Overcoming loneliness in space. Review of the cartoon Elio

Are we alone in the Universe? One of the eternal questions of humanity, the answer to which we still do not know. That is why there are so many stories about aliens from distant star systems. Elio is Pixar's attempt to talk about individual and global loneliness of a person in the format of animation for the whole family. And let this story develop according to a rather banal plot, it still has a place for moments that will be interesting to think about for both children and adults.

At the center of the story is an eleven-year-old boy, Elio, who, after the tragic death of his parents, lives with his aunt Olga (in this case, it is a Mexican name, to put aside betrayal). She, in turn, gave up her dream of becoming an astronaut to take care of her nephew. Elio, traumatized by the loss, feels like an outsider at school, suffers from bullying and loneliness, and dreams of being taken by aliens to any other planet, where he would finally find his place. By the way, the story of the Voyager 1 probe became a source of inspiration for him. One day, his dream unexpectedly comes true: he gets on board a spaceship and finds himself in the "Universe Commune" - an intergalactic council of representatives of different civilizations. However, due to a misunderstanding, the aliens mistake him for the official leader of planet Earth, drawing the boy into a whirlpool of space politics.

Like the classic cartoon Lilo & Stitch, Elio explores the themes of forced custody and the complexities of the relationship between a child and an adult who is trying to become their new family. This is where "Elio" steps into somewhat dark and complex territory, exploring deep psychological issues.

The cartoon boldly, yet childishly, speaks honestly about the experience of loss, childhood loneliness, and teenage bullying, doing so in a surprisingly moving way. Some of these topics are so serious that younger viewers probably won't be able to comprehend them, but for adults it will be an occasion for serious reflection and an opportunity for an important conversation with their children after watching.

The narrative and visual part of the cartoon quote the classic science fiction about contacts with aliens. In Elio's desire to understand a completely alien mind and establish communication, the motifs of the film Arrival by Denis Villeneuve are guessed, one of the scenes even directly copies the film. The childish surprise and delight from meeting the unknown refers to the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Steven Spielberg. If stories about aliens have always caused a whirlwind of emotions in you, then Elio will definitely give you a lot of positive impressions.

Interestingly, if it weren't for the magic of Pixar animation with its bright colors and friendly tone, this story could have been a full-fledged science fiction thriller. After all, the kidnapping of a child, mistaken identity and the threat of intergalactic conflict are the basis for a very tense plot, which is presented here in a form accessible to the whole family. Even for elements of body horror, "Elio" somehow found a place.

The decoration of Elio is its visual world. The designs of aliens and their technologies are made with incredible creativity and imagination. "Commune Universe" is a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors and ideas. There are creatures that resemble underwater stingrays and butterflies at the same time, there are stone giants and insect-like professors - each species is unique and memorable. Pixar artists once again prove their skill, creating a bizarre, but cute and absolutely magical universe that you want to consider down to the smallest detail. This visual ingenuity compensates for many script simplifications.

However, for all its emotional depth and visual beauty, Elio does not try to be revolutionary in its structure. The plot and its presentation fit into standard patterns that Pixar has used many times before. There is an outsider hero, an unexpected adventure, meeting a new friend, a crisis of trust and a final reconciliation with loved ones and himself. There is nothing wrong with this, but viewers familiar with the studio's other works are unlikely to find plot surprises for themselves. The strength of the cartoon is not in the general outline, but in the details and nuances: in the quiet dialogue between Elio and his new alien friend, in Aunt Olga's gaze, full of love and fatigue, in the small discoveries that the main character makes about himself and the world around him, and other, almost imperceptible moments.

It is this sincerity and attention to detail that makes Elio so special. It is a touching story about the importance of connecting with others to overcome your own loneliness, and how sometimes the place you want to escape from is your true home. The cartoon reminds us that being unique is not a flaw, but a gift, and there will always be those who will love you exactly as you are. And although the path to this conclusion is paved with familiar paths, it still manages to bring tears to our eyes and leave behind a warm feeling of hope.

The hope that man's cosmic loneliness will sooner or later reach a happy ending. And that Elio will make enough money for Disney and Pixar to produce more original works, rather than just another Toy Story installment.