Soul was originally slated for a June 2020 theatrical release date, but because of the pandemic, the film was instead released direct-to-Disney+ on December 25 that same year. Despite that, Soul felt just perfect for its holiday release thanks to its introspective nature on life and family — and its theatrical re-release so soon after New Year feels just as appropriate for the title, too.
Re-releasing in cinemas this January 12, Soul centers around a music teacher named Joe Gardner who’s been dreaming of playing jazz professionally since he was a boy. When he finally gets that chance after years of searching, he dies right after, but because he’s not ready for the Great Beyond, he runs away and ends up in the Great Before, where souls are trained to find their spark before beginning their life on Earth. Here, he finds himself being the mentor for 22, a soul that refuses to go to Earth — but if Joe can get 22 to find her spark, she might be able to help Joe get his life back.
When Soul first came out, it surprised people by being a Pixar film that felt more geared towards adults rather than children. Kids could enjoy it, of course, but not only was the protagonist a middle-aged non-animal man, there was also no child main character kids could see themselves in and relate to. Some may argue 22 fills out this role, but not only is she technically ageless, she’s also voiced by Tina Fey and the movie explicitly mentions she sounds like a middle-aged woman.
Most importantly, though, Soul’s themes of looking back on your life and feeling like you’re running out of time are not themes children busy themselves with often or even at all. Adults are the ones who dread birthdays, worry about never achieving their dreams, and stress about the legacy they’ll leave behind. Soul, however, actively encourages adults to re-examine what it means to live a meaningful life, and if fulfilling a purpose really is what humans exist for.
For a lot of people, Soul was a wonderful return to form for Pixar as the company was releasing mostly sequels before it came out. From 2013 to 2019, Pixar released eight movies, and only 3 of those movies were brand-new properties, the rest being sequels and a prequel with Monsters University. 2020 gifted us with two original Pixar films, Onward and Soul, and ever since then, we’ve gotten Luca, Turning Red, and Elemental, and next year, we’re getting another original film named Elio.
While there was Lightyear in 2022 and Inside Out 2 is releasing later this year, it’s been nothing short of exciting for Pixar to once again focus on telling new, original stories.
However, Soul was also a return to form for Pixar simply because it was really good. It worked so well it received a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, was among the most-watched straight-to-streaming titles of 2020, and received nominations for Best Sound, Best Original Score, and Best Animated Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards, winning the latter two.
It’s also interesting to look back on Soul now considering 2023 saw the release of two animated films that also tackled the same themes Soul did: Wish and The Boy and the Heron. Wish tackled the importance of passions and dreams, and how simply having a wish might be even more important than fulfilling it. The Boy and the Heron focused on family and the cycle of life, and even had similar creatures to the unborn souls of Soul.
The three titles feel made for a triple feature for older audiences as they all use their animated fantasy settings to reach an emotional truth about living and existing, rather than a tangible truth.
Despite it being older than the other two films, though, Soul doesn’t feel a single bit dated, and the film still resonates deeply. With such gorgeous visuals, too, especially when Joe is in the You Seminar, Soul is finally getting the theatrical release it deserves. A movie with such a hefty narrative and astonishing visuals demands to be seen on the big screen, most especially when that movie is also such an irresistible celebration of life, family, and what it means to be alive.
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