It’s almost as though the contours of what made Pixar great have been copied out here in vague watercolour.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 18, 2024

With its gorgeous animation and vibrant colours, Elemental seems to mark a return to the classic magical atmosphere that characterises Pixar cartoons and marked many of our childhoods.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 15, 2024

A vivid, vibrant world and expectedly colourful, absorbing animation are never matched by Elemental’s basic plot and clumsy allegories.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 3, 2024

Consequently, the film not only focuses on interclass and racial romance, but also reflects on other issues such as uprooting, the breaking of family mandates, prejudices and vocation or talent.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 22, 2024

There is no shortage of imagination in place, and the fluid animation, paired with the kinetic pacing and creative solutions to singular elemental problems, shows a dynamic engagement with the premise on the part of the director and animators.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 19, 2024

The animation is perfect, but the script is weak, and for a film like this the writing really needed to be much much sharper. It's all a bit damp.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 5, 2024

It’s not often you get an original concept from Pixar that doesn’t work.

| Mar 1, 2024

Elemental manages to be pleasantly heart-warming, if not nearly as profound or affecting as some of the studios’ previous projects.

| Jan 12, 2024

Probably one of the worst Pixar outings in a very long time.

| Dec 14, 2023

Baby's first immigrant story and interracial relationship courtesy of … Disney/Pixar? I jest because, honestly, ELEMENTAL is cute and does work on that social level.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 1, 2023

An anthropomorphic immigrant romance combines into a mixed metaphorical mess... a Pixar film built on “plussing” instead of being enhanced by it... hoping the rapid fire nonsense will gloss over the lack of cohesion.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 25, 2023

Pixar always had something new up its collective artistic sleeve. And yet here they are, coming out with a film as dull-witted and syrupy as Elemental.

| Oct 31, 2023

Stunning animation sparks this cross-cultural, high-concept 'Romeo & Juliet' romantic comedy, inspired by the periodic chart of elements that one recalls from science class.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 26, 2023

Elemental is a marvel of layered animation techniques that float through that uncanny valley between 2D and 3D. It’s hard to discern the physical set pieces from those created in a computer and that lends an edge of realism.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 23, 2023

"Trying to make a character out of a cloud" is a sadly apt metaphor for this whole doomed endeavor.

| Original Score: D | Sep 20, 2023

Together, with the thematic elements and execution of the ideas, "Elemental" goes beyond tear-inducing, reaching soul-shaking. Absolutely the surprise film of 2023.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 13, 2023

Water, Fire, Earth, and Air are like ethnic inhabitants of distinctive neighborhoods in this imaginatively designed Element City, with the Periodic Table-like skyline. But the story line gets heavy-handed about immigrants and accepting different folks.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Sep 6, 2023

Elemental does reward a big screen experience, and its message about love, self-determination, and community is relevant and welcome.

| Sep 6, 2023

This Pixar movie doesn’t rekindle the studio’s old magic, but it’s no washout either.

| Sep 2, 2023

Visually, the film generally makes up for its dubiously executed premise and underwhelming conflict resolution – it had better, considering the $200 million budget.

| Aug 16, 2023