Pixar Releases Enthralling Teaser-Trailer For ‘Elemental’ Animated Film
Video screenshot via Pixar
If Disney’s Zootopia and Inside Out, Pixar’s Soul, and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away had a baby, it would be Elemental. Disney and Pixar have dreamed up a metropolis occupied by the elements of fire, water, land, and air, and the first good look at this feature is already a delight to watch.
Elemental’s teaser-trailer introduces the viewer to Element City—home to a fantastical, diverse population—giving a glimpse of what the daily commute is like for its people. The subway is predictably packed, but society finds a way to adjust to it peacefully.
Two names you should familiarize yourself with are Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis) and Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), the leading characters. As their names suggest, Ember is a fire element and Wade is a character made from water.
Image via The Walt Disney Company
According to Disney, Ember is “a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman.” Wade, on the other hand, is “a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy.” And, as the newly-released poster points out, “Opposites React.”
The interactions in the subway are magical and extraordinarily creative, literally channeling the elements to inject joy into the mundane. At the same time, the characters—with their diverse personalities—are relatable and represent city life in the real world.
Video screenshot via Pixar
Director Peter Sohn, in fact, revealed in May that the abstract film draws from his childhood as the son of Korean immigrants in the melting pot of cultures that is New York City.
“We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages, and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me to Elemental,” Sohn explained.
“Our story is based on the classic elements—fire, water, land and air. Some elements mix with each other, and some don’t. What if these elements were alive?”
Elemental, produced by Denish Ream, is slated for theatrical release on June 16, 2023. Watch the teaser-trailer below.
[via Mashable and AV Club, images via The Walt Disney Company]
