This past weekend my family and I had the honor of screening pixar’s SOUL. Although I personally loved it and loved the complexity of the story, I am not sure if it is appropriate for little ones, let me explain. ( No spoilers, promise!)
What is Pixar’s SOUL about?
Pixar’s Soul is about a middle school music teacher Joe Gardner( Voice of Jamie Foxx) who gets the opportunity of a lifetime. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of NYC to the great before. A place where new Souls go to get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.
Animation
Before I get more in depth about my thoughts on Pixar’s Soul as a whole, I think it’s important to point out the animation. It is truly like no other Pixar film. Just like the story, the animation is complex and artistic in a very unique way. From the beginning shots the animation is stunning, which is not surprising for a PIXAR film. But there’s one particular scene that is just different in the best way. You’ll know it when you see it!
My Honest Review on Pixar’s Soul
It is no surprise that SOUL touches on some heavy and important topics. In a year like 2020 where a lot of us had to pause our lives, it has allowed us, at least myself, to think, have I been living life to the fullest? This is was constant question I asked myself during and after the film.
SOUL, again, is unlike any other Pixar film. That can be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. My family and I know Pixar films to be the one that tug at your heartstrings and make you cry your eyes out. Although losing someone I love is my biggest fear, Soul didn’t do that for me. That’s not to say it wasn’t great, it just didn’t give me those Pixar feels I strangely look forward to. It was a very complex and deep movie for Pixar, and I know that’s not far off for director Pete Docter who also directed Inside Out. Another very deep but important movie. But the question is still there is it appropiate for little kids?
Good for Kids?
Keep in mind my kids are 2 and 3, so I am writing this with them in mind. My kids are tough, they love a good Disney and Pixar movie and will sit through it all because thankfully whether or not they understand what is going on, the visuals all but make up for it. But for Soul it was a little different. After watching Soul my 3 year old said it was a little scary. There parts of the film that show black figures, sulking around the great beyond. I totally knew what he meant. Although those dark sulking souls were a part of a bigger meaning, my son didn’t know that. The story line went right over their heads and that could just be because they are a little too young to understand everything about life and death.
They still laughed at the funny parts, and they loved 22. But they lost a bit of focus during the deeper monologues. But It is Pixar so again the visuals made up for it. I don’t think they’d watch it again until they were old enough to understand it better.
With that being said although it may not be suited for the younger kiddos, it is an important movie and great for older kids. Just be prepared for them to ask questions about life and death because even I had questions.
My Final Thoughts
SOUL really is a special film in its own way. It’s deep, it’s thought provoking It’s what we needed this year. I love that Pixar is touching on deep and meaningful topics liked handling grief and loss, mental health, inclusivity, fulfilling your life’s purpose and just being true to who you are. If 2020 taught us anything is that we sometimes have to face loss, no matter the form it comes. It’s also a great reminder to take in the little things in life and embrace what is around us.
My question for you is, are you living life to the fullest?
You can watch SOUL, coming exclusively to Disney+ Christmas Day.
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