Fan theories for Elio’s eye patch are so wholesome – and everything you else you need to know about the Pixar original

Pixar’s original storytelling is hard to match, and this summer brings a brand new story to the cinema. Following on from last year’s success with Inside Out 2, Pixar is taking us out of this world with the arrival of Elio on June 20, as the titular character struggles to find his place in the world. The only solution? To be abducted into a new one!

Find out everything you need to know about Elio, including cast and all the theories of why Elio wears an eye patch below.

Releasing 3D as well as standard 2D, you can book to watch Elio at your nearest Cineworld now.

 

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What is Pixar’s Elio about?

Elio is a big fan of space, but what eleven year old isn’t? Skipping school and struggling to make friends, Elio’s only wish is to be abducted by aliens and get his one-way ticket off of Earth.

When this actually happens, though, he is mistaken as the leader of Earth when arriving at Communiverse with representatives from across the galaxies. Befriending an alien called Glordon, he must travel across the universe to navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions. Along the way he makes friends with Glordon and other unique and wonderful extraterrestrials, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll find his place in the world.

Who are in the cast of Elio?

  • Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solis
  • Xoe Saldaña as Olga Solis, Elio’s aunt
  • Remedy Edgerly as Glordon
  • Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, Glordon’s father
  • Jameela Jamil as Questa
  • Shirley Henderson as OOOOO
  • Mattias Schweighöfer as Tegmen
  • Brandon Moon as Helix
  • Naomi Watanabe as Auva
  • Ana de la Reguera as Turais
  • Anissa Borrego as Mira

 

 

Why does Elio have an eye patch?

Keen eyed viewers have noticed that there are scenes in the trailer of Elio where his character is seen sporting a blue eye-patch. Equally, there are also scenes where he doesn’t appear to have it, leading many to speculate why Elio has an eye patch.

Pixar haven’t officially shared why Elio has an eyepatch. Speaking to CinemaBlend, animation supervisor Jude Bornbill said, “Well, you didn't get to see how he got his eye patch [in the footage], but he gets an eye patch. That's all we can say. It was a bit of a challenge 'cause we were like, does he have to spend the rest of the movie with his eye patch on?”

However, that hasn’t stopped fans speculating, and one theory feels particularly wholesome. Reddit users and even an American charity, the Children’s Eye Foundation, have weighed in on whether Elio might suffer from amblyopia (a lazy eye). Often this condition is treated with the use of an eye patch put over the stronger eye in order to encourage the strengthening of the weaker one.

As someone that experienced this as a kid, seeing a Pixar character that may potentially adopt an eyepatch for this reason feels like a wonderful step in diversity.

 

 

What is the release date for Elio?

Elio is landing in cinemas from June 20.

How do you pronounce Elio?

In the trailer, the name Elio is pronounced by his aunt as el-ee-oh.