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Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Elio': Toronto Oscar winner Domee Shi explains why title character has an eye patch
Oscar winner Domee Shi drew inspiration from her own mother for her 2018 animated short film Bao, crafted a love letter to Toronto with one of the best fictional boy bands with Turning Red in 2022, and now takes on sci-fi with the movie Elio (currently in theatres). For Shi, it was exciting to get to play with the genre as one of the film's directors. "This was my first time directing a sci-fi movie, but I've always loved sci-fi as a genre. Some of my favourite movies are sci-fi movies, like Alien, Gravity," Shi told Yahoo Canada in Toronto. "It was so great to be able to pay homage to all of my favourite movies." "I love that in our movie we can use space as a symbol of aspiration, of wish fulfillment, instead of a scary space or a threatening space. It's a space that welcomes and accepts our main character." Unlike what we see in most movies, the main character Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) wants to be abducted by aliens. As an orphaned child, he lives with his aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña), who works in the military as a major in the U.S. Air Force tasked with scanning for space debris. Olga had dreams of pursing the astronaut space program, but those plans had to be put aside when she became Elio's legal guardian. Elio is an 11-year-old boy who just doesn't feel like he belongs, which makes him long for a life in space with the aliens. As we see early on in the movie, as Elio tries to craft a device to communicate with aliens, things don't go as planned and he ends up injuring his eye, requiring him to wear and eye patch until he's healed. The eye patch was something that was quickly embraced by many, even when we didn't know exactly why he was wearing one. "I love that people have embraced Eliot's eye patch," Shi said. "The original idea came from the original director, Adrian Molina, just this idea that a characteristic that Elio could be othered for is something that he can be celebrated for, that could make him look actually really cool once he's in space." "Once he is in space and he has the eye patch and the cape, he looks like ... a cool space pirate, but it's so amazing that kids and audiences have embraced that eye patch." Elio's attempt at alien abduction pays off when he's beamed up to the Communiverse, an organization with representatives from each galaxy, like a sci-fi version of the United Nations, but it's all a misunderstanding. The aliens think that Elio is the leader of Earth. But he doesn't want to go home just yet, so Elio goes along with it and does not tell them he's actually just a kid who loves space. It's in the Communiverse that Elio leans into what Pixar does best, creating really interesting animated characters, some that are more visually frightening and some that are the most adorable little bundles of joy you've ever seen. "One of the things I loved about directing a sci-fi movie ... is that you can take these familiar tropes ... and kind of turn them on their head and twist them in a surprising way," Shi said. "So introducing a really scary looking toothy worm with no eyes, you're like, oh my gosh ... is Elio going to be eaten? And then twisting it and being like, oh no, it's actually a really cute kid. It's actually this lonely, weird, cute boy who could be Elio's first friend." At the heart of Elio is a story of loneliness, a universal theme set to resonate with many who see the movie. "Me and [co-director Madeline Sharafian], when we started on this project, ... it was our idea to kind of make Elio obsessed with getting abducted by aliens, obsessed with going into space and living with aliens, but we had to understand why," Shi explained. "We had to understand the emotion driving that and we realized it had to be loneliness." "When Elio gets abducted, when that beam hits him and he's whooping for joy, audiences have to be whooping with him. ... We had to introduce him in a way that made audiences really empathize and understand why he doesn't feel like he belongs on Earth. And that means introducing him as this recently orphaned kid who's thrust upon his aunt who's still struggling with trying to figure out how to balance her career and being a new mom. It's a fine balance too. We don't want to start the movie off in too much of a sad way." And what's impressive about Elio is that it's able to present its message in a way that can speak to both children and adults. Even Shi admitted that it's a difficult element to achieve. "It is really hard. It's hard work, but that's kind of the bar that we set for ourselves at Pixar, is to tell these stories that are for kids and for adults," Shi said. "Even when really wacky, goofy, cartoony aliens are on screen and it is a fun, wacky adventure, there is an emotional through line." "We're really honest with each other. At Pixar, we show our work to each other all the time. These movies take four to five years to make because we're constantly putting up the movie multiple times. We have screenings. We invite members of the crew, members of the studio to watch it, to send in notes. People are very honest, because everyone cares so much about what they do at Pixar and wanting to make stories that resonate with people."
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Elio': Toronto Oscar winner Domee Shi explains why title character has an eye patch
Oscar winner Domee Shi drew inspiration from her own mother for her 2018 animated short film Bao, crafted a love letter to Toronto with one of the best fictional boy bands with Turning Red in 2022, and now takes on sci-fi with the movie Elio (currently in theatres). For Shi, it was exciting to get to play with the genre as one of the film's directors. "This was my first time directing a sci-fi movie, but I've always loved sci-fi as a genre. Some of my favourite movies are sci-fi movies, like Alien, Gravity," Shi told Yahoo Canada in Toronto. "It was so great to be able to pay homage to all of my favourite movies." "I love that in our movie we can use space as a symbol of aspiration, of wish fulfillment, instead of a scary space or a threatening space. It's a space that welcomes and accepts our main character." Unlike what we see in most movies, the main character Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) wants to be abducted by aliens. As an orphaned child, he lives with his aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña), who works in the military as a major in the U.S. Air Force tasked with scanning for space debris. Olga had dreams of pursing the astronaut space program, but those plans had to be put aside when she became Elio's legal guardian. Elio is an 11-year-old boy who just doesn't feel like he belongs, which makes him long for a life in space with the aliens. As we see early on in the movie, as Elio tries to craft a device to communicate with aliens, things don't go as planned and he ends up injuring his eye, requiring him to wear and eye patch until he's healed. The eye patch was something that was quickly embraced by many, even when we didn't know exactly why he was wearing one. "I love that people have embraced Eliot's eye patch," Shi said. "The original idea came from the original director, Adrian Molina, just this idea that a characteristic that Elio could be othered for is something that he can be celebrated for, that could make him look actually really cool once he's in space." "Once he is in space and he has the eye patch and the cape, he looks like ... a cool space pirate, but it's so amazing that kids and audiences have embraced that eye patch." Elio's attempt at alien abduction pays off when he's beamed up to the Communiverse, an organization with representatives from each galaxy, like a sci-fi version of the United Nations, but it's all a misunderstanding. The aliens think that Elio is the leader of Earth. But he doesn't want to go home just yet, so Elio goes along with it and does not tell them he's actually just a kid who loves space. It's in the Communiverse that Elio leans into what Pixar does best, creating really interesting animated characters, some that are more visually frightening and some that are the most adorable little bundles of joy you've ever seen. "One of the things I loved about directing a sci-fi movie ... is that you can take these familiar tropes ... and kind of turn them on their head and twist them in a surprising way," Shi said. "So introducing a really scary looking toothy worm with no eyes, you're like, oh my gosh ... is Elio going to be eaten? And then twisting it and being like, oh no, it's actually a really cute kid. It's actually this lonely, weird, cute boy who could be Elio's first friend." At the heart of Elio is a story of loneliness, a universal theme set to resonate with many who see the movie. "Me and [co-director Madeline Sharafian], when we started on this project, ... it was our idea to kind of make Elio obsessed with getting abducted by aliens, obsessed with going into space and living with aliens, but we had to understand why," Shi explained. "We had to understand the emotion driving that and we realized it had to be loneliness." "When Elio gets abducted, when that beam hits him and he's whooping for joy, audiences have to be whooping with him. ... We had to introduce him in a way that made audiences really empathize and understand why he doesn't feel like he belongs on Earth. And that means introducing him as this recently orphaned kid who's thrust upon his aunt who's still struggling with trying to figure out how to balance her career and being a new mom. It's a fine balance too. We don't want to start the movie off in too much of a sad way." And what's impressive about Elio is that it's able to present its message in a way that can speak to both children and adults. Even Shi admitted that it's a difficult element to achieve. "It is really hard. It's hard work, but that's kind of the bar that we set for ourselves at Pixar, is to tell these stories that are for kids and for adults," Shi said. "Even when really wacky, goofy, cartoony aliens are on screen and it is a fun, wacky adventure, there is an emotional through line." "We're really honest with each other. At Pixar, we show our work to each other all the time. These movies take four to five years to make because we're constantly putting up the movie multiple times. We have screenings. We invite members of the crew, members of the studio to watch it, to send in notes. People are very honest, because everyone cares so much about what they do at Pixar and wanting to make stories that resonate with people."
San Francisco Chronicle
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Disney, Pixar's ‘Elio' aims for the stars — and lands in the heart
Pixar's attention to detail in its animated films is well-known, from the way a blade of grass sways in the wind to a wisp of fuzz on a sleeve. But for its latest feature, 'Elio,' directors Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian weren't just focused on visual realism. They wanted to zoom in on the mind of its namesake protagonist, an 11-year-old orphan who feels like he doesn't belong. In pursuit of emotional authenticity, they met with child psychologists and former U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to learn how children process grief and loneliness. 'As we were listening to these experts, I remember taking notes about things a lonely kid might do,' Sharafian told the Chronicle in a joint video call with Shi and 'Elio' producer Mary Alice Drumm from Pixar's Emeryville studio. 'For example, they might say 'I'm lonely' and that's a big step, because the feeling of loneliness is often accompanied by a lot of shame and guilt that their situation is all their fault.' 'Elio' is about space, both the one overhead and the one that forms around you. The boy (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) is an adventurous wannabe space cadet craving intergalactic connection because that's the only place he thinks he fits in. His extraterrestrial-hunting aunt Olga (voiced by Zoe Saldaña) assumes Elio's caretaker role — that is, until he accidentally gets beamed into the Communiverse. In the Communiverse, a United Nations-like assembly for alien civilizations, Elio thrives as Earth's ambassador. He earns the trust of the assembly's officials and makes friends with roly poly larval alien Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly). Unfortunately, Glordon's dad Lord Grigon (voiced by Brad Garrett) wants to rule the Communiverse, so the young duo embark on an adventure to prevent dad's hostile takeover and get Elio back home. It's no coincidence that the character's name 'Elio' is derived from Elliott, a.k.a. the bicycle-flying, extraterrestrial-harboring kid of the 1982 classic 'E.T.' In a lot of ways, 'Elio' shares similarities to Steven Spielberg's misfit boy-meets-thing premise except the alien in this case is the boy. And like E.T.'s finger and the best Pixar story lines, it's reliably touching and makes the heart glow. 'That helped me a lot for that emotional journey that he has,' said the 14-year-old actor. 'Elio has a great imagination and amazing spirit. He's always down for an adventure and he doesn't care about what other people think. And I can relate to that in a lot of ways.' While the pandemic may have informed his performance in the film, 'Elio' still experienced significant roadblocks to launch. Script rewrites were delayed by the 2023 writers' and actors' strike. In 2024, original director Adrian Molina was replaced by Shi ('Turning Red' and 'Bao,' which won the 2019 Academy Award for best animated short) and Sharafian ('Burrow'), who makes her feature directorial debut. As a result, its scheduled release date last year was pushed to 2025. To get 'Elio' completed in a condensed time frame, the Pixar team implemented a strategy titled College Project, which assembled supervisors of all the film's departments into one room. It had the atmosphere of study group cram sessions that allowed for adjustments and quick approvals. 'We were all working in the room together because we were moving so fast,' said Shi. 'It was really fun and scrappy and collaborative. It felt like we were our own little Communiverse making this movie.' Now 'Elio' is entering a crowded summer movie season against ' Despicable Me ' and ' Kung Fu Panda ' sequels. But producer Mary Alice Drumm said the team's focus isn't on the box office competition; the main job is to make the best, most entertaining film they can to keep families coming to the movies. 'People are hungry to be back in theaters together for amazing films that are beautiful on the big screen and about connection,' said Drumm. 'We feel like this is one of them.' All of Pixar's trademark diligence and attention to emotional nuance is put on display in 'Elio.' Directors Shi and Sharafian have a reputation for deftly imbuing adventurous fun with humanity, a quality that continues to set their films apart. Take, for instance, the character of Lord Grigon who wants his squishy son Glordon to carry on the family tyranny business. Glordon's line, 'I don't want to be a war machine,' is delivered with the determination of a shy 11-year-old wanting to quit piano lessons. It's a familiar dynamic to anyone who understands certain cultural expectations — especially those rooted in Asian households. So, is Lord Grigon an Asian dad? 'I wish,' said Shi with a laugh, though the Chinese Canadian admitted some traits feel more Asian than alien. 'Lord Grigon is motivated by saving face. He was rejected by the Communiverse, and that really damaged his pride. I do feel Asians are all about saving face.' Along with the emotional layers, 'Elio' is visually tantalizing, credited to visual effects supervisor Claudia Chung Sanii and veteran production designer Harley Jessup. The film is Jessup's last ride with Pixar before he retires, and his team left it all out on the storyboards. Space vessels resemble intricate origami, foggy beaches and redwood forests drew inspiration from the craggy Southern Oregon and Sonoma coastlines. The aliens bring to mind underwater creatures like ribbon eels, sea slugs and leafy seadragons — a resemblance heightened by the glittering, zero-gravity Communiverse they inhabit. Deeply embedded is an appreciation for sci-fi and horror, with easter eggs referencing 'The Thing,' 'Aliens' and 'Close Encounters' scattered throughout. 'Elio' earns its PG rating, but this being Pixar, the scares come with a wink. The aliens may look like they came out of a NyQuil fever dream, but their voices and rounded edges soften the eek factor. 'I feel like we strike that balance between scary and fun,' said Shi. 'I think about when I was a kid, how I liked to be scared sometimes. I loved Tim Burton movies. I loved 'Gremlins.' There is that sweet spot of scary-fun — a thrill.' 'Elio' closes on a hopeful, unifying note using the words of a famed astronomer not named Neil. Drumm feels it's an important message to send amid an outside world clouded by harmful rhetoric and tear gas. 'I think making a film about a place in space with people of a different species from different planets all working together resonates at all times,' said Drumm. 'At Pixar, we're always hoping to leave the audience with a little bit of hope and optimism. I think that's needed more than ever today.'
New Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Zeekr adds Carro to its dealers network
KUALA LUMPUR: Premium new energy vehicle group Zeekr has appointed Carro to as its latest authorised dealer in Malaysia. Carro is Asia Pacific's largest online automotive marketplace and Malaysia's most trusted used car platform. In a joint statement today, both parties said the partnership plans include four new Zeekr showrooms and three Carro Care workshops to support retail and maintenance efforts. "Zeekr car owners can look forward to greater accessibility and convenience within the electric vehicle (EV) sector in the long run, as they look forward to the standard dealer warranty. "They can also have plus access to a full suite of end-to-end Carro services, including financing, aftersales and insurance services with Genie financial services, Carro Care and Coverro respectively," it said. Zeekr Southeast Asia managing director Alrx Bao said the positive response it had received from the Malaysian market over the past few months reflects the growing appreciation for Zeekr's premium electric vehicles. Bao said the momentum reinforces its commitment to expand the company's presence in Malaysia. "The partnership with Carro represents a significant milestone in that direction, enhancing both our sales network and after-sales capabilities to better support our customers. "This collaboration also aligns with our broader business strategy as we prepare for the introduction of our next important model, the Zeekr 7X," he said. Carro chief executive officer of international marketplace Fong Hon Sum said this is a really exciting step for the company as it offers even more automotive options to its customers in Malaysia. Fong said the company is seeing a growing market in Malaysia for hybrid and electric vehicles, with developing infrastructure and tax exemptions in place. "We are ready to provide these services to Malaysians who are keen to make the switch to EVs. "Our expertise within the EV sector has us well-placed to handle inspections, repairs, and maintenance, and we're so excited to have Zeekr as our partner," he added. There are currently three showrooms, known as Zeekr Space, in Petaling Jaya and IOI Mall Puchong.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Killer of Christchurch real estate agent jailed for life
By Tim Brown of RNZ Chinese national Tingjun Cao will spend at least 17 years behind bars for murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Her family told the High Court at Christchurch of the unbearable absence of Bao from their lives since the 44-year-old disappeared from Hornby in July 2023. Bao's 11-year-old daughter told the court: "My family is sad and our house feels different. It is quieter and emptier." Cao killed Bao in July 2023 after luring her to a Hornby home she was selling. On Friday, Justice Lisa Preston sentenced Cao to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 17 and a-half years. Cao was earlier removed from the court by Corrections officers after he regularly interjected and interrupted the hearing with outbursts. Immigration New Zealand said it would now consider enforcement action against Cao. 'You took my mummy away from me' In victim impact statements read to the court on their behalf, Bao's family called for the judge to impose the harshest possible sentence and outlined the immeasurable trauma and loss they had suffered. Bao's daughter, who had name suppression, told the killer: "You took my mummy away from me and my life has not been the same since". "I laugh less now because nothing feels as fun or as happy as it used to. "I miss my mummy every single day. I miss the way she used to do my hair, cook for me and make me feel safe. I miss her voice, her smell and the way she always knew how to make things better. "Since mummy has been gone, I feel lonely a lot. Even when I am with other people, it is not the same without her." Bao's husband, Paul Gooch, said he was still haunted by her final moments. "We find ourselves in a profound state of grief, grappling with the heart-wrenching questions that linger," he said. "When did she first sense the peril to her life? For how long did she endure the unimaginable suffering before her death? The deep sorrow of her pain continues to resonate within us all." Gooch paid tribute to his partner. "Nineteen months ago we were heartlessly deprived of Yanfei. She was a devoted wife and mother and now we are left with the unbearable absence of her presence," he said. "We can no longer share in the joy of her laughter, the fullness of our lives with her, or the comfort of her warmth and love. Her radiant light has been forever extinguished." Gooch's father, David Gooch, called Cao a "despicable monster". "You took Yanfei - a wife, a mother and daughter - for your own gratification and created a huge hole in all our hearts, which will never be filled. We are all heartbroken and are lost without Yanfei," he said. Bao's 74-year-old father, who had name suppression and spoke to the court via audio-visual link from China, said he wished he was present for the hearing. "What right did the defendant have to take my daughter's precious life. What right did they have to destroy our happiness and cause such a heinous impact on society?" prosecutor Cameron Stuart translated on the man's behalf. "In this case, the facts of the defendant's deliberate murder are clear and the evidence is irrefutable. I believe the perpetrator acted with deep malice, used particularly cruel means, caused especially severe consequences, and had a highly adverse social impact. "After being apprehended, the defendant demonstrated a poor attitude, evading responsibility and refusing to plead guilty, which greatly hindered the police and courts investigation. Furthermore, neither the defendant nor their family have ever apologised to the victim's family, showing no remorse whatsoever. Therefore, I solemnly request that the court, in order to uphold the dignity of the law, ensure judicial fairness and maintain social stability, convict and sentence the defendant to the highest penalty according to the law." He also described the immense suffering the family had suffered with the loss of a loved daughter and sister. "My heart at this moment is filled with immense sorrow which words cannot adequately convey," Bao's father said. "My daughter was an intelligent, kind, brave and resilient, modern Chinese woman, full of positivity. She was the light of my wife's and my life, the most brilliant colour in our ordinary days and the greatest spiritual support and source of motivation during our families tough times. "Every stage of her growth was the most precious memory in our hearts, and her laughter was the most melodious tune in our home. Filling it with love and hope throughout the seasons." As court began on Friday morning, Cao made protestations about evidence he claimed would demonstrate his innocence, leading to Justice Preston closing the court to the public to address the outbursts. Cao interrupts However, when court resumed, Cao again leapt to his feet and began interrupting. As Corrections officers escorted him from the court, he continued speaking loudly and gesticulating. His final protest came as he ripped up his papers, bundled them into a ball and threw them to the ground. Cao was forced to watch the remainder of the hearing from another courtroom. His seven-week jury trial last year was also marked by Cao's odd displays. He sacked his defence lawyers during the trial and represented himself with the help of a trio of interpreters. Justice Preston repeatedly warned Cao about asking irrelevant questions, making meandering and repetitive statements, and accusing witnesses of lying. The prosecution described the case against Cao as an "absolute slam dunk" with compelling and overwhelming evidence demonstrating his guilt. However, Cao claimed he was at the centre of a conspiracy and police officers had lied, fabricated, planted and doctored evidence to frame him. In delivering his closing argument he regularly turned and spoke to the glass panes of an empty dock and at other times rambled through measurements and minutiae which were difficult to link to his claims of innocence or the case. What happened to Bao? Cao lured the 44-year-old Yanfei Bao to the Hornby home on July 19, 2023 under the pretence of wanting to view the property. There he attacked her, bundled her into the boot of his car and drove her to a remote rural road near Lincoln where he killed her. He buried her in a shallow grave along the treeline of a farm in Greenpark where police found her remains almost a year later. Bao's husband reported her missing the day she vanished after discovering his wife had not collected her daughter from an after-school programme, had not come home for lunch and calls to her phone went unanswered. Police found Bao's phone in grass beside the southern motorway two days later. Cao was arrested on his way to Christchurch Airport in the days after her disappearance with a one-way ticket to Shanghai. He was initially charged with Bao's kidnapping but the charged was later dropped. Cao was charged with murder in September 2023. RNZ asked Immigration New Zealand if a deportation order had been sought for Cao, national manager compliance Damon Tredaway said: "we will consider any appropriate enforcement actions once the court proceedings have concluded". Cao would not be eligible for parole until 2041.
