Pixar Era Analysis – Elemental
As mentioned in a previous blog post, I’ll be writing analysis content on all 28 of Pixar’s animated feature films and their film making eras.
The fourth era is the Personal Era, which is the current Era, and started in 2020 with Onward. As mentioned in a previous blog post, the Personal Era is known for its film releases being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, its films being based on the personal lives of the directors and writers who were making them, and its varied animation.
So how did Elemental measure up to the above features of the Personal Era?
Release being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:
Whilst this film did receive a theatrical release, audiences getting used to waiting for Pixar films to be released on Disney Plus instead of seeing it in theatres as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of the reasons attributed to its low profit.
Much like its predecessor films of the Era, the COVID-19 pandemic also affected production, with the Pixar crew unable to go on their typical research trips due to travel restrictions in place at the time.
Being based on the personal lives of the directors and writers making the film:
According to the film’s Wikipedia page, the film draws inspiration from director, Peter Sohn’s, life growing up as the son of immigrants in New York City in the 1970s, with his parents having emigrated from Korea and built a successful grocery store in the Bronx.
Varied animation:
According to the film’s Wikipedia page, Element City was modelled after New York City as a series of immigrant neighbourhoods composed of organic materials that would complement each element (e.g. Fire Town being constructed with ceramic, metal and brick). I personally found this characteristic the most beautiful, clever and creative of the film.
The film’s Wikipedia page also states that personifying elements was a difficult challenge, with fire and water being the most difficult, and Wade being the most difficult character to animate, especially his transparency.
The film’s Wikipedia page also states that design ideas inspired new technology, which rang true as Pixar had to upgrade and buy more computers for the film, with 151,000 cores across three large rooms being used to make the film.
I also appreciated that the end credits were 2D, and similarly to Luca’s end credits, showed the future adventures of its characters, Pixar should do this with its films’ end credits more often.
My overall thoughts:
Overall, I enjoyed the film and found it touching. I also felt it was unique in many ways: from feeling more like a romantic comedy than strictly a ‘kid’s’ film (which is a rare characteristic for a Pixar film), to its character and setting design, to its animation, and its more adult themes focusing on immigration, racism, and prejudice.
The next part of the Pixar Era Analysis series to be released will focus on Inside Out 2.
Fun Facts and Trivia (from the film’s IMDb page):
- This is the sixth Pixar film to have a female protagonist, it is also the first original film where the female protagonist has a love interest.
- Wade is left-handed.
- Wade’s sibling, Lake, is the first non-binary character in a Pixar film.
- This is the sixth Pixar film not to feature a main antagonist.
References:
Loveday Writing 