Exploring the Creation of ‘Elio’: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Disney and Pixar’s Collaboration.

EMERYVILLE, CA — Disney and Pixar’s “Elio” is centered on a young boy who, longing for space adventures, finds his dreams fulfilled as he is transported to the “communiverse,” a cosmopolitan assembly of extraterrestrial beings.

“The essence of this narrative revolves around connections, addressing loneliness, and the key to overcoming it is by mustering the courage to take that initial step and engage with others, even if they are different from you. Although it may seem daunting, that first outreach is paramount,” shared director Domee Shi with On The Red Carpet.

Sophie Flay made the journey to Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California to see some of the amazing technology in action.

The creative team leveraged virtual reality technology to completely immerse themselves in the animated realm they were crafting. When queried about the duration they spend within these virtual environments during the production process, sets supervisor David Luoh explained, “Typically, around 15 to 20 minutes per session with a team to explore and discuss what’s effective and what’s not. We utilize tools enabling us to sketch out modifications and ideas in three dimensions.”

She also got to check out the animators at work, using 3-D models of characters like “Glordon,” with five-thousand unique controls to make him move.

“You can see how many teeth he has. I can select each of those teeth or I can select a whole row of teeth and kind of effect them that way. I can translate this tooth right out of his head if I want,” explained animation supervisor Travis Hathaway.

You can see Flay’s tour of Pixar, along with a little voiceover session she did with the voice of Elio, Yonas Kibreab in the video player above. And you can watch our full special on “Elio,” including interviews with the stars HERE.

“Elio” is in theaters now.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Pixar and this ABC station.