoing significant transformations over the past year or two) features Yonas Kibreab as the main character Elios, a boy who departs from Earth and joins an extraterrestrial community in search of better acceptance. Later on, he encounters Brad Garret’s character, Lord Grigon – a warlord who soon turns out to be a challenging obstacle.

TopMob recently spoke with directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, along with producer Mary Alice Drumm, about how they incorporated elements of horror into their Pixar storytelling. Interestingly, both Sharafian and Shi are fans of horror, particularly sci-fi films, mentioning their admiration for filmmakers like John Carpenter and Ridley Scott.

As a movie critic, I’d say it’s unmistakable that Domee Shi, the director of The Dirte, saw this project as an exciting chance to shake things up. She expressed her thoughts by saying, “It just felt like a really fun opportunity to mix things up a bit.” Furthermore, she hinted at Pixar films’ ability to evoke laughter or tears, but she also believes that we can elicit other emotional responses from our audience as well.

Elio debuts in theaters worldwide on June 20.

Elio Filmmakers Talk About Bringing Horror to Pixar

Both Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian “Are Sci-Fi Horror Fans” Who “Love [Their] John Carpenter.”

  • TopMob: “One of the things I noticed first and foremost was that it really surprised me how the movie tackles a genre kind of fairly untouched by Pixar, which is horror. It’s all throughout the movie. There are several notable scenes. Can you just talk about the choices to really lean into those moments? You know why you chose to do so, and some inspirations that you took? “

Domee Shi expressed it as: “It appeared to be an intriguing chance for a bit of variety,” since we needed to occasionally switch to Earth to observe Olga with the clone version of Elio, who had been sent to take his place. We understood that, over time, as Olga interacted with the clone, she would gradually recognize that this wasn’t her original Elio and might develop into a nurturing figure for him instead.

After the series of events, she began to observe and appreciate the small aspects of Elio that she had previously overlooked, details she often criticized. Yet, it wasn’t just ordinary observation; it was more like… an unexpected revelation, a bit surprising, you know, as if she was seeing him through a whole new lens.

As for us, [Madeline] and I, we share a passion for sci-fi horror, we adore John Carpenter, we adore Ridley Scott. The plot points, they just seemed to materialize, you could say, during our brainstorming sessions. It was like, “What if this happened?” And then, I would dart off, exclaiming, “What if he did something like that!

I clearly recall the instant when the initial sketch of that eerie scene was presented for the first time, depicting the clone breaching a military compound. Indeed, it was an exhilarating process to work on, and the fun continues as each team member enjoys contributing to scenes like that throughout the entire project.

Shi admits to having an affinity for experiencing a touch of fear as well, finding it exhilarating. As a child, Tim Burton films were particularly captivating, and their appeal endures today. There’s something uniquely enjoyable about this feeling, introducing a fresh emotion into the mix. Unlike Pixar movies that primarily elicit laughter or tears, Shi believes we can evoke other reactions from our audience as well.

Filmmakers Behind Elio Talk About Creating the Communiverse

The Filmmakers Wanted the Communiverse to Be as Vibrant as Possible

  • TopMob: “Now, the Communiverse is such a vibrant, creative world that you guys made for this movie. Can you talk about the design philosophies there and just how you came to that final grand scope of what it looks like?”

Domee Shi expressed gratitude for having Harley Jessup on board as our production designer. Known for his work on ‘Coco’ and ‘Ratatouille’, Harley is renowned for creating incredibly immersive worlds. He’s always eager to push himself and the art team, aiming to construct a unique sci-fi universe that hasn’t been explored before.

In crafting our films, we emphasize characters and their experiences. Given that this is a fantasy film about a boy yearning for abduction, who finds himself in the most enchanting, almost perfect world, we aimed to design, light, and construct the universe of the Communiverse as a stark contrast to his earthly existence. If Earth is characterized by symmetrical shots, sharp edges, and a muted color scheme, then the Communiverse should feel like an escape from that monotony.

In the Communiverse, the space is a vibrant tapestry of color and light, filled with soft, organic shapes that resemble stained glass, textures, and materials. It’s inhabited by aliens of every conceivable shape and size, from those without eyes to those with multiple eyes. This universe, in many ways, mirrors the feelings of Elio, a boy often misunderstood on Earth due to his quirks, as it embraces diversity and uniqueness. Here, Elio finds companionship not only among beings with eye patches like him but also among those with no eyes or multiple eyes. Essentially, we’re creating this universe from Elio’s perspective.

The entire conversation with the filmmakers behind Elio can be watched below:

Check out more of TopMob’s interviews here!

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2025-06-11 23:04