Pixar is about to premiere a brand-new animated film, entitled Elio. It is expected to be released in theaters June 20th, 2025, and follows an imaginative space adventure about a young boy in an unexpected situation.
Elio, directed by Adrian Molina, the co-director of Coco, follows an 11-year-old boy who is misidentified by aliens as the official ambassador of Earth. When Elio is taken to a large intergalactic organization known as the Communiverse, he must learn how to navigate a strange world far from home—all the while pretending to represent humanity.
Elio is voiced by Yonas Kibreab, with America Ferrera as his mother Olga. Jameela Jamil and Brad Garett are also voice actors in supporting roles. The film promises Pixar’s quintessential mixture of humor, emotion, and creativity while reflecting on what it means to be different and how to embrace who you are.
Elio's story shares something with much of the content from Pixar: issues around growing up and realizing who you are. While the scenario is outer-space, and the characters are aliens, the core is something we can all connect with as humans. Pixar describes Elio as a boy who has always felt like an outsider, but now has to figure out how to be himself under extraordinary pressure, something well beyond being a human outsider.
Elio signals Pixar's return to original stories, after producing sequels and spin-offs in recent years. Despite how good these sequels and spin-offs are, fans and critics have been asking for a return to original material, and Elio looks to be a step in that direction.
Adrian Molina, who also serves as the screenwriter, stated the film feels very personal for him. He has explained the film is about the sense of finding your place in the world, wherever that world is—if that is Earth or a little part of the universe. The creative team hopes to deliver a film full of imagery and possibilities, of course expressing emotional and universal meaning in it.
There will be the typical vibrant and colorful alien worlds and weird characters to entertain long-time Pixar viewers. It is too early to tell how viewers will react to Elio, but early previews have shown promising results. Some reports have also indicated that Elio will not be as emotional as some of the beloved Pixar films, but it is still sending a strong message and features an endearing lead character.
As the release date for Elio approaches, fans of Pixar can anticipate a story for all ages that seems to have fun and heart, and with adventure, humor and personal growth, Elio will be one of the most praised animated releases of 2025.
Image Source: fanbolt.com
