Elemental, the latest animated movie from Walt Disney/Pixar, posits a metropolis inhabited by manifestations of the four elements: fire, water, air and land. Although the four populations keep to themselves to some extent, there are interactions that can be... messy. Especially when fire -- which can have a particularly detrimental effect on the other three -- is involved.

The story focuses on Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis), a young fire girl whose parents, Bernie and Cinder (Ronnie Del Carmen and Shila Ommi), immigrated to the city and started a small shop that sells fire-related sundries. Someday, Bernie keeps telling his daughter, the shop will be hers. But then Wade (Mamoudou Athie), a city inspector (and water elemental), finds some problems with the shop's plumbing that could shut them down.

Despite their obvious and incompatible differences, there's an opposites-attract kind of chemistry between Ember and Wade, and of course they end up working together to try and save the shop. But that's just the start of their troubles, because certain aspects of their lives go together like, well, fire and water.

Elemental does not feature a big bad antagonist; the main characters are fighting against circumstances rather than a villain here. The movie is quite funny at times ... and at the same time, it delivers a potent (if slightly ham-handed) message about overcoming deeply rooted prejudices.

The animation style is pretty darn cool, too -- fluid and fiery and colorful as all get out. My kids had been dying to see this movie, and once we all sat down to watch it, they were captivated from start to finish. My wife and I enjoyed it, too, and I imagine the family will gather again sometime soon for a second viewing.