When you look at the plot synopsis for Elio, you would find it hard to believe that this is an original story: a lonely boy looking for friendship finds it in an alien. Immediately, your thoughts go to E.T. Yet this is a Pixar movie, and even though the animation may be inspired by several different films, it does precisely what Pixar does best: take a series of ideas, themes, and emotions, give them a shake, and see what sticks. The result is, once again, another terrific feature that will have you in awe, laughing and sobbing.

Elio has lost both parents in a car accident, leaving his Aunt Olga, a woman who dreams of becoming an astronaut but has held off on the training, to look after the bot. He feels alone, is bullied, and just wants a friend. He turns to the stars after finding a disc from the Discovery mission that sent messages into space. This triggers a connection with a distant group of aliens, who need Elio’s help to protect them from an evil enemy.

In recent years, Pixar have turned its attention to issues that could befall its younger audiences and, with a reassuring arm around them, tells them that everything is going to be alright. From coping with emotions in Inside Out to dealing with adolescence in Turning Red and even confronting death in Soul, the studio has made it its mission to produce movies that don’t shy away from often complex and challenging subjects. Elio does precisely that. This time it juggles grief, loneliness and healing. It also manages to play with other science fiction classics and give them fresh twists.

Directors Adrian Molina, Madeleine Sharafinian, and Domee Shi use the boy’s journey into space as a playground for some of their favourite movies, including Close Encounters, as well as less obvious choices like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Thing. All the while, they remember that this is a family movie and they need to include the colourful and imaginative elements. This does exactly that and then some.

The variety of alien creatures is a joy to behold, as Elio meets the council of the Communiverse, a kind of United Nations for space, and they are faced with danger from the power-hungry Lord Grigon, a giant war machine who threatens the Communiverse unless they allow him to join. In the meanwhile, Elio meets and befriends Glordon, a worm-like creature who just happens to be the son of the Lord.

Squishy in texture and brimming with imagination, this colourful adventure ventures into a realm of psychedelia with some of its visuals, and you start to wonder if the filmmakers weren’t on something as they were making this. However, it is still a family film, and it does everything you’d expect from it, including the now-Pixar trademark of making you cry when you least expect it.

The cast of voice talents all suit their respective characters, from Everybody Loves Raymond’s Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, to Zoe Saldana as Olga and even British acting royalty Shirley Henderson as a liquid supercomputer. Look out for JLS’s Ashton Merryweather as a security agent.

Elio may not be as good as Inside Out, but it’s still a strong entry in the Pixar CV. If you want to take the kids to something magical, bright, and full of innovative ideas, then you couldn’t do better. You may find yourself being taken for a magical ride yourself.

4 out of 5

Directors: Adrian Molina, Madeleine Sharafinian, and Domee Shi

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Shirley Henderson, Dylan Gilmer, Jake Getman

Written by: Mark Hammer, Mike Jones, (also story) Julia Cho, (story) Adrian Molina, Madeleine Sharafian, Domee Shi, (additional screenplay contributions) Jesse Andrews and Hannah Friedman

Running Time: 99 mins

Cert: PG

Release date: 20th June 2025