SOUL
© DISNEY © DISNEY VS .
WHICH IS THE BETTER NEW FILM FROM PIXAR ? * Includes film spoilers *
ONWARD
DANNY SAYS : There ’ s no question as to why Soul took home two Academy Awards ( Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score ) in 2021 . The inspiration I ’ ve gained from this film has been truly life-changing .
RELEASE HISTORY : Soul was released on Disney + in the US on December 25 , 2020 , amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
PLOT : Joe Gardner , an aspiring professional pianist and current music teacher , finds himself too distracted by his vision for his future . Heading toward the “ Great Beyond ,” Joe escapes to the “ Great Before ,” meeting a troubled soul ,
22 , still without her spark . Through their adventures , Joe realizes the importance of enjoying all life experiences .
PARK PRESENCE : You can spot Joe Gardner and 22 during Disney Enchantment , check out “ The Soul of Jazz : An American Adventure ” exhibit at the American Adventure in EPCOT , and see the Joe Gardner 50th anniversary gold statue at Hollywood Studios .
MERCHANDISE : Shirts , figurines , plush , MagicBands , and more make up the expansive line of merch throughout Disney
World since the premiere of the film . You can still find this collection on shopDisney .
CHARACTERS : Unfortunately , Disney has not yet announced meet-and-greet opportunities featuring Soul characters .
HIGHLIGHT : The scenes that unfold during the song “ Epiphany ” toward the end of the movie are among the most beautiful parts of any Pixar film . This perfectly wraps up the lessons learned along Joe ’ s journeys .
Fun Fact : The “ Hall of Everything ” is home to a bunch of Pixar Easter eggs , including the Pizza Planet truck , the Axiom from WALL • E , and the whale from Finding Dory ’ s Marine Life
Institute .
KAT SAYS : This wildly underrated People ’ s Choice Award winner for Best Family Movie of 2020 surely deserves a spot on your 2022 family movie night calendar , especially if you ’ re in search of a good laugh .
RELEASE HISTORY : The US theatrical release was on March 6 , 2020 , followed quickly by a digital release just two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
PLOT : Two young elf brothers ( Ian and Barley Lightfoot ) go on a desperate magical quest to spend one last day with their late father , who passed away before the younger brother even got a chance to know him .
PARK PRESENCE : In February 2020 , prior to the movie ’ s release , guests visiting Hollywood Studios could view a sneak peek of the film at the Walt Disney Presents attraction .
MERCHANDISE : The typical trading pins , apparel , action figures , and totes were available in early 2020 , but the Onward popcorn bucket , modeled after the trusty van , Guinevere , was the big seller . Yep , this movie reached popcorn bucket status . ShopDisney currently has a small selection of Onward merchandise .
CHARACTERS : At Disneyland , Ian and Barley made their debut at the Disneyland After Dark : PIXAR Nite event on March 5 , 2020 . At WDW , they appeared at the AMC theater premiere of the film at Disney Springs .
HIGHLIGHT : Get ready for feels during that touching moment when Ian realizes his older brother Barley has been the father figure he thought he was missing his whole life .
FUN FACT : There are several Easter eggs in the movie , including the Pizza Planet truck , chef Remy , and Mickey ’ s sorcerer hat .
ON DEBATING DISNEY TONIGHT , KAT AND DANNY GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH OPPOSING VIEWS ON A VARIETY OF MAGICAL SUBJECTS RELATING TO THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT . TUNE IN ON SELECT THURSDAYS AT 8:00 PM ET LIVE ON WWW . FACEBOOK . COM / DEBATINGDISNEY / TO BE THOROUGHLY EDUTAINED !