Soul continues Pixar bait and switch of animation with thematic punch to the proverbial gut

Photo from Pixar Facebook page

   After its initial June release date was pushed back due to the pandemic, the newest Disney Pixar movie, Soul, was finally released in late December on Disney+. Soul immediately stole the hearts of many families around America, scoring high marks in more ways than one. Not only does this film have astonishingly crystal-clear animation, but it also acknowledges those difficult philosophical questions many people have been racking their brains with since the dawn of time. “What’s my purpose in life?” “Am I really living my life to the fullest

Set initially in Queens, Soul follows middle school band teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx, Django Unchained) and his ambitious aspirations of performing with famous jazz musician, Dorthea Williams (Angela Bassett, Black Panther). Joe fantasizes that his grand jazz performance will ultimately jumpstart his music career, thus leading to his dream life.

The movie quickly and emphatically establishes Joe’s love for music. As a stubborn teenager being dragged to a local jazz club by his father, Joe was taken aback by the captivating sound of jazz. The sound, the emotion, the ambiance, grabbed hold of Joe and never let go. All of this talk about sparks and purposes makes Joe rethink his life and reassess his accomplishments. Is jazz music really his entire life? Or is there more he has yet to experience?

After a near death experience, Joe is hit with the realization that he’s not ready to die, especially if it means leaving behind all he has yet to accomplish. Joe miraculously cheats his own death, and lands in ‘The Great Before,’ a place where new souls get their personalities, where he appears in the form of a human soul. In this place, souls are given their personality and ‘spark’ in life before being sent to Earth.  

Soul finds ways to relate to its viewers and make them feel seen. Some might even say that this movie was destined to be released at this moment in time. The meaning of life and one’s purpose can be tricky, but if this film teaches its viewers anything, it is that it’s never too late to start living the way you are destined to. Lovable and charming for its younger audience, Soul still gives a playful take on the meaning of life and living for its older viewers. Long periods of time alone due to isolation have really brought these important questions to light, and Soul does a stunning job of accurately organizing these thoughts in a kid-friendly way. 

Besides the powerful, existential epiphanies addressed in this film, Soul also features a celebration of black culture in not only Joe’s life, but present day Queens, New York. Despite the celebratory aspects, there are unfortunately some upsetting racial issues. Although Joe is shown as an African American man accompanied with his passion for jazz music, the audience doesn’t necessarily get a visual for that during a good portion of the movie. Joe is quickly transformed into a blue-green colored human soul, making this movie fall into the all-too common trope that black characters don’t get to stay human. Other than the lack of a visual for Joe’s true (human) skin color, the film still surrounds the jazz culture of New York, and Joe’s passion for his music. 

As if the inclusion of real world topics and ideas weren’t enough, Soul contains relatable characters, which provide a fun bonus to an already exciting plot. Besides Joe, the film contains characters such as ‘22’ (Tina Fey, Mean Girls) as a pessimistic, spunky soul who is in no hurry to arrive on Earth. 22 accompanies Joe throughout the movie, and never fails to point out the not so desirable aspects of human life, while also bringing a new perspective to Joe as she teaches him to appreciate the small aspects of existence. Additionally, the movie introduces characters like Joe’s opinionated and outspoken mother, and the ever difficult to impress musician, Dorthea. Those are just a few of the unique characters and personalities showcased in this movie, only adding to the entertainment. Considering this movie represents life, and what it has to offer, it’s appropriate that Soul comes along with a set of unique, memorable characters. 

Besides the more thought-provoking aspects of this movie, the overall visual appearance demands acknowledgement. The graphics and animation compliments the characters and appears quite worldly and realistic in its setting. Queens, New York is presented in a way that makes the audience crave the feel of the city, evoking the hustle and bustle of its diverse population. On the other hand, when its main character enters his true form of a human soul, the eyes are met with a beautiful blue/green hue that is supposed to represent the color of our inner self. All in all, the effect of the graphics and beautiful colors used makes this a visually gorgeous movie, even by Pixar’s already high standards.

With all points considered, Soul has captivated many families with its beautiful animation and intriguing storyline. This seemingly simple Disney movie has brought families together for another fun Pixar experience, but left them with some major food for thought. This film has additionally presented these complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way, and given them their much needed attention. Soul has reinvented movie night and stands as one of the most insightful and charming movies of 2020. 

Grade: A

Soul is a fun and lovable family movie that brings a fresh take to real world ideas and issues in the form of a delightful story!

By Morgan Reitz

Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue 4

January 27, 2021