Elemental is the story of Ember and Wade who live in Element City. Ember is a fiery young women and Wade is a guy who lets his emotions flow right out of him. The city is a melting pot of residents of Fire, Water, Earth and Air. They all live together, more or less, but some elements just don’t mix… or do they? Elemental explores how differences that seem insurmountable can actually turn into the greatest gift. Elemental is now available for home entertainment viewing wherever digital downloads are available.
Quality
As one would expect with a Pixar film, the quality of Elemental is at a premium. There are so many beautiful things to look at in this movie. The colors are vibrant, there are some incredible designs to be checked out (both in terms of Element City and its inhabitants), and then some of the effects found throughout the film. The sound design that accompanies this visuals reaches the bar that is set by what is seen on screen. All of this is accompanied by a beautiful score by Thomas Newman.
Extras
The extras that accompany Elemental really are enjoyable. Along with the short, Carl’s Date, there are some featurettes and deleted scenes that are all worth watching. There is also an audio commentary with some of the filmmakers. The featurettes were my favorite and I thought added nice depth to the movie for the next viewing.
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
Final Thoughts
I was very pleasantly surprised with Elemental. The movie was full of heart, passion, and beauty in multiple ways. It is a creative movie that has different layers and messages for the viewers. The whole family will enjoy it and probably get different things out of it. Watching the bonus features adds to the viewing experience and story as well. This is an enjoyable Pixar film that I think probably is in my top five Pixar films. It is definitely worth adding to the digital library and I take my hat off to it!
[Review Disclaimer]
Mr. DAPs Hat Rating Scale
- No Hat – Didn’t meet expectations
- Hat Nod – It was ok
- Hat Tip – It was good
- Hat’s Off – Loved it!
