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In a world of sequels, reboots, and ripoffs, Pixar has stood tall as a beacon of original storytelling. Could their lone original film announced for 2025 continue the cycle? This is the 1st trailer for Elio.
Elio (Yonas Kibreab) is a space fanatic who dreams of seeing the universe. And after years of wishing he could get abducted by aliens, Elio’s wish finally comes true when he gets beamed up to the Communiverse, a gathering of representatives from planets across the galaxy.
In typical Pixar fashion, the trailer features gorgeously imaginative visuals and a sweeping grand scale as Elio’s mind is exposed to the farthest limits of the universe.
But when this starry-eyed youngster gets mistakenly identified as the leader of Earth, he’ll be forced into a journey beyond his wildest dreams and have to fight for the boring world he spent his entire young life trying to run away from.
Elio (2025) – source: Pixar Animation Studios
Over the past few years, Pixar hasn’t felt as revolutionary as they once did. They still out some of the best work US animation has to offer, but their films don’t have that game-changer quality they once did. And Elio feels like the latest example of the new Pixar comfortably providing a 10/10 movie, but one that feels content to simply be just another movie.
The trailer leans on its imaginative imagery, but supplements it with toilet humor and overly cutesy comedy beats more befitting of a Disney Animation product. The film’s writing and themes are strong, but the trailer lacks the typical introspective approach to said themes that raised the quality of Pixar’s storytelling above its peers. Overall, the film just feels…. solid. Solid characters, story, themes, and mass-market potential. It’s a testament to Pixar’s legacy that “solid” somehow feels underwhelming.
Right now, this film feels closer to a “Strange World” or “Luca” than one of Pixar’s more acclaimed titles, but should fit snugly into their overall filmography and provide families with another crowd-pleaser next summer.
Directed by Domee Shi, Elio will be released worldwide theatrically on June 13, 2025. The film stars an ensemble voice cast led by newcomer Yonas Kibreab.
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