2020 is fast approaching and legendary animation studio Pixar is set to drop two new films. “Onward,” an urban fantasy starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, and “Soul,” which I’ll be talking about for the majority of this piece. This is significant for two reasons; firstly this has only happened twice before in Pixar’s history. In 2015 we got “Inside Out” and “The Good Dinosaur,” while in 2017 we got “Cars 3″ and “Coco.”
While two times does not a pattern make I feel it’s basically a statement of fact to say that both in 2015 and in 2017 we got one mediocre film and one really good film. When you think of the amazing work Pixar has done recently, you’re probably thinking more “Coco” and “Inside Out” than “The Good Dinosaur” and “Cars 3.” Given my lack of enthusiasm for “Onward,” I can’t help but be skeptical of its quality, especially now that we’ve seen the first trailer for “Soul.” What I’m trying to say here is that I think “Soul” will be on the “Inside Out”/“Coco” side of the Pixar two-film binary.
#1: Who’s Writing/directing?
The director of “Soul” will be none other than Pete Docter. Anyone who knows Pixar or animation in general should be very familiar with this name. He’s been involved with the company since the beginning. He was a head animator on “Toy Story,” a storyboard artist on “A Bug’s Life,” and got his start directing for Pixar with “Monsters Inc.” Since then he’s directed “Up” and “Inside Out” for Pixar; and after John Lasseter’s cancellation, Pete has taken charge as the head of Pixar. The man has a strong resume. And seeing his name attached proves to me that Pixar is taking this film seriously. Not to diss “Onward” too much (that’s not what this piece is for), but Dan Scanlon, by comparison, was the writer-director of “Monsters University.”
#2: The music!
Tine Fey in a scene from “Soul” (Walt Disney Pictures, 2020).
They got Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score the film. Need I say more? Seriously, need I? This is the same duo who won an Oscar for the score they provided to “The Social Network,” written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher. Trent Reznor, himself being one of the most influential and versatile musical artists of all time, who in the year of Our Lord 2019 – nearly 30 years after his debut EP – got his first number one single under his belt for a Lil’ Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” The man who produced Marilyn Manson’s magnum opus “Antichrist Superstar” is now scoring a Pixar film. With Atticus Ross of course. It really seems like the fine folks over at Pixar are bringing out the big guns on this project.
#3: The Trailer
Now that I’m finished gushing over the members of the crew, let’s get to this trailer. After hearing that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who primarily produce more electronic-based music we’re attached to a project called “Soul,” I was curious to see the aesthetic Pixar would go with. Something told me this wouldn’t be a cyber-punk dystopia or anything fitting Trent’s work under the Nine Inch Nails banner.
Obviously with movies like “Toy Story” being about talking toys, “A Bug’s Life” being about talking bugs, and “Cars” being about talking cars, it was safe to assume that a movie called “Soul” would be about talking souls. What was not so obvious was the jazz influence the film would take. Jamie Foxx, Questlove, and Daveed Diggs being in the cast gives me goosebumps. The musical possibilities are endless. It is in this trailer that we begin to see what the plot has in store. And it seems to follow the best parts of the “Inside Out” model of storytelling.
After hearing that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who primarily produce more electronic-based music we’re attached to a project called “Soul,” I was curious to see the aesthetic Pixar would go with.”
The trailer starts out simply enough. A musician plays the piano as we get shots of New York City. Pigeons are on the street, the humans have that classic Pixar sheen on them, and we hear Jamie Foxx ask the question that will no doubt be pivotal to the core theme of the film: “What would you want to be known for on Earth?” Then our protagonist dies. His soul is dumped into an infinite void and oh my god… Pixar’s making an Isekai Anime. Not really, but what if?
From here the real plot has our recently deceased Joe meet 22, a soul voiced by Tina Fey, who doesn’t care about returning to Earth and will be our comedic relief. She reminds me of Sarah Silverman’s character from “Wreck it Ralph” but, it’s nice to know Fey chipped in some lines of her own: no one knows Tina Fey’s voice better than Tina Fey. Nonetheless, 22 will agree to help our protagonist return to Earth so that he can pursue his real dreams and we, the audience will no doubt see some of the best animation Pixar is able to muster. This is going to be one of my most anticipated films of 2020 for sure.
**”Soul” has been pushed to a November, 2020 release due to Coronavirus delays.
Watch the trailer from ‘Soul’ below:
