Author
Zuzanna Zdżalik
When Elemental first came out in 2023, most of the conversation was about how much money it made at the box office. In 2026, this hype has faded and we can finally appreciate why this movie is so pleasant to watch. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on his own experience of growing up in New York as the son of Korean immigrants. It is a story that feels very real even though the animated characters are made of fire, water, earth, and air. The action takes place in Element City, which is designed to be a place where everyone can live together. However, you quickly notice that fire is not as respected as the other elements. The city is full of water and wood, making it a dangerous and unwelcoming place for fire people. This reflects the immigrant experience perfectly: trying to fit into a world that was not built for you.
The story follows Ember Lumen, a fire element living in Fire Town. Her parents were among the first fire elements to move to the city. Ember wants to take over her father’s shop, but her quick temper often gets in the way. After a plumbing accident, she meets Wade Ripple, a water element and city inspector. Their story is a classic “forbidden” romance. Still, it also reflects the immigrant experience, showing how hard it can be to follow your own path while carrying the weight of your family’s sacrifices.
In my opinion, the best part of this movie is the richness of visual details.
Ember does not just look like fire; she acts like it. Her movements look like flames dancing in the wind. Similarly, Wade is completely translucent; he is a constant flow of bubbles and ripples and seems as fluid as real water. The lighting effects, too, are incredibly realistic. One can see Ember’s orange glow shining through Wade and spreading onto the walls around them, mimicking the way light and water behave in the real world. Ember’s fire even changes depending on her mood. When she is angry she literally bursts into bright violet flames, in her sad moments, her fire dims, and she looks like she is fading away, but when she is happy, for example when her childhood dream comes true, she glows so brightly that she lights up the entire frame.
The music fits these visuals perfectly. Thomas Newman’s soundtrack is calm and does not distract from the story, while smartly supporting it. To reflect the “melting pot” image, he uses a global palette of sounds (Pixar, 2023). For the fire culture, you will hear the Indian sitar and Middle Eastern mandolins, giving Fire Town a warm, ancient feel. In contrast, the water culture sounds more fluid, with instruments like the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI) to create a smooth, “cool” texture that matches Wade’s visuals (Pixar, 2023). The sound design is just as clever. You can hear the soft hiss of Ember’s fire and the bubbling sound Wade makes when he moves.
The writing is full of brilliant details that make this fantastic world feel real. The filmmakers had fun with puns that reflect a city built for elements, such as the store “Pottery Burn” or the film Tide and Prejudice, but they also included witty visual details. For example, fire babies travel in BBQ grills instead of strollers and are fed lighter fluid instead of milk. These small jokes add a layer of wit to a very emotional story.
What makes Elemental unique is its use of real science rather than movie magic, which makes it a helpful tool for parents and educators. The film beautifully illustrates physical changes, such as water turning to steam or Ember using her heat to transform sand into solid glass. These moments feel grounded in reality, as when Ember steps on different minerals to change the colour of her flames, reflecting how different chemical elements burn in various hues. Perhaps the most clever scientific detail occurs when Ember and Wade finally touch. They create a thin vapour layer between them, known as the Leidenfrost effect. This real-world physics concept explains how a vapour layer can protect a liquid from a hot surface, allowing the two characters to coexist without destroying one another (“Leidenfrost effect,” 2026). This phenomenon shows that even though fire and water are opposites, they can still find a way to coexist.
In 2026, the themes of Elemental remain relevant. It offers a sharp look at how we treat those who are “different,” and how family pressure and personal dreams can eventually find a balance. It shows that fire and water – people who seem completely opposite – can live together if they take the time to truly see one another. While children might not catch every metaphor or pun, the bright colours and silly jokes will keep their attention throughout. Ultimately, it is a fun adventure showing them in the simplest possible way that “different” is not something to be afraid of but rather something to be curious about. I thus highly recommend Elemental as a film that is both visually stunning and emotionally smart.
Elemental is available to watch on Disney+.
SLIDING MAGAZINE 
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