Director: Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian, Adrian Molina
Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett
Elio is a 2025 American animated comedy-science fiction film directed by Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian, and Adrian Molina, produced by Pixar Animation Studios. The story follows an imaginative, space-obsessed boy who is accidentally mistaken for Earth's ambassador and whisked away to an alien civilization, forcing him to confront questions of identity and belonging.
What is Elio about?
Elio is a lonely, quirky kid who spends most of his time daydreaming about outer space and sending signals into the cosmos, convinced he does not quite belong on Earth. When a beam of light pulls him into a galaxy-spanning confederation of alien species, the gathered extraterrestrials assume he is the official representative of humanity. With no way to correct the misunderstanding immediately, Elio must keep up the pretense while forming unexpected friendships with a wildly varied cast of alien beings. Back home, those who care for him scramble to figure out what happened. Along the way, Elio begins to understand that the sense of not belonging he always carried may actually be his greatest strength, pointing him toward who he is really meant to become.
Cast & crew
The voice cast brings the film's intergalactic world to life with warmth and humor. Yonas Kibreab leads as Elio, delivering a performance full of earnest curiosity. Zoe Saldaña voices a key figure in Elio's life on Earth, while Brad Garrett and Jameela Jamil add comedic texture among the alien ensemble. Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Young Dylan, and Jake T. Getman round out a lively supporting roster.
Context & significance
For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, Elio speaks to a feeling many know firsthand: growing up feeling like an outsider, caught between worlds and searching for a place that truly fits. Pixar's signature blend of visual wonder and emotional depth gives the film broad family appeal, but the theme of self-discovery while far from home carries a particular resonance for Iranian families raising children abroad. The film is available on K-Time with a full Persian dub, meaning younger viewers can enjoy it entirely in Farsi while parents follow along comfortably. It sits within Pixar's tradition of genre-crossing animated storytelling that speaks equally to children and adults.
Where & how to watch
Elio is available on K-Time with a complete Persian dub, so the whole family can watch in Farsi without subtitles. Stream it on any web browser, smart TV, or Android device — no extra download, no VPN, no geo-blocking. Subscribe and cancel anytime.