Elio
2025 · Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Original language: English
- animation
- family
- science fiction
- adventure
- comedy
The story
Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated computer animation with rounded forms and sun-washed pastel skies, the Communiverse rendered as a crowded, glittering bazaar of colour, the kind of hopeful, candy-toned sci-fi that looks best on a lazy afternoon. Its sound is buoyant: a sweeping orchestral score, playful synth touches and the chatter of many alien voices layered over busy, cheerful sequences. The mood is warm, funny and wistful, with lonely-kid-finds-his-people energy and a tender thread about feeling out of place on Earth and out of step in the wider universe. Pacing is brisk and bouncy, with frequent jokes, quick set pieces and a few quieter moments of homesickness. Intensity is mild: peril and a few tense chases, some scuffles and brief menace from a sinister antagonist, but no gore and no sexual content, and the danger is cartoonish rather than frightening. It suits family viewing, a comfort watch for anyone who loved bright, big-hearted animated space adventures, and viewers who want something uplifting with a sincere heart beneath the spectacle.
More films like Elio
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Elioand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
