“Onward” Brings Magic to Tough Times

Pixar’s new film is beautifully written and animated.

Clara Kaiser

Photo provided by Newsweek

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SPOILERS BELOW

Pixar’s latest movie, “Onward”, is now available on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, just three weeks after this magically sweet movie was released to theaters Mar. 6.

Pixar’s “Onward” is a hilariously adorable movie with a deep meaning. Starring voice actors Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, the entire movie is spent in search of the protagonist brothers’ father, using magic, but in the end, they realize they were searching for the wrong thing entirely.

Ian, the younger brother, is quite literally the exact opposite of his older brother, Barley. Ian is quiet and shy, showing multiple signs of being an anxious character, whereas Barley could not care less about what people think. He simply wants to preserve the magic that has been lost in the world.

This personality juxtaposition emphasizes an underlying meaning: to not get so caught up in one thing that life simply passes by without noticing. This can be seen throughout the movie as Ian begins to stress about not being able to complete a list of activities with his dad, all the while completing the entire to-do list with his older brother; Ian was too busy being socially anxious to notice the kids in his science class trying to become his friends, while Barley was too busy getting caught up in magic that he didn't realize his brother needed some bonding time.

The animation itself is incredible - especially the careful attention to detail shown in each scene. Viewers will easily feel transported into a brand new universe; Disney never fails at making intense details and realistic backgrounds to a completely fictional story.

The film is perfect for a family movie night or even for a kind-hearted laugh. Its deeper meaning, while present, does not overwhelm the plot of the movie, and the animation almost makes being a cartoon unbelievable.

5/5