While Elio doesn’t quite reach the soaring heights of Pixar’s earlier masterpieces, it nonetheless offers an entertaining ride filled with imaginative animation, endearing characters, and a healthy dose of galactic charm.
In a cinematic year dominated by remakes of animated classics such as Lilo & Stitch, Snow White, and How to Train Your Dragon, the arrival of a fresh, original story feels like a welcome breath of air—especially when it comes from Pixar, a studio long known for setting the gold standard in animated storytelling. From Toy Story to Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles, Up, Finding Nemo and Inside Out, Pixar has produced a string of critically acclaimed hits. While their output over the past decade has been more varied, the studio still reliably delivers quality family entertainment—and Elio is no exception.
A Young Boy Embarks on an Intergalactic Journey
The film follows young Elio, who has been living with his aunt since the heartbreaking loss of his parents. She has given up her career as an astronaut to care for him. Despite her best efforts, Elio feels deeply misunderstood and isolated, to the point where he fantasises about being abducted by aliens, convinced he might find a true home somewhere among the stars.
Elio becomes captivated by the NASA Voyager Golden Record missions—especially the golden discs sent into space with messages of peace and culture from Earth. When an unexpected call from the universe comes through at the satellite facility where his aunt works, it is Elio who picks up the signal.
In a vividly colourful, almost surreal conference spaceship, he meets the universe’s most peaceful and intelligent beings, who have gathered to make the cosmos a better place—and they want Elio to join them. There are, however, two immediate problems: Elio is mistakenly introduced as the President of Earth, and one fearsome, heavily armoured alien warlord isn’t exactly thrilled about all this talk of peace.
Blending Emotion, Laughter, and Cosmic Adventure
From its touching opening scenes to a climactic action-packed finale, Elio occasionally loses focus—a rare misstep for Pixar. The narrative weaves through themes of friendship, family, nostalgia for the golden age of space exploration, and the hope for universal harmony. At times, it’s irresistibly cute; at others, perhaps slightly intense for very young viewers.
Still, despite not quite matching the emotional depth of Pixar’s greatest works, Elio remains a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The animation is both elaborate and inventive, and the central character is crafted with such affection that it’s impossible not to root for him. In the end, Elio’s journey to find his place in the universe is both heartwarming and memorable—a cosmic tale that’s well worth the trip.
