Latest news with #Pixar-style
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
An intergalactic, existential adventure about loneliness in Pixar's ‘Elio'
review By LINDSEY BAHR Elio is a lonely 11-year-old just looking for big answers about life. He's recently lost his parents, the only people who understood him and wanted him, and the one thing that seems to give him comfort and hope is the idea that we're not alone in the universe. So, in Pixar's latest (in theaters Friday), he starts waging a campaign for aliens to abduct him. Mostly, this involves laying down on the beach and waiting, his sand notes getting ever more desperate. Then one day it works. It's a solid premise that, viewed one way, has all the makings of a classic Pixar film. It's existential but cute. It might make you cry and also want to buy a cuddly Glordon toy. Glordon (Remy Edgerly) is the toothy, slug-like young alien with no eyes who befriends Elio (Yonas Kibreab). From a more cynical vantage point, however, it also doesn't stray far from the formula. It's another kid realizing that the things that make him different might just be his secret power played out on a heightened, fantastical scale. It's safe and familiar, but also perhaps getting a little tired. 'Elio' might even be the film that will have you wishing that Pixar would tone down the self-help sessions. Dead parents and a kid with a single tear running down his face is a brutal way to start an intergalactic adventure movie for the whole family. We've cared about protagonists with far less immediate trauma. Elio and his aunt Olga ( Zoe Saldaña ) are barely holding on when we meet them living on an army base. She's had to abandon her dreams of being an astronaut to be Elio's primary caregiver, and he is a tricky subject — consumed with grief that he can't quite verbalize and channeling all of his energies into a quest to communicate with extraterrestrials. Olga is trying but overwhelmed and Elio feels like a burden. On top of it all, he can't seem to stay out of trouble, whether it's his own making or in self-defense against a local bully. It's no wonder he wants to flee for a world of infinite knowledge, voice powered anti-gravity devices and spectacular colors. But life in the cosmos is no walk in the park either. Elio gets immediately entangled in a web of lies, in which he convinces the (we're told) wise aliens of the Communiverse that he is the leader of Earth. Fake it until you make it, Pixar-style? He's sent to negotiate with Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a warmongering leader who wants to lead the Communiverse, and learns techniques like 'start from a position of power' and to use a 'bargaining chip.' Like most Pixar movies, it's building towards a message of empathy. But for a good long while it we're also being taught something akin to the art of the deal. 'Elio' is the work of many people — there are three credited directors, Adrian Molina ( 'Coco' ), who left the project but retains the credit, Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi ('Turning Red'), and three credited screenwriters involved. And the story stretches in a lot of different directions, making the overall experience a little disjointed and strained. It's most fun when it lets its kid characters be kids — Elio and his new pal Glordon have a ball just playing around in the Communiverse. But the film just takes so long to get there. Dazzling visuals will only get you so far. And those are not without their pleasures and irreverent homages to film tropes in various genres. One of the more questionably intense sequences involves a bit of clone body horror, but perhaps that's an adult projecting a horror element onto something that a kid might just find funny. There's a nice overriding message about parental acceptance and unconditional love – there always is. But in playing it so safe and so familiar, 'Elio' is missing a bit of that Pixar wonder, and mischief. 'Elio,' a Walt Disney Company release in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for 'thematic elements, some action and peril.' Running time. 99 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential adventure about loneliness in Pixar's ‘Elio'
Elio is a lonely 11-year-old just looking for big answers about life. He's recently lost his parents, the only people who understood him and wanted him, and the one thing that seems to give him comfort and hope is the idea that we're not alone in the universe. So, in Pixar's latest (in theaters Friday), he starts waging a campaign for aliens to abduct him. Mostly, this involves laying down on the beach and waiting, his sand notes getting ever more desperate. Then one day it works. It's a solid premise that, viewed one way, has all the makings of a classic Pixar film. It's existential but cute. It might make you cry and also want to buy a cuddly Glordon toy. Glordon (Remy Edgerly) is the toothy, slug-like young alien with no eyes who befriends Elio (Yonas Kibreab). From a more cynical vantage point, however, it also doesn't stray far from the formula. It's another kid realizing that the things that make him different might just be his secret power played out on a heightened, fantastical scale. It's safe and familiar, but also perhaps getting a little tired. 'Elio' might even be the film that will have you wishing that Pixar would tone down the self-help sessions. Dead parents and a kid with a single tear running down his face is a brutal way to start an intergalactic adventure movie for the whole family. We've cared about protagonists with far less immediate trauma. Elio and his aunt Olga ( Zoe Saldaña ) are barely holding on when we meet them living on an army base. She's had to abandon her dreams of being an astronaut to be Elio's primary caregiver, and he is a tricky subject — consumed with grief that he can't quite verbalize and channeling all of his energies into a quest to communicate with extraterrestrials. Olga is trying but overwhelmed and Elio feels like a burden. On top of it all, he can't seem to stay out of trouble, whether it's his own making or in self-defense against a local bully. It's no wonder he wants to flee for a world of infinite knowledge, voice powered anti-gravity devices and spectacular colors. But life in the cosmos is no walk in the park either. Elio gets immediately entangled in a web of lies, in which he convinces the (we're told) wise aliens of the Communiverse that he is the leader of Earth. Fake it until you make it, Pixar-style? He's sent to negotiate with Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a warmongering leader who wants to lead the Communiverse, and learns techniques like 'start from a position of power' and to use a 'bargaining chip.' Like most Pixar movies, it's building towards a message of empathy. But for a good long while it we're also being taught something akin to the art of the deal. 'Elio' is the work of many people — there are three credited directors, Adrian Molina ( 'Coco' ), who left the project but retains the credit, Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi ('Turning Red'), and three credited screenwriters involved. And the story stretches in a lot of different directions, making the overall experience a little disjointed and strained. It's most fun when it lets its kid characters be kids — Elio and his new pal Glordon have a ball just playing around in the Communiverse. But the film just takes so long to get there. Dazzling visuals will only get you so far. And those are not without their pleasures and irreverent homages to film tropes in various genres. One of the more questionably intense sequences involves a bit of clone body horror, but perhaps that's an adult projecting a horror element onto something that a kid might just find funny. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. There's a nice overriding message about parental acceptance and unconditional love – there always is. But in playing it so safe and so familiar, 'Elio' is missing a bit of that Pixar wonder, and mischief. 'Elio,' a Walt Disney Company release in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for 'thematic elements, some action and peril.' Running time. 99 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential adventure about loneliness in Pixar's ‘Elio'
Elio is a lonely 11-year-old just looking for big answers about life. He's recently lost his parents, the only people who understood him and wanted him, and the one thing that seems to give him comfort and hope is the idea that we're not alone in the universe. So, in Pixar's latest , he starts waging a campaign for aliens to abduct him. Mostly, this involves laying down on the beach and waiting, his sand notes getting ever more desperate. Then one day it works. It's a solid premise that, viewed one way, has all the makings of a classic Pixar film. It's existential but cute. It might make you cry and also want to buy a cuddly Glordon toy. Glordon is the toothy, slug-like young alien with no eyes who befriends Elio . From a more cynical vantage point, however, it also doesn't stray far from the formula. It's another kid realizing that the things that make him different might just be his secret power played out on a heightened, fantastical scale. It's safe and familiar, but also perhaps getting a little tired. 'Elio' might even be the film that will have you wishing that Pixar would tone down the self-help sessions. Dead parents and a kid with a single tear running down his face is a brutal way to start an intergalactic adventure movie for the whole family. We've cared about protagonists with far less immediate trauma. Elio and his aunt Olga are barely holding on when we meet them living on an army base. She's had to abandon her dreams of being an astronaut to be Elio's primary caregiver, and he is a tricky subject — consumed with grief that he can't quite verbalize and channeling all of his energies into a quest to communicate with extraterrestrials. Olga is trying but overwhelmed and Elio feels like a burden. On top of it all, he can't seem to stay out of trouble, whether it's his own making or in self-defense against a local bully. It's no wonder he wants to flee for a world of infinite knowledge, voice powered anti-gravity devices and spectacular colors. But life in the cosmos is no walk in the park either. Elio gets immediately entangled in a web of lies, in which he convinces the wise aliens of the Communiverse that he is the leader of Earth. Fake it until you make it, Pixar-style? He's sent to negotiate with Lord Grigon , a warmongering leader who wants to lead the Communiverse, and learns techniques like 'start from a position of power' and to use a 'bargaining chip.' Like most Pixar movies, it's building towards a message of empathy. But for a good long while it we're also being taught something akin to the art of the deal. 'Elio' is the work of many people — there are three credited directors, Adrian Molina , who left the project but retains the credit, Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi , and three credited screenwriters involved. And the story stretches in a lot of different directions, making the overall experience a little disjointed and strained. It's most fun when it lets its kid characters be kids — Elio and his new pal Glordon have a ball just playing around in the Communiverse. But the film just takes so long to get there. Dazzling visuals will only get you so far. And those are not without their pleasures and irreverent homages to film tropes in various genres. One of the more questionably intense sequences involves a bit of clone body horror, but perhaps that's an adult projecting a horror element onto something that a kid might just find funny. There's a nice overriding message about parental acceptance and unconditional love – there always is. But in playing it so safe and so familiar, 'Elio' is missing a bit of that Pixar wonder, and mischief. 'Elio,' a Walt Disney Company release in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for 'thematic elements, some action and peril.' Running time. 99 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
Tom's Guide
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I asked DeepSeek to write prompts for ChatGPT — the image results were wild
One question I get a lot from chatbot users is 'How do I craft prompts for images to get the best results?' I always suggest being as detailed as possible and including extras that will help make your image uniquely yours. Then, I suggest asking a chatbot for help. My favorite chatbot for creativity is DeepSeek. Since it's statistically the least safe of all chatbots, using it to simply craft prompts ensures you're not sharing sensitive information that could be used for what happened when DeepSeek crafted image prompts for ChatGPT and the resulting images. I told DeepSeek that I wanted to visualize ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner and to craft a prompt "A glowing AI robot (ChatGPT) sits at a cluttered wooden desk, surrounded by floating lightbulb ideas in a steampunk-style workshop. Stacks of books, coffee cups and a laptop with a chat interface. Warm golden-hour lighting, digital art style." I wanted a representation of ChatGPT bridging language barriers and asked DeepSeek to offer a prompt that would help me accomplish "A futuristic world map hologram with glowing nodes labeled 'Code,' 'Design,' and 'Strategy.' A diverse team interacts with a ChatGPT interface projected in mid-air. Cyberpunk neon accents, 3D animation style." I often think of chatbots, particularly ChatGPT as a gateway to imagination. I asked DeepSeek to help me visualize "A child opens a storybook where ChatGPT's AI avatar leaps off the page, conjuring a magical forest with dragons, spaceships and floating cities. Whimsical Pixar-style animation, vibrant colors." Beyond brainstorming, many use ChatGPT for coding, particularly with its latest model now available. I figured, why not position the chatbot as the ultimate coding "A frustrated developer stares at a screen full of error messages. A superhero-style ChatGPT robot swoops in, zapping bugs into butterflies. Comic-book art with bold lines and dynamic angles." ChatGPT has proven time and time again to be the ultimate productivity master. I wanted to visualize the metaphor of ChatGPT streamlining "ChatGPT as a chef in a kitchen, 'cooking' tasks: a calendar soup, email sushi rolls and spreadsheet lasagna. Isometric 3D illustration, pastel colors, playful and minimalist." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. ChatGPT time-traveling through knowledge came to me as an idea and I asked DeepSeek to dive into the idea a little deeper. It did not "A Victorian-era library where ChatGPT, dressed as a scholar, debates with holograms of Einstein, Da Vinci, and Marie Curie. Oil painting style with surreal digital elements." Many users, especially Gen Z have leaned on ChatGPT as a wellness ally in a pinch. I wanted to visualize that representation of the supportive A serene zen garden with a ChatGPT-shaped stone fountain, radiating calming waves. A person meditates nearby, their stress transforming into origami birds. Watercolor and ink blend, soft gradients." These prompts help to elevate image generation. If you're stuck in a rut with the details, I encourage you to lean on your favorite chatbot to help build out your ideas. Chatbots are only as good as the human using them. So, be sure to prompt the chatbot with your original image generation prompt and ask it to help flesh out your idea. By bridging language and visuals, you unlock a universe where AI can tell a complete story. I think you'll notice how otherwise mundane prompts morph into new bursts of creativity.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
How a dying anglerfish became the darling of social media
In February, researchers from conservation organisation Condrik Tenerife were about two kilometres off the coast of Tenerife Island, looking for sharks, when they caught sight of something much stranger. Photographer David Jara Boguñá filmed a humpback anglerfish (Melanocetus johnsonii, a species of black seadevil) swimming near the surface in sunlit waters. These fish have never before been seen alive in daylight, as they normally dwell in the 'twilight zone' at depths from 200m to 600m. The video has provoked an enormously empathetic response on social media, with some seeing the fish as a feminist icon or an Icarus-like figure who swam too close to the Sun. The reaction shows our views of the deep sea – long ignored or seen as a realm of monsters – may at last be changing. The strange lives of anglerfish Anglerfish are much smaller than you probably think they are. The specimen Boguñá filmed was a female, which typically grow up to 15cm long. The creatures are named for their bioluminescent lure (or esca). This modified dorsal fin ray can produce a glow used to fish (or angle) for prey in the dim depths of the sea. The bioluminescence is produced by symbiotic bacteria that live inside the bulbous head of the esca. Male anglerfish lack the iconic lure and are much smaller, usually reaching a length of only 3cm. A male anglerfish spends the first part of his life searching for a female to whom he will then attach himself. He will eventually fuse his circulatory system with hers, depending on her entirely for nutrients, and live out his life as a parasite or 'living testicle'. It is unknown why this fish was swimming vertically near the surface. Researchers have speculated that the behaviour may have been related to changes in water temperature, or that the fish was simply at the end of her life. Watchers observed the fish for several hours, until it died. Its body was preserved and taken to the Museum of Nature and Archaeology in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where it will be further studied. Sympathy for the seadevil The video quickly went viral, inspiring countless reaction videos, artworks, memes, a Pixar-style animation and a poem titled Icarus is the Anglerfish. One Reddit user commented: 'I like to think she is a respected old grandmother who has dreamed her entire life of seeing the sunlight and the world above the water. She knows her time is nigh so she bade farewell to her friends and family and swam up towards the light and whatever it might hold for her as her life as an anglerfish comes to a close.' One person described the fish as her 'feminist Roman Empire', in the sense of an inspirational obsession that filled the same role for her that the Roman Empire supposedly does for many men. Boguñá and Condrik Tenerife have since commented on the public reaction. (The original post is in Spanish, but Instagram's automated English translation is below.) 'He's become a global icon, that's clear. But far from the romanticisation and attempt to humanise that has been given to its tragic story, I think that what this event has been for is to awaken the curiosity of the sea to PEOPLE, especially the younger ones, and perhaps, it also serves that messages about marine ecosystem conservation can reach so many more people.' From horrors to heroes The outpouring of empathy for the anglerfish is unexpected. With their glowing lures and fang-filled mouths, the creatures have long been archetypal horrors of the abyss. As I have written elsewhere, the anglerfish's extreme sexual dimorphism and parasitism, along with its unsettling anatomy, have made it the 'iconic ambassador of the deep sea'. Anglerfish or angler-inspired aliens have appeared as antagonists in films such as Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Finding Nemo (2003), The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) and Luca (2021). The reception of 'Icarus' (as some call her) in popular culture indicates a perhaps surprising capacity for empathy toward animals that aren't conventionally cute or beautiful. It stands in stark contrast to the fate of the deep-sea blobfish Psychrolutes marcidus, which in 2013 was voted the world's ugliest animal. Perhaps the name is a clue: people have seen in the fish a creature striving to reach the light, who died as a result of her quest. But does our projection of human emotions and desires onto non-human animals risk misunderstanding scientific reality? Almost certainly – but, as US environmental humanities researcher Stacy Alaimo has argued, it may also have benefits: 'Deep-sea creatures are often pictured as aliens from another planet, and I think that gets people interested in them because we're all interested in novelty and weirdness and the surreal […] I think that can be positive, but the idea of the alien can also cut us off from any responsibility.' The deep sea and its inhabitants face growing threats from seabed mining, plastic pollution, and the effects of human-induced climate change. They need all the empathy they can get.
