As if 2020 hadn’t given you enough reasons to cry, Pixar ended last year with the release of its latest existential thesis paper dressed as a slapstick cartoon: the aptly titled Soul. The film is another triumphant addition to the animation studio’s library — a rare track record of near-perfect hits and a few odd misfires. (As the great Griffin Newman once opined, “Cars 2 makes Cars 3 look like Cars 1.”)
While the weighty themes addressed may not be particularly unique, the packaging is what resonates. The perspective of the film is unmistakably Black—a first for the animation studio—following a jazz musician (voiced by Jamie Foxx) on an existential journey through this life and beyond. The visuals are jaw-dropping, the animation has never looked cleaner or more photorealistic, and we are treated to clever visual representations of spiritual concepts that bridges the gap for younger viewers. The score is a particular standout, blending jazz riffs by Jon Batiste and atmospheric, new-age by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — all elements that come together to serve the main theme of the story.
It’s unsurprising that director Pete Docter, who also steered beloved Pixar classics like Up and Inside Out, was able to pull this off. Much like his previous films that explore and unpack rich philosophical themes, Docter expertly balances the comedic beats and dramatic elements, rarely making a tonal misstep.
While it doesn’t always effectively thread the needle of it’s many lofty ideas, Soul is an original, insightful, and energizing meditation on rediscovering the beauty of living.
Soul is available to stream on Disney+. It runs 100 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements and some language.
