How the Department of Defense Helped Make ‘Elio’ As Authentic as Possible
While Pixar’s Elio may not have gotten off to the box office start that many were hoping for, the film is being lauded by audiences for its nuanced take on loneliness, community, and friendship.
Elio has particularly highlighted the difficulties that many military children face due to their frequent moves.
For those who don’t know, the latest Pixar film follows the adventure of 11-year-old Elio, whose aunt is an Air Force major. Obsessed with Space, Elio finds it hard to make friends and thus wishes that he would be abducted so he could find intergalactic pals.
Photo: Disney
Ultimately, his dream comes true.
Pixar Reached Out to the Department of Defense
When creating Elio, Pixar contacted the United States Department of Defense (DOD) to see if writer/director Adrian Molina could tour Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County, California, where he was born.
Elio’s genesis came from Molina’s own experience growing up as a child in a military family.
Photo: Department of Defense
“I think the film does a really good job talking about relationships and showing what it could feel like as a military child who frequently deals with change and finding one’s place in a new environment,” said Develyn Watson, deputy director of the Department of the Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office.
The Dawn of the Space Force
In February 2021, Pixar animators, writers, and producers visited Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to learn more about military personnel and their families.
Photo: Department of Defense
Interestingly, the film was being developed as the Space Force was launching. At the time, the Air Force was still the primary unit involved in space operations. By the time the film was released, Vandenberg Air Force Base had been renamed as a Space Force base, and the new military branch was up and running.
Photo: USA Today
“It’s not like in a live [action movie], where you can just switch out uniforms,” Watson explained. “In animation, that could be several millions of dollars to change. The path was set for the Air Force, so that’s how the character continued to be an Air Force person but has what is now a Space Force job.”
A Commitment to Realism
According to Watson, Pixar specifically focused on getting the mathematical components of space flight correct and making their story as realistic as possible.
“We had to get with our experts at Vandenberg to kind of work through … how can we keep this as accurate as possible?” Watson said. “We know it’s a kids’ movie, but … [the studio] also wanted to make sure that the adults could be like, ‘You know what? They got that right!'”
Photo: Disney
The last time the Department of Defense helped with a Disney movie was 2010’s Planes.
Special Screenings For Military Members
In recognition of their service and their aid in creating Elio, Pixar hosted special screenings across the country for military members and their families.
Photo: Department of Defense
For those who have lived the Elio experience, the film was especially impactful.
Elio is in theaters now.
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