Soul Film Review

Soul Film Review

‘Beautiful Storytelling with Out-of-this-World Animation’

★★★★

Soul cements Pixar as a powerhouse in delivering incredible stories for all ages. Exclusively streaming on Disney+, Soul is a truly outstanding achievement in Animation.

Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls 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 (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.

Co-written and directed by Pete Docter, Soul draws similarities with his previous works like Up and Monsters Inc. For example in Up, an old man rediscovers the meaning of life, re-exploring his sense of adventure from his younger years. In Soul, a similar path is followed, Joe reflects on his life, questioning what it is the true meaning.

From the start, Jazz is at the centrepiece, even replacing the traditional Disney opening anthem with jazzy chaos. The score is particularly fitting and increases the powerful nature of this film. It gives that ‘beyond life’ supernatural feeling in parts, thanks to composers Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Combined with the soothing Jazz Compositions & Arrangements from Jon Batiste, the music throughout magically captures the tone, feel and unique aesthetic of Soul. 

The story starts slow until roughly 10 minutes in, where the Pixar magic starts. However, the animation drew me in right from the start. The animation shines, with an immense level of detail in every shot. From the accuracy of the music synced with the animation of piano keys, to the reflections of characters on different objects. It is simply stunning, and a pleasure to watch. Pixar also nails the humour which adds to the heart-warming storytelling. There’s plenty of one-liners, delivered perfectly by the voice actors in this film.

Soul gives deeply thought-provoking moments in a way that was unexpected. Overall, this is a funny, moving and heart-warming film, that is a massive step for animation. 

Soul is streaming on Disney+.