For centuries, people have called out
to the universe looking for answers…
…in Disney and Pixar’s original, all-new feature film “Elio,” the universe calls back! The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession. “He’s an unusual kid who’s obsessed with getting abducted by aliens,” says director Domee Shi. Elio feels like there’s nothing for him on Earth—he dreams of going to another world where he’s accepted for who he is.”
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T H E C H A R A C T E R S
Elio Solis
Elio is an 11-year-old who doesn’t feel like he fits in on Earth. He loves his Aunt Olga, and he knows she loves him, too, but she doesn’t really get him. “Elio’s parents passed away when he was younger,” says producer Mary Alice Drumm. “He’s lonely. He sees this magnificence in space—the promise of life—and he puts all his energy into that. He really believes that’s where he’ll find true connection.”
Olga Solis
Olga Solis is a brilliant Major in the Air Force, stationed at Montez Air Force Base. Well-respected and highly decorated, Olga had plans to pursue the astronaut program. But her career trajectory changed when her nephew, Elio, came to live with her following the loss of his parents. Olga’s pivot into parenthood was sudden and not without hiccups—Elio’s passion for space makes him hard to reach sometimes, but she loves him dearly. She wants more than anything for him to find his place in the world—as long as it’s on Earth.
Glordon
Glordon is the tenderhearted son of Grigon, the warlord ruler of the planet Hylurg. Gregarious and kind, the princeling is about to be installed in his fearsome battle armor and take his rightful place at his father’s side. Glordon says he’s excited about his future because that’s what he’s supposed to say and feel. But as Elio’s unexpected first friend—and surprise bargaining chip—Glordon might feel comfortable divulging his deepest secret to his new buddy.
Lord Grigon
Lord Grigon is a fierce, boastful and violent alien warlord who rules the planet Hylurg. He desperately wants to become part of the Communiverse, and is furious when he’s rejected. He’ll stop at nothing to unleash his wrath on the Ambassadors who humiliated him, but he’s about to meet his match in an 11-year-old human kid who’s pretending to be the leader of Earth.
Ambassador Questa
Ambassador Questa is leader of the planet Gom and one of the highest-ranking members of the Communiverse. A 15-foot-tall leafy sea dragon with a soothing voice, Questa is an optimist looking to discover the best in every lifeform she meets. Extremely intuitive, with the ability to read minds, Questa is all about intense eye contact and has no concept of personal space. Her keen intuition and empathy guide her in the most complex of Communiverse quandaries.
Ooooo
Ooooo is an out-of-this-world liquid supercomputer designed to accommodate and assist species of all kinds who visit the Communiverse. Efficient and unflappable, Ooooo’s elaborate circuitry is an infinite energy source—there’s no question she can’t answer. Shirley Henderson provides the voice of the character.
Gunther Melmac
Gunther Melmac is a highly intelligent, oddball military contractor and leader of his own ham radio group, “Masters of Ham”. Melmac’s bizarre theories about aliens inadvertently alienate him from the military team that supervises him. It would be crazy if he turned out to be right about everything.
Ambassador Helix
Ambassador Helix of Falluvinum is one of the more ancient members of this intergalactic senate. He’s welcoming, effervescent and a lover of parties and words—most of all his own. Helix has seen it all, or so he thinks.
Bryce and Caleb
Bryce and Caleb are middle schoolers who are often in Elio’s orbit. While Bryce has good friend potential, he’s often led astray by the sometimes ill-mannered, occasionally mean Caleb, who’s hiding his own insecurities.
Humans, Aliens and
Angry Warlords
Pixar Animation Studios’ animated films showcase stylistic points of view when it comes to characters. For “Elio,” however, artists had to go above and beyond—way above and way beyond—to create a cast of characters that includes both humans and multiple species of aliens. “A big part of our world on Earth takes place at a [coastal] military base,” says production designer Harley Jessup. “Everyone, except Elio, wears the same Air Force uniform—muted tan camouflage. Elio stands out in this monochromatic world. He’s quirky and colorful.”
Director Domee Shi explains that the subdued tone at the military base comes from their lead character. “We’re not saying that all military bases are cold and calculated,” says Shi. “There are many wonderful people who work on these bases. But from Elio’s POV he just feels so different. He’s a fish out of water, and we kept that top of mind as we were lighting and shooting his life on Earth—ensuring he felt like the odd boy out—like an alien on Earth. And then when he’s finally in space, we feel the switch from alien on Earth to being welcomed to this vibrant, warm world with open arms.”
Not that the aliens in the Communiverse all come with arms. Artists created dozens of alien species with an assortment of limbs, varying manners of moving and imaginative ways of expressing themselves. “It’s like the coolest club in the universe,” says Shi. “Leaders from planets near and far come together in this fascinating, layered place to share knowledge.”
Adds director Madeline Sharafian, “It’s an incredibly expansive space because each alien species needs a habitat that works for them. Aliens of all shapes, sizes and languages get to live together. It’s very aspirational.”
Ambassador Tegmen
Ambassador Tegmen is the leader of the planet Tegmen. With a sharp look that mirrors a configuration of floating boulders, Tegmen is aptly blunt, rational and logical.
Ambassador Turais
Ambassador Turars is a fearful, high-strung space diplomat. He’s the first to panic when things go awry.
“Turais is a great example of the varied characters artists designed for the Communiverse,” says producer Mary Alice Drumm. “We challenged ourselves to try to lean away from bipedal, humanoid aliens and explore different shapes. Turais’ singular eye and ‘fish-wizard’-like shape make her one of our favorite aliens.”
Ambassador Mira
Ambassador Mira is an empress from a distant alien planet. She is the most cunning of all the Ambassadors and, despite her sweet voice and adorable disposition, she will not hesitate to do whatever’s necessary to protect the Communiverse.
Ambassador Auva
Ambassador Auva is the bubbly and passionate leader of a peace-loving planet, and the creator of The Universal Users’ Manual. She’s all about positive vibes, so it’s no surprise when she votes against Lord Grigon’s inclusion in the Communiverse.
“With her ink-splat face, Auva doesn’t emote easily,” says Drumm. “So, she was a challenge.”
T H E W O R L D
The Communiverse
Sets supervisor David Luoh says he’s excited to share with audiences the epic breadth of the filmmakers take on outer space. “I have a fondness for when we see the Communiverse as a whole, like when Elio first encounters that world,” he says. “You can see the outer shell where the alien species grow their crops. Then we have four orbiting, twisting discs— each one hosting a different biome: aquatic, lush forest, icy tundra, and hot with lava. Nestled inside those discs, there's an inner paraboloid with skylines of central Communiverse infrastructure and a radiant core of light and energy, all with intricate, dynamic details sprinkled throughout.”
Artists and technicians assembled a vibrant world with blink-and-you’ll-miss-them details—from alienesque architecture to varying vegetation. “It’s designed as a reflection of the aliens who came together to create it,” says Luoh. “It’s our version of the United Nations—species from across the galaxy coming together and forming a brilliant, cooperative interspecies society.”
Alien Adbuction
Elio desperately wants to be abducted by aliens—he attempts to make contact in every way he can imagine. “To Elio, it’s more of a rescue than an abduction,” says director Madeline Sharafian.
Filmmakers wanted to pay homage to sci-fi films, while putting their own touch on the abduction scene. The directors of photography, Derek Williams (layout/camera) and Jordan Rempel (lighting), came together to help create the look. “We kept coming back to those classic films like ‘Close Encounters’ and ‘E.T.,’” says Williams. “We liked the idea of the suburban setting—a very ordinary environment in which to set this extraordinary story sequence.”
While Williams sought to emulate the sci-fi feel with the cinematography, Rempel homed in on the lighting. “Everything leading up to the big moment featured a beautiful, but fairly muted color palette,” he says. “When the aliens first communicate with Olga in the control room, that’s our first hint that a lot more color is coming. When the ship arrives on the beach to abduct Elio, it blasts this crazy saturated green light. The ship is very bright with a lot of lights, unique lens flares that imagine what an alien light might do to an Earthly lens.”
The spaceship, according to sets supervisor David Luoh, is origami-inspired.
Earth
For planet Earth, filmmakers set out to create an austere world, a place that audiences would understand a boy like Elio might yearn to escape. Says Production Designer Harley Jessup, “The military base is shown as acres of tarmac and Brutalist concrete buildings—very hard edged with a lot of repetition and rectangular symmetry.”
Graphics art director Kyle Jones worked with military consultants to craft the look. “We did everything from military patches to details within the headquarters, mission control and computer screens,” he says. “We tried to be authentic and work within a palette of colors including muted blues, browns and grays.”
