4K Digital Review: Elemental

 

Elemental is a visually stunning animated film surrounded by a beautifully rich and emotional story. At it's heart, is a cross-cultural love story, combined with the struggle faced by immigrants. A rather deep set of concerns that Pixar is never afraid to face head on. We see how individuals deal with those interacting with those outside of their culture and how two characters falling in love deal with the emotions and thoughts of those around them.

Ember (Leah Lewis) is a hot tempered, fire element resident of Fire Town and works at her dad Bernie's (Ronnie del Carmen) store. He longs for the day to pass his store to his daughter. He and his wife Cinder (Shila Ommi) immigrated here for a better life. Ember comes across water element Wade (Mamoudou Athie) and their world comes to a boil as they have to work together to work on an issue in Fire Town. As the story progresses they are drawn closer to one another despite their differences.

Their romance isn't rushed and the two begin to see things in one another that they admire. Wade's emotional depth along with Ember's relatable story makes for a very strong connection and reminds us that Pixar hits us in all the feels. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is superb here. All the speakers are put to good use throughout the entire movie. The score is loud and plays through all of your speakers. Dialogue is front and center and crystal clear. Environmental sounds fill in the rest of the soundscape to help create a truly immersive experience. A wonderful effort from the team at Pixar and Disney.

Video:

Elemental is a feast for the eyes in gorgeous 4K video. Everything is vibrant, with colors leaping off the screen. Each of the different elements give off their own vibe and aura. Just a stunning colorful movie that is a treat for your eyes.    

Bonus Features:

Short Film

• Carl’s Date – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend —but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog. “Carl’s Date” opened in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s Elemental.

 

Featurettes

• Ember and Wade – Take a deeper look at the development of main characters Ember and Wade, from early designs to final effects, and learn how the complex work of the technical and character teams brought these characters to life.
• Next Stop: Element City – Explore how Element City is built to accommodate its different inhabitants. Director Peter Sohn and crew members share insights about the evolution of the designed world, as well as some of the research that inspired its unique look.
• Paths to Pixar: The Immigrant Experience – Hear from first-generation filmmakers on the Elemental crew as they share their journeys to Pixar.  Discover how Elemental’s real-world themes of sacrifice and identity, amongst many others, reflect or diverge from their own lived experiences.

Deleted Scenes

Director Peter Sohn introduces five scenes that are storyboarded, set to music, timed, and voiced, but are not included in the final version of Elemental.

• Intro Ember – An alternate opening in which our hero Ember helps a newly immigrated Fire family navigate through, and acclimate to, Element City. Scene introduced by director Peter Sohn.
• Mom Rejects Wade – Ember’s traditional parents learn that she’s enamored with watery Wade…and it doesn’t go well. Scene introduced by story supervisor Jason Katz.
• Dante Challenge – In an attempt to keep Ember apart from Wade, Bernie tasks her with finding a place to live for newcomer Dante, who Wade finds himself rather enamored with. Scene introduced by story artist Nira Liu.
• Brook Dinner – Ember joins Wade for dinner at his home, in this abandoned storyline in which Wade’s mother, Brook, is revealed to be the villain diverting water into Firetown. Scene introduced by story artist Anna Benedict.
• Beach Proposal – Sharing a tender moment on the beach, Ember and Wade propose marriage to each other. Scene introduced by story artists Yung-Han Chang and Le Tang.

 

Audio Commentary

• Elemental Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Peter Sohn, supe tech Sanjay Bakshi, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and directing animator Gwendelyn Enderoglu as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.

 

*bonus features vary by product and retailer

Conclusion:

In the end, we get a universally charming film that will touch your heart. Pixar succeeds once again in telling a story that feels unique and special. It tells such a human story that will be worth watching again and again. Stunning animation and immersive audio along with solid bonus features makes this an easy recommendation to your film library. 

Elemental is available on digital now and on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD on September 26th.

*This movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for review purposes but the review is entirely my own opinion*