ELIO is a 2025 animated childrenās film written by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones, with direction by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina. The film follows a young orphan boy named Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) as he leaves his aunt (voiced by Zoe SaldaƱa) for a place to belong. The film is short and sweet, and it doesnāt drag, which is something Iām sure many parents will appreciate. The film has engaging animation and heartfelt, complex characters and relationships. It wonāt be the next classic or a great stand-alone film like TOY STORY or MONSTERS INC. are. Still, it is a good original film in Disneyās catalogue, and I would much rather have a simple new concept rather than a bad, over-complicated remake.
I loved the representation of this film, and I felt like it was something that both kids and parents could learn from. You have a fantastic representation of neurodivergent kids with Elio, and I think it could potentially help many kids voice why they feel so different, showcasing that it is a universal feeling, but that everyone has their strengths and what makes them unique. Overall, the characters were enjoyable and quirky, my all-time favorite being Glordon. He is one of my favorite Disney āanimalā sidekicks. He was a perfect addition to the film, and Remy Edgerly lends his voice with such cuteness and awe! I especially loved the dynamic between Glordon and Lord Grigon. That was another aspect that parents could observe in themselves, especially fathers who put so much pressure on their sons, and why that is more important to them than their childās spirit.
I loved the cinematography, and the animation was fun and lively, but nothing different from what Disney has been doing. I hope every day that Disney brings back the 2D animation style that I grew up with. Watching classics like THE ARISTOCATS, SLEEPING BEAUTY, OLIVER AND COMPANY, and ALICE IN WONDERLAND are some of my fondest memories. Iām not going to lie and say that movies like FROZEN, TANGLED, and MOANA didnāt also play a role. I still love them to this day and think theyāre absolutely beautiful, but now weāve just stuck to this style that has lost its original spark. All the alien designs were very creative and fun to watch! I loved the color palette for the galactic world and all the different looks of the creatures. It added something fun to the film, but thereās something about the design for humans that is becoming too stale for my taste.
I have two younger cousins, so Iāve seen a fair share of new animated releases, and sometimes I feel like Iām just begging for them to let me out of the theater, not because of the quality of the film, but because of the story structure. It makes me wonder how little kids with nonexistent attention spans survive it, if even Iām struggling. I found myself pretty invested in ELIOās and rooting for the characters to succeed.
This is not going to be the film that saves Disney. We saw from the box office numbers that it went in the complete opposite direction. However, I do not want anyone to speak on the lack of original films, and then skip watching the actual original films. It is no wonder that Disney continues to try to milk its biggest franchises, as people have grown tired of seeing new works. I thought the film was cute, had some sweet elements, and knew going in that I wasnāt going to see something on the caliber of CARS, but I still went to see it anyway. This is, unfortunately, a film that I predict will fall deep into the mix of other forgotten Disney movies, such as WISH.
I talked to my cousins (Ages 7 and 9) about their thoughts on the film, and they said it was meh, but couldnāt stop quoting Gordon and how much they liked him, so we are on the same page with that one.
Overall, ELIO is not a bad time. The characters arenāt bratty or rude, even though Elio is just a little overactive. I think itās a great way to spend a Summer afternoon and entertain your children. If you live in Arizona, like me, itās an easy way to stay out of the heat!
ELIO is now playing in theaters.