Movies

One Way Disney’s Elio Is Actually Really Accurate, According To The U.S. Space Force

BBG News

Although Pixar’s Elio, which is primarily known for being a sci-fi space adventure, might not initially seem like a film that U.S. military members would highly praise in upcoming 2025 movie releases, it has surprisingly garnered significant acclaim from the U.S. Space Force.

In essence, the storyline of “Elio” unfolds predominantly on an Air Force base where Aunt Olga, played by Zoé Saldana, is employed. Her character, an orbital analyst, monitors space debris. However, a signal from the Communiverse reaches their base, and in a move without approval, Elio responds (leading to his abduction) by a complex alien network. Develyn Watson, who serves as the Deputy Director of the Department of the Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office, commented on how “Elio” portrays the military.

In my opinion, the movie effectively explores the complexities of relationships and captures the emotional journey of a child growing up in the military, constantly adapting to fresh surroundings and seeking their identity in each new place.

In creating Elio, Pixar’s filmmakers sought advice from military personnel, which comprised producers, directors, screenwriters, artists, and animators as reported by Military.com. Aunt Olga’s method of tracking space debris is said to be an authentic representation of how the military tracks such debris, and it also provides a true depiction of what it’s like growing up in a military family. The Department of Defense made this statement in a press release.

Molina was born at the bottom, penning a tale that revolves around his experiences of being raised in a military family, which greatly influenced him.

The movie titled “Elio” is rooted in a concept developed by Adrian Molina, one of the co-directors of “Coco”. After initially conceiving the idea, Molina passed on his personal project to co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi. This decision was made public when Chief Master Sergeant John Bentivegna from the Space Force expressed his admiration upon learning that “Elio” showcases service members from military branches such as the Air Force or Space Force, finding it inspiring to see such representation.

Bentivegna discussed that the movie production coincided with the formation of the Space Force, which underscores its rapid expansion as a military service. The United States Space Force was established as a new branch of the U.S. military forces in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s term. This branch operates under the Air Force but focuses on safeguarding the U.S. and its allies in space-related matters.

Earlier last year, Netflix debuted a comedy show titled “Space Force,” but according to Air Force Col. Bill Woolf speaking to Military.com, it didn’t seem to portray the culture authentically. However, another series named “Elio” is receiving appreciation from Air Force members, along with favorable reviews from TopMob and even other critics and viewers alike.

Regrettably, from a business perspective, the movie “Elio” hasn’t performed well for the studio. In just three weeks since its release, it has earned only $78 million globally, which is underwhelming. The film is now being labeled as a box office flop due to its poor opening weekend performance, setting a new record for Pixar as their lowest-grossing film ever.

Nonetheless, this film is truly outstanding and authentically portrays military life and work. It’s currently playing in cinemas, so you might want to give it a watch.

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2025-07-05 02:07

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