Story by Morgan Sun
Feature Editor

Recently, I watched the Disney and Pixar animated movie Elemental and was faced with a bittersweet surprise. After being released in 2023, it came out as a box office flop with lackluster advertisement, but underwent a resurgence after its appearance on Disney+.

Elemental’s basic plot follows a whimsical tale about anthropomorphic elements, but beneath its vibrant animation lies a deeply resonant story about immigration, identity, and the struggle to belong. At its heart, the film is an allegory for the immigrant experience, particularly that of Asian Americans, reflecting the generational tensions, cultural expectations, and sacrifices that come with forging a new life in an unfamiliar land.

The central conflict in Elemental revolves around Ember, a young Fire woman whose parents emigrated from their homeland to build a better future. Their struggles to assimilate while preserving their cultural heritage mirror the challenges faced by many immigrant families. The film beautifully illustrates the emotional weight of being a first-generation child, torn between honoring one’s roots and forging one’s own path. 

One of the film’s most poignant themes is the invisible barriers immigrants face. The elemental world is divided, with Fire elements seen as outsiders, creating segregated yet bonded communities reminiscent of the “Chinatowns” in today’s cities. 

After seeing such a vivid reflection of myself and the experience of other immigrant families, I took to YouTube to watch reviews and analyses. Because, of course, the Internet is the sole source one should consult when formulating any opinions. 

Unfortunately, many watchers didn’t seem to understand the underlying message within the film — they only saw the light-hearted animations and romantic plotline. And this underscores a pattern I tend to see in our media: If a piece of media is advertised or executed as a light-hearted piece, those outside of the directly referenced experiences are blind to the true message. If media is advertised to portray a certain societal issue, those not affected by that issue tend to not consume that piece. In either scenario, those who could benefit from learning a new perspective are unable or unwilling to see it.