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Elemental.JPG

Pixar Tackles Segregation in 'Elemental'

By Nate Parker | Film | March 28, 2023 |

By Nate Parker | Film | March 28, 2023 |


Elemental.JPG

Pixar movies are a bit like Windows operating systems; every other one is pretty great. Since their last effort, Lightyear, was mid in every sense of the word, that hopefully means their latest feature is back to form. It’s called Elemental, and the first full-length trailer came out today.

In a place where beings live in a city segregated by element, fire elemental Ember (Leah Lewis, Nancy Drew, Station 19 and water elemental Wade (Mamoudou Athie, Jurassic World: Dominion, Underwater) find common ground despite being polar opposites, and explore one another’s worlds. I’m cautiously optimistic; it’s a fun setting with a lot of opportunities for situational humor, and the subjects of segregation and cultural dynamics remain topical. On the other hand, I can see how keeping the Fire people segregated from the Earth tree-people is just common sense.

Director Peter Sohn’s last feature was The Good Dinosaur, one of Pixar’s less-beloved entries. The writers — Brenda Hsueh, John Hoberg, and Kat Likkel — are mostly known for their work on a variety of sitcoms, including How I Met Your Father and My Name Is Earl. Elemental is scheduled for a June 16 theatrical release.