Disney and Pixar's new animated film, "Elio," is currently in theaters. It's been praised for its warm, moving story that can be enjoyed by both parents and children. We spoke to three key members of the film's staff, directors Madeleine Sharafian and Domee Sy, and producer Mary Alice Drumm, about behind-the-scenes stories and their reactions since its release.
◇Who is the model for the lonely alien "Glodon"?
The protagonist of "Elio" is Elio, a boy who loves space and feels lonely after losing his parents, the people who understood him the most. Elio believes that somewhere in this vast world there must be a place where he "really belongs." His heartfelt wish is answered, and he is invited to the dreamlike "Comniverse," where representatives of the stars gather. There, he meets Grodon, an alien boy who is just as lonely. The two share a bond, but a threat that will shake the "world of the stars" approaches. The key to their salvation lies in a "certain promise" made between the two lonely people... This is the story.
The film is directed by Sharafian, who was the story artist for "Coco" (2017), Shi, who directed "Me and the Red Panda" (2022), and Adrian Molina, who wrote and co-directed "Coco."
Director Sharafian revealed about the main character, Elio, "Elio is a lonely boy, and the story is based on director Adrian Molina's experiences. He (director Molina) also grew up on a military base, and felt a sense of distance and loneliness, unable to fit in with the world around him. When we heard his story, both Domi (director Sy) and I fell in love with the story in terms of both the story and the characters. We were also inspired by stories of people making friends for the first time, like Elliot in 'ET'."
Elio embarks on a great adventure in space, a dream come true. The beautiful and dazzling visuals of the "Communiverse" that Elio visits are also captivating. What aspects of the visuals did you focus on?
Director Shi said he contrasted Earth with space, saying, "The Communiverse is like a dream come true for Elio, like he's in heaven, while on Earth he feels like an alien, and this is visualized in the film."
"The Earth is flat and symmetrical, and the composition is inorganic and claustrophobic, expressing Elio's feeling of not belonging. The Communiverse, on the other hand, has colorful details, and the world opens up in an organic way, reflecting Elio's feeling that he has finally found a place where he can belong."
Production designer Harley Jessup, who also worked on "Coco," said he paid particular attention to the smallest details, and expressed confidence, saying, "We did extensive research using various things, including the deep sea, as a reference, so Communiverse depicts a world unlike anything we've seen in any Pixar film before."
A variety of aliens appear in the Communiverse. Director Sharafian says, "Helix (a longtime member and gentle, cheerful ambassador alien who always carries everyone's favorite drink, Grope) is a character drafted by producer Brandon Mun. When he showed me the storyboards he had voiced himself during production, he depicted a unique, slightly bossy, slightly older, kindly uncle who could be found in any world, and I thought that was great, so he became the basis for my design."
Producer Drum revealed, "Glodon is modeled after a toothless tardigrade.He's an eyeless character, so it was a big challenge for the animators to animate him in that state."
◇What has been the response since the film was released? "There have been a lot of comments saying they could relate to it."
What has the reaction been since the film's release? Drum said, "I heard that a mother and daughter cried after seeing the film. It's rewarding as a creator to hear people say that it's a fun adventure story with tear-jerking elements too. I think it's the joy of releasing a film that people fall in love with the world of the characters." Director Shi also said, "We received a lot of feedback from people with conflicts of various backgrounds, such as people who can't connect well with others or who can't fit in with those around them, who said they could empathize with the film, and it seems that many people, like Elio, felt like they were an alien."
This film contains many touching scenes, such as Elio's loneliness, the friendship between Elio and Grodon, and the line, "You are not alone."
Director Sharafian sent a message saying, "Even though Elio and Olga (Elio's aunt) are next to each other, they don't realize that they are both feeling the same loneliness. They knew that if they reached out to each other they could have a deep bond, but they didn't do so. I want people to feel that. Especially in today's world, there are many people who feel lonely and think that they will never be understood, but sometimes you have to make an effort to connect with others, and I would be happy if people could feel that by watching the relationship between Elio and Groden."
The Japanese voice actors are Kawahara Eito as Elio, Tasuku Sato as Grodon, Nana Seino as his aunt Orga, Matsuyama Kenichi as Grodon's father, Glygon, Noro Kayo as the helpful computer Uuuuuu, Watanabe Naomi as the peace-loving planetary ambassador Ova, and Nakatani from the comedy duo Mayurika as Orga's subordinate, the radio geek Melmac.
