Disney Plus exclusive continues Pixar’s legacy of advancing animation

Pixar has a long track record of creating animated films that capture the essence of human nature and emotion. Their latest addition, “Soul,” streaming on Disney Plus, does not fall short of these standards. Directed by Pete Docter, the film reached a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83% from Metacritic, keeping in step with a brand that expects nothing less.

Pixar’s Soul follows the story of a 46 year-old middle school band teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) who aspires to become a famous jazz pianist. Joe actively seeks opportunities to perform outside the classroom in hopes of achieving his big break. Unbeknownst to Joe exists an otherworldly dimension that draws him to an unexpected fate. 

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Minutes after acquiring a prestigious gig with the famous jazz celebrity Dorthea Williams (Angela Basset), Joe falls into a sinkhole near a construction site, knocking him unconscious and leaving him in a coma in the hospital.

While life on earth goes on without him, Joe’s spirit or “soul’ lives on in a blue persona moving towards a place called the “Great Beyond.” The Great Beyond is posed as a luminescent realm where souls go after death. Realizing his situation, Joe is desperate to return back to earth and continue his climb to success.  He can’t fathom dying before reaching his long awaited dream. 

The plot continues as Joe tries to cheat death. He quickly finds himself in a new dimension, a so called “before life” known as the “Great Before.” There he attends a You Seminar where earthly legends are matched with a soul that has not yet entered Earth in a mentorship program. The “before” souls must find their passion or “spark” before they’re released to Earth, a process that is assisted by their instructors. 

Joe disguises himself as a mentor and is matched with soul number 22 (Tina Fey). 22 spent centuries in the mentorship program attempting to find her spark and was deemed an impossible student to even the most renowned figures, including Abraham Lincoln. Joe and 22 explore many spark worthy opportunities but 22 makes clear that she enjoys the Great Before and isn’t thrilled with the idea of leaving for Earth.

In an attempt to return back to his body, both Joe and 22’s souls arrive back on Earth in a complex manner. Joe is not Joe…Joe is 22, and Joe is a cat. In simpler terms, 22 wakes up in the hospital in Joe’s body and Joe’s soul wakes up in the body of a cat. 

With many other twists and turns, the remainder of the story focuses on the relationship between Joe and 22 in both earthly and spiritual forms as they journey through New York. While pushing forward with both family fun and lighthearted comedy, Soul also explores what makes life worth living, prompting viewers to ask themselves that same question.

After rising anticipation, I was more than eager to finally watch Pixar’s latest hit. While Soul shares many commonalities with the 2015 film “Inside Out“, I found that it shifts gears as Inside out investigates our emotions and Soul focuses more on our personal purpose and the meaning of life.  

The adventure of a lifetime. Stream #PixarSoul now on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/O39Ylkusm1

— Pixar (@Pixar) January 23, 2021

One of the main points that stuck out to me about the film was that life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. As much as I like to plan and dream about where I will be in the next couple years or decades, the reality is that life is unexpected and it’s worth making every moment count. This hard hitting message stayed with me longer than most movie morals usually last.

With all it’s glitz and glamor animation wise, there were some questions “Soul” left unanswered. When Joe moved towards the mysterious light of the Great Beyond, the movie never showed viewers exactly what that place was or why it was seemingly worse to Joe than life on Earth. 

Another implication in the film was that all souls are predestined to a single spark or fate. While it’s true that humans are born with qualities unique to them, it doesn’t mean that their personalities or interests can’t develop over time.  It’s no secret that there are bad people in the world.  And while the majority of the show focuses on harmless characterizations, the general message must assume that bad people are born with that trait and there’s nothing they can do to change it. 

While “Soul” may not have topped “Monsters Inc” in my list of favorite Pixar movies, it is definitely worth watching. My advice to potential viewers though is to be prepared to answer some personal questions. As lighthearted as an animated film comes, this one carries some deep messages that leave watchers doing some of their own soul searching long after the credits role. 

You can catch Pixar’s “Soul” for free exclusively on Disney Plus. Already watched the film? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

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