Pixar has carved out a very distinct niche for themselves in the animation world... not only have they pushed the boundaries in terms of looks, but they are not afraid to deal with heavier topics.  Soul is a perfect example of these things in motion, as they have not only once again upped the ante for animation quality, but have graduated from dealing with emotion to dealing with death and the afterlife.  For all of the movies that debuted on Christmas of 2020, Soul stands out as the leader of the pack.

Middle school music teacher and aspiring jazz pianist Joe Gardenr (Jamie Foxx) has hit a point in life where he is feeling depressed and unfulfilled.  His mother Libba (Phylicia Rashad) does not support his dreams, and the rut of teaching thankless kids is wearing on him, but with the help of former student Curley (Questlove), Joe is given the opportunity to audition for a spot in famed jazz saxophonist’s Dorothea Williams (Angela Bassett), and in a moment of inspiration, Joe nails the audition.  In a cruel twist of fate, however, Joe falls down an open manhole and is killed, leading him to a journey in the Great Before where he must help 22 (Tina Fey), a soul disenchanted about living on Earth, to find purpose in the form of a new human to occupy.

For a kid’s film, Soul definitely addresses some heavy, esoteric topics, but handles them with a level of kid gloves that is not too jarring or depressing for a young mind.  Surprisingly, there is also enough depth in this handling to keep adults not only interested, but introspective after the fact.  Soul is an observant film that not only teaches you the value of your own life, but the value of the lives of those around you as well.  The attempt to try and provide an understanding and reason behind the existence of purpose is also a driving force of the narrative, making Soul possibly the most emotionally fulfilling piece of entertainment presented in 2020.

Concepts like alchemy, thin places, transcendental meditation, quantum physics, astral projection and more are laid out on the table in a very “explain it to me like I’m five” nature, which makes them easier to digest for young, developing minds.  Much like a film such as I Heart Huckabees, Soul stands as an ode to universal interconnectedness… films like these are a reminder that no matter how bleak the outlook, or now matter how lost and isolated we feel in this world, we are not alone on our journey.  Joe Gardner, therefore, stands as a role model for the kids who feel as if their passions and talents aren’t important, aren’t worthy, or make them outcasts, and hopefully it will provide them with a sense of self-worth and a drive to follow their dreams if, for no other reason, self-fulfillment.

It’s nearly impossible to talk about a Pixar film without talking about the animation quality, and Soul presents at least 3 distinct animation looks to tell this story.  While the souls and animals look great, the amount of detail in every human on the screen (be they key characters or animated extras) is incredible to the point of being breathtaking.  New York also looks stunning, with its vibrant sense of life, mixed bag of history and cultures and its proud presence all resonating in the same manner as actual real, filmed images of the city.  The pathway to the Afterlife, the Beforelife and space are also given wonderful detail in their visual presentations, making each environment immediately easy to read in terms of emotional tone.  The writing is very strong, with the tender and humorous moments equally balanced and distributed… the Jerrys and Terrys all being British also cracks me up.

Jamie Foxx subdues some of his cocky, confident nature in order to make his character as relatable as he is talented, grounding Joe Gardner in a sense of humility and respect for his craft that is admirable on the highest levels.  Tina Fey indulges in her poetic license to put the humorous pedal to the metal, but not at the expense of being able to portray a real sense of both wonder and hurt at appropriate times.  Angela Bassett brings a mix of dignity and no-nonsense leadership to her role as bandleader, manifesting as one who recognizes talent just as well as all of the baggage that often comes with it, and translating that into a tough but worthy emotional hurdle to overcome.  Graham Norton brings some of the most humorous moments to the table, while the hilarious administrative esoteric hot potato of the After/Beforelife is passed around between Rachel House, Richard Ayoade, Alice Braga, Wes Studi, Fortune Feimster and Zenobia Shroff.  Appearances by Phylicia Rashad, Questlove, Daveed Diggs, Donnell Rawlings, June Squibb, the criminally underrated and mega-talented Cody Chestnutt and more fill out the world of Soul.