(OPINION) The new animated movie “Elemental” is Disney’s first film with a non-binary character. However, the children’s movie is flopping at the box office in its opening weekend, and could be the lowest-earning Pixar movie in the studio’s history.
The movie – which is rated for children ages 6 and up – “tackles” racism and xenophobia. The film also features Disney’s first-ever non-binary character.
The plot of the movie is about humanized elements such as fire, water, earth, and air living in Element City. However, a romance is sparked between a fire element named Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis) and a water element named Wade Ripple (voiced by Mamoudou Athie). However, the elements are opposites and a relationship between the two could prove dangerous.
The Hollywood Reporter said of “Elemental,” “A high-concept pitch that could only be rendered via dazzling state-of-the-art computer animation;
a serious overarching theme about ethnic strife and racial tolerance; humor for both kids and adults, although this one is more geared toward the 10-and-under set; a plot that hits all the right beats at exactly the right time.” MovieWeb wrote, “Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ addresses racism and xenophobia with spectacular CGI animation.”
USA Today notes that “Elemental” “does not shy away from the issue of racism,” immigration, and xenophobia.
“Where Wade comes from a well-to-do aquatic clan that lives in a fancy high rise, Ember is an immigrant from the world of fire who is bent on honoring her parents by taking over their shop, which peddles things fire people would eat (that would be wood),” the article read.
“At one point in the movie, after Ember’s father, Bernie, seems to recognize Wade, Ember says, ‘Not all water people look alike,’ an allusion to the sentiments that many ethnic groups can relate to when being stereotyped. In another scene, Ember is yelled at by Element City citizens who tell her they don’t want fire people around,” the outlet said.
