Pixar’s Elio is in theaters June 20, and while the film hasn’t been seen yet, the director is already teasing which Pixar Easter eggs will be in the film. Pixar is known for its Easter eggs, with each film having a variety of references to the broader Pixar filmography. Luckily, Elio will be no exception, and the directors have already let audiences in on what Easter eggs could appear in the upcoming film.
Speaking with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, Elio directors Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian were asked about which of the classic Pixar Easter eggs would appear in the upcoming film. The duo gave a surprising amount of information, mentioning several specific references that will pop up in the film. They also discussed a tease of a future Pixar project that can be seen in Elio. Here are the directors’ full comments:
Ash Crossan: I know Pixar movies are famous for having a couple of Easter eggs hidden throughout — the Pizza Planet truck, A113, sometimes teases for the next movie. I was very visually distracted and wasn’t seeking those out, so I’m curious — are they there, and are there any hints on where I should be looking next time I watch?
Domee Shi: Yes. All those Easter eggs you mentioned are in the movie.
Madeline Sharafian: It’s fun. I’m glad. You shouldn’t really be thinking about them the first time you watch the movie.
Ash Crossan: Yeah, that’s like a fourth or fifth time thing.
Madeline Sharafian: But we definitely have the classics: the Luxo Ball, A113. And we do have a hint toward our next film. It’s in the universe somewhere. It’s a character, and it’s for the film Hoppers. It’s onscreen for a pretty long time and kind of featured, which is rare. Normally it’s not featured like that. But yeah… I don’t know if I want to say more than that.
What These Pixar Easter Eggs Mean For Elio
The Hoppers Tease May Be More Obvious
Luckily, Elio will be continuing the long-standing trend of featuring many iconic Pixar Easter eggs. The Pizza Planet truck, “A113,” the Luxo Ball, and more have been present in every Pixar movie, so it would be odd for Elio to change it now. While it is an original property, it is a Pixar movie at its core, and it is set to continue the legacy of the Pixar iconography that has been around since the very beginning.
The more interesting Easter egg that was mentioned is the Hoppers tease. While most Pixar movies do tease the studio’s next film, Sharafian’s comments imply that the Hoppers tease is bigger than most. It is specifically mentioned that a Hoppers character will appear in the film, meaning that it may be more obvious than some of the other subtle teases.
Our Take On Elio’s Pixar Easter Eggs
Elio Is Continuing The Legacy Of Pixar
Not having these classic Easter eggs in Elio would seriously hurt the upcoming film, making it feel like the black sheep of the Pixar brand. So, it is nice to get some confirmation that these elements will be in the film ahead of time. This announcement gives viewers a list of what to look for, and the hunt will soon be on for Elio‘s various Easter eggs and references.