The story follows Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis), a fiery young woman whose immigration story mirrors that of director Peter Sohn’s own parents. Ember is the daughter of Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen) and Cinder Lumen (Shila Ommi), fire elements who emigrated to Element City seeking a better life. They established "The Fireplace," a convenience store and community hub that serves as the center of their social lives.
Director Peter Sohn (who directed The Good Dinosaur ) based the film on his own life as the son of Korean immigrants. In the film, Fire elements are coded as first-generation immigrants. They are loud, passionate, eat spicy foods that others can’t handle, and are viewed by the other elements as dangerous, unpredictable, and "too much." disney elemental movie