Elio is the latest animated blockbuster from Pixar, now showing in Vietnamese theaters. The film takes viewers on a magical journey across the galaxy into the Communiverse, a universe where alien civilizations converge. The main character, Elio, is a shy, dreamy boy who is suddenly transported to a strange space and mistaken as Earth’s ambassador. From there, Elio is caught in a series of hilarious and heartfelt situations as he represents humanity in communicating with bizarre extraterrestrial beings.
Beyond its fresh storyline and eye-catching visuals perfect for summer break, Elio has unexpectedly become a sensation in Vietnam thanks to a single line of dialogue and a small but meaningful detail. Specifically, the film features a colorful drink that immediately caught viewers’ attention. What seemed like a minor prop actually carries the mark of a Vietnamese artist: Vinh Lê, the film’s visual effects technical director who has been with Pixar for over five years.
Born in Ho Chi Minh City and moving to the U.S. at a young age, Vinh Lê carries childhood memories of Vietnam and had the chance to visit his homeland in 2009. That trip left a deep impression on him, especially the street food experiences where he first tasted chè, a traditional Vietnamese sweet dessert. When tasked with designing a signature drink for an alien civilization in Elio, Vinh immediately thought of Vietnamese chè, a colorful, humble treat featuring small tapioca pearls, mung beans, red beans, and jelly cubes. He wanted to create a drink that was not only visually striking but also evoked a sense of warmth, joy, and friendliness, matching the film’s spirit.
The drink, called Glorp in the film, is a vibrant purple beverage with a twisted straw and sparkling multicolored spheres inside. While many American viewers immediately associate it with bubble tea because of the straw and tapioca-like pearls, its original inspiration is Vietnamese chè. Interestingly, Glorp is not just a fleeting detail, AMC theaters in the U.S. have even offered it as a souvenir for audiences, making it a charming symbol from the Elio universe.
More than just a small detail in Elio, Vinh Lê has earned praise from Vietnamese fans as a vivid example of cultural connection in visual arts. With his love for his homeland, fans hope he will continue to bring Vietnamese imagery to the world through future animation projects.
Besides this chè-inspired drink, another Vietnam-related detail in the film has surprised and delighted Vietnamese viewers. Near the end, Elio and his aunt fly through space but are blocked by space debris. As they pass various countries’ space observatories, one of them is Vietnam’s. From the Vietnamese observatory comes a simple greeting: “I am Hoang from Vietnam.” Those six words alone have sent Vietnamese audiences into a frenzy in theaters.
