Onward (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Onward |
|
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Dan Scanlon |
| Produced by | Kori Rae |
| Written by |
|
| Starring | |
| Music by |
|
| Cinematography |
|
| Editing by | Catherine Apple |
| Studio | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Release date(s) | February 21, 2020 (Berlinale) March 6, 2020 (United States) |
| Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $175–200 million |
| Money made | $141.9 million |
Onward is a 2020 American computer-animated urban fantasy adventure film. It was made by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae. The story was written by Scanlon, Jason Headley, and Keith Bunin. Famous actors like Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer lent their voices to the characters.
The movie takes place in a fantasy world that looks a lot like our suburbs. It follows two elf brothers, Ian and Barley, on an exciting quest. They want to find a special artifact. This artifact can bring their dad back for just one day. Onward first showed at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2020. It came out in theaters on March 6, 2020. Critics generally liked the film. However, its earnings were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many movie theaters had to close. Because of this, the film was released digitally soon after its theater debut.
Contents
Plot Summary
A World of Fading Magic
Long ago, magic was common in a world filled with mythic creatures. But magic was hard to learn and use. Over many centuries, new technology appeared. People started using machines instead of spells. Magic slowly became old-fashioned and was mostly forgotten.
In modern times, two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, live in New Mushroomton. Ian is the younger brother. He is a high-school student who struggles with being confident. Barley is the older brother. He loves role-playing games and history. He is very excited but sometimes acts without thinking.
Their father, Wilden, passed away from a serious illness before Ian was born. Their mother, Laurel, now has a new boyfriend. He is a centaur police officer named Colt Bronco. Ian and Barley do not like him very much.
The Quest Begins
On Ian's sixteenth birthday, Laurel gives her sons a special gift from Wilden. It is a magical staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and a letter. The letter describes a "visitation spell." This spell can bring their father back for one day. Ian tries to cast the spell. He has trouble finishing it when Barley tries to help. Because of this, only the lower half of Wilden's body appears. Then the gem breaks apart.
The brothers decide to find another gem. They want to finish the spell. They take Barley's beloved van named "Guinevere." Laurel notices the boys are gone. She leaves to look for them.
The Manticore's Clue
Ian and Barley visit the Manticore's Tavern. They hope to find a map to the gem there. But the tavern is now a family restaurant. It is run by the Manticore, who is called "Corey." Ian and Corey argue about the map. Corey then realizes her life is not exciting anymore. She gets upset and scares away all the customers. She accidentally sets the restaurant and the map on fire.
The brothers now only have one clue. It is from a children's menu. It suggests "Raven's Point," a mountain nearby. Laurel arrives at the burned tavern. She becomes friends with Corey. Corey agrees to help Laurel find the boys. Corey warns Laurel that the brothers' journey might wake up a curse. This curse can only be beaten by Corey's special sword. The sword is at a pawn shop. Laurel and Corey get the sword. They then have a car accident. Corey has to use her wings to fly and catch up with Ian and Barley.
Challenges on the Path
As they travel to the mountains, Ian and Barley barely escape a motorcycle gang of pixies. After a difficult meeting with the police, Ian accidentally says he thinks Barley is a "screw-up." They argue because Ian doesn't listen to Barley's ideas. Barley wanted to take the "Path of Peril" to the gem.
Their argument stops when Wilden's legs start dancing to music from Guinevere. The brothers join in the fun. Ian then lets Barley lead them on the Path of Peril. They reach a drawbridge that is not lowered. Ian uses a spell to walk across the open gap. He overcomes his lack of confidence. He then lowers the bridge for Barley and Wilden.
The Final Obstacle
They arrive at "Raven's Point." It leads them on a path marked by raven statues. But Colt follows them and calls for more police. They reach a dead-end. Barley crashes Guinevere to cause a landslide. This blocks their pursuers.
Following the statues, the brothers go into a cave. Barley tells Ian a sad memory. He could not say goodbye to their father in the hospital. As they go deeper, they avoid many traps. This includes a dangerous creature called a Gelatinous Cube. The last obstacle sends them back to the surface. They find themselves in front of Ian's high school.
Ian is very angry that he listened to Barley. He yells at him for leading them on a useless trip. Ian walks away with Wilden. He wants to spend his last moments with his father.
A Brother's Bond
Ian rereads his list of things he wanted to do with Wilden. He realizes that Barley has been like a father to him all his life. He goes back to make up with Barley. Barley finds the needed gem in an old fountain across from the high school. He gets it, but this accidentally starts the curse Corey warned about.
The curse creates a dragon-shaped golem. It is made of parts of the school and other objects. It wants to get the gem. Corey flies in with Laurel. They distract the golem. This gives Ian time to finish the visitation spell. But they cannot beat the Golem alone. Ian runs to fight it. This allows Barley to say a final goodbye to Wilden.
During the fight, Ian's staff falls into the ocean. But he rebuilds it from a splinter in his hand. He defeats the golem. Ian is stuck behind some rubble. He peeks through a crack. He sees Wilden's body briefly appear to talk to Barley. After Wilden disappears, Barley tells Ian that their father is proud of him. The brothers share a hug.
Life After the Quest
Later, Ian's confidence and spell-casting skills have gotten much better. He surprises Barley by painting his new van. He names it "Guinevere The Second." Corey reopens her tavern. It is now like it was before, full of adventure stories. She and Laurel become good friends. Ian and Barley also have a better relationship with Colt. He was inspired to start galloping on his own feet. As the world starts to learn about magic again, the brothers begin a new quest.
Voice cast
- Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot, a teenage elf
- Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot, Ian's older brother, who longs for a magical quest
- Kyle Bornheimer as Wilden Lightfoot, Ian and Barley's late father. Ian and Barley's goal is to bring him back for 24 hours.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot, the widowed mother of Ian and Barley
- Mel Rodriguez as Colt Bronco, a centaur police officer and Laurel's boyfriend
- Octavia Spencer as "Corey" The Manticore
- Lena Waithe as Specter, a cyclops police officer
- Ali Wong as Gore, a faun police officer
- Grey Griffin as Dewdrop, a pixie and the leader of the Pixie Dusters biker gang
- Tracey Ullman as Grecklin, a goblin pawn shop owner
- Wilmer Valderrama as Gaxton, an elf and college friend of Wilden
- George Psarras as Avel, an elf police officer
- John Ratzenberger as Fenwick, a cyclops construction worker
See also
In Spanish: Onward para niños
