Elementary: Why this Pixar film is going to make a mark in animation?

Pixar Studios’ Elementary hits theaters June 21. After bringing toys to life and personifying emotions, Peter Sohn’s film brings the elements to life. The fictional characters are Gube with an easy tear and Ali with a volcanic temperament.

This feature film takes place in Element City. Fire, water, earth and air live in perfect harmony. It is here that Flem, a fearless and quick-witted young woman, and Fleck, a sentimental and funny boy, live. Their friendship challenges Flem’s beliefs about the world in which they live.

The first film with a non-binary character

Pixar studios have always had a reputation as pioneers in film, and Elementary is no exception to the rule, as beyond the technical challenges, the animators included the first non-binary character in this animated film. Great for a first animated feature.

This was revealed by Kai Ava Hauser, who voices the character Lake, a water creature.

“Big announcement”! I played Pixar’s first non-binary character! this is a lake! I play lake in elementary school!”

Lake (French for Lac), who appears briefly in the film, is the youngest child of the Delamar family. Adelph de Flacq is also in a relationship with a character named Ghibli, after Hayao Miyazaki’s studio.

Pixar makes history

With this character, Pixar is making history once again. Last year, the studio included Buzz Lightyear, the first openly LGBTQ couple. The two women shared a furtive kiss scene that led to the film being censored in many countries.

This isn’t the first time the studio has tried to put LGBTQ characters on screen, but each time it’s been secondary characters and scenes that weren’t overt. In 2016’s Finding Dory, several women pushing a cart appeared briefly; In 2019’s Toy Story 4, we saw two mothers hugging their children in front of a kindergarten; The following year in Onward, a one-eyed policeman mentioned his girlfriend (the scene was censored in some countries).

Lake’s inclusion in Pixar’s 27th feature film speaks to the animation industry’s desire to normalize gender and sexuality in movies. Like the “Protect Trans Kids” poster that sits in Gwen Stacy’s room in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Elementary School is now in theaters.