Soul (2020 film) facts for kids

Soul is a fun and thoughtful computer-animated movie from 2020. It's a fantasy comedy-drama made by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Kemp Powers.

The movie features the voices of famous actors like Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, and Angela Bassett. It tells the story of Joe Gardner, a middle school music teacher. Joe loves jazz music and dreams of becoming a professional musician. One day, his soul accidentally gets separated from his body. The film follows his journey to get back to his body, just before his big chance to play jazz on stage. Soul is special because it's the first Pixar movie with an African-American main character.

Pete Docter started working on the movie in 2016. He thought about where our personalities come from and if our lives are already planned out. He wrote the story with Mike Jones and Kemp Powers. To make the music scenes realistic, the filmmakers talked to real jazz musicians like Herbie Hancock. They also used recordings of musician Jon Batiste as a guide for the animation. Jon Batiste created the jazz music for the film, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the rest of the movie's score.

Soul first showed at the London Film Festival on October 11, 2020. It was supposed to be in movie theaters on November 20, 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released on Disney+ on December 25, 2020, in the United States. In countries without Disney+, it was still shown in theaters. This made Soul the first Pixar movie not to have a wide release in cinemas. Critics really liked the film, praising its animation, story, voice acting, and music. It won awards like Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. It was also nominated for three awards at the 93rd Academy Awards and the 74th British Academy Film Awards.

What Happens in Soul?

Joe Gardner is a music teacher in New York City. He loves jazz and dreams of playing it professionally. His mother, Libba, worries about his future and wants him to keep his teaching job full-time. One exciting day, Joe gets a chance to audition for famous jazz musician Dorothea Williams. She is very impressed with his piano playing and invites him to perform with her band that night!

Joe's Big Accident

Joe is so excited that he isn't watching where he's going. He accidentally falls down an open manhole! Suddenly, Joe finds himself as a soul floating towards the "Great Beyond". He doesn't want to die, so he tries to escape. Instead, he ends up in the ""Great Before". This is a magical place where new souls get ready for life on Earth.

Meeting 22 in the Great Before

In the Great Before, there are counselors, all named Jerry. They help new souls find their "spark" – a special passion or interest. Once a soul finds its spark, it gets a badge and can go to Earth. Joe is mistaken for a mentor soul and is asked to help a soul named 22. 22 is a very old and cynical soul who has never wanted to go to Earth.

Joe learns that his body is in a coma back on Earth. 22 agrees to help Joe find her spark. Then, Joe can use her badge to return to his body. Joe tries to help 22 find a passion, but nothing seems to work. They decide to visit "the zone". This is a place where souls go when they are deeply focused on something they love. It's also where "lost souls" go if they become too obsessed with one thing.

Moonwind and the Body Swap

In the zone, Joe and 22 meet Moonwind. He is a spiritual leader who helps people connect their souls to their bodies. Moonwind agrees to help Joe return to his body. Joe tries to jump back to Earth, but something goes wrong! 22 accidentally jumps into Joe's body, and Joe ends up in the body of a therapy cat named Mr. Mittens.

They find Moonwind, who works as a sign twirler during the day. He promises to meet them later at the music club to fix the mix-up. While they wait, 22 experiences life in Joe's body. She enjoys simple things like eating pizza and feeling the wind. She also has important talks with Joe's student, Connie, who decides not to quit the band. She also talks to Dez, Joe's barber, and even Joe's mother, Libba. Libba finally understands Joe's love for music.

Meanwhile, Terry, a soul counter from the Great Beyond, notices Joe is missing. Terry comes to Earth to find Joe and send him to the Great Beyond.

The Spark and the Return

As the day ends, Joe and 22 meet Moonwind. But Joe tells 22 that her experiences weren't her "spark." 22 gets upset and runs away, with Joe chasing her. Terry finds them and brings them back to the Great Before. 22's badge is now full, meaning she has found her spark. But Joe still thinks it was because of his influence, not her own. 22 throws the badge at him and disappears into the zone, becoming a lost soul.

A Jerry explains to Joe that a spark isn't a purpose, but simply means a soul is ready to live. Joe doesn't believe it and uses the badge to return to Earth.

Joe plays a successful show with Dorothea. But he realizes it doesn't feel as amazing as he thought it would. He looks at things 22 collected in his body and remembers the small, happy moments they shared. Joe understands that these everyday experiences were what gave 22 her spark. He decides to give 22 her badge back. Joe plays the piano to enter the zone and finds 22, who is now a lost soul. Joe uses a maple seed that 22 had kept to show her memories of their time on Earth. He convinces her that she is ready to live, and she returns to normal.

With her badge back, Joe guides 22 out of the Great Before, and she finally goes to Earth. As Joe prepares to go to the Great Beyond, a Jerry stops him. Because Joe helped 22, he is given another chance at life. Joe returns to his body on Earth and promises to enjoy every moment of his life.

Who Are the Voices in Soul?

• Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, a jazz pianist and music teacher.
• Ramone Hamilton as young Joe Gardner.
• Tina Fey as 22, a soul who doesn't want to go to Earth.
• Graham Norton as Moonwind, a spiritual sign twirler.
• Rachel House as Terry, a soul counter.
• Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Wes Studi, Fortune Feimster, and Zenobia Shroff as the five soul counselors, all named Jerry.
• Phylicia Rashad as Libba Gardner, Joe's mother and a seamstress.
• Donnell Rawlings as Dez, Joe's barber.
• Questlove as Lamont "Curley" Baker, a drummer in Dorothea Williams' band.
• Angela Bassett as Dorothea Williams, a respected jazz musician.

Other voices include:

• Daveed Diggs as Paul, Joe's neighborhood friend-enemy.
• Cora Champommier as Connie, one of Joe's students.
• Margo Hall and Rhodessa Jones as Melba and Lulu, Libba's co-workers.
• June Squibb as Gerel, a soul Joe meets.
• Esther Chae as Miho, a bassist in Williams' band.
• Cody Chesnutt as a street singer.

Also, Sakina Jaffrey, Calum Grant, Laura Mooney, Peggy Flood, Ochuwa Oghie, Jeannie Tirado, and Cathy Cavadini voice other characters.

Awards and Nominations for Soul

Soul received many awards and nominations for its amazing story, animation, and music. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

• 

  Director Pete Docter in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Soul (película) para niños