Soul

Great animation can communicate wildly complex ideas with head-spinning clarity and wit, as Docter capably proved with Inside Out – a film which staged the interplay of emotions in an 11-year-old’s head like a vintage sitcom. If anything, Soul pushes this capacity for revelation even further: there are moments of true Blakean mystery and wonder here, expressed with a crispness that feels like a lightbulb snapping on above your head.

Pixar’s first feature with a predominantly Black cast and a Black lead actor (the superb Jamie Foxx) contemplates the origins of jazz and the meaning of life and death. Don't fret the metaphysics, kids, It's the year's peak achievement in animation.

I think Soul will become a classic, but we must be patient too, because this stretch of the film is mostly illustrated notions, heavier on explanation than action. It’s very pretty—Klee-like figures and lots of pastel translucency—but not, perhaps inevitably, all that lively.

If you’ve seen enough of the studio’s movies, even something this full of imagination suffers from some predictability. There is a period in Soul, where, in spite of the lovely creativity and goofy story-telling, it lags and feels a bit listless, before bouncing back.

Despite some distraction and not quite enough music, Soul manages to tap into deep emotion as its characters explore the limits of mortality and what it means to be passionate about life.

Soul is perhaps the most existentially ambitious film ever attempted by Disney and yet it pops with colorful visuals and gentle wisdom while the story clips along despite the dizzying height of the concept. Only in the final stages do the knots of plot complexity get the better of the characters, but audiences will have been well won over by then.

While not quite offering the emotional gut-punch it promises, its many ideas never completely cohering, Soul is nevertheless a gorgeous and tender existential trip. It’s full of surprises.

Excellent de A à Z, personnages très attachants, doublage français aux **** oignons mais le point fort du film reste sa déconstruction brutale et élégante qui sert de transition d'un sujet à un autre + animation ultra fluide et clean + trop bien + ratio

Not everything is right in this movie. 'Soul' is an animated film that delves deeply into existential questions, inviting the viewer to reflect on life's purpose and meaning. The work raises questions such as: What drives us to live? How do we find what makes us happy? What happens when our goals aren’t clear? The answers unfold through the character development of Joe and 22. One of the film’s greatest strengths is its ability to highlight the beauty of the everyday. It proposes that we appreciate the small details of daily life, reminding us that happiness doesn’t always come from major achievements, but from valuing and embracing the little things. This results in a balance between philosophy and entertainment. There are elements that may be debatable from both a narrative and ethical standpoint. For instance, the decisions Joe makes—although understandable within the metaphorical framework of the film—don’t always seem coherent with the reality of his character, creating a certain tension with how one might interpret the themes being presented. From a technical standpoint, 'Soul' stands out for its cinematography and set design. Its recreation of ordinary environments achieves a remarkable realism that strengthens the emotional connection with the characters. The animation, especially in its movements and expressions, feels surprisingly natural. The musical integration enhances the sensory experience, offering an appealing proposition for those who enjoy both animation and music. Despite having some personal discrepancies with the plot, the technical aspects reinforce my approval. It’s not Pixar’s best film, nor is it my favorite, of course. But it is recommended for those who want to reflect on life without overthinking it too much. Spanish: No todo está bien en esta película. 'Soul' es una animación que aborda de manera profunda cuestiones existenciales, invitando al espectador a reflexionar sobre el propósito en la vida y el sentido de esta. La obra plantea preguntas como: "¿Qué nos impulsa a vivir?, ¿Cómo encontramos aquello que nos hace felices?, ¿Qué sucede cuando los objetivos no están claros? Las respuestas son el desarrollo de personajes que mantienen Joe y 22. Una de las grandes habilidades de la película es su capacidad de resaltar la belleza de lo cotidiano. Esa propuesta de apreciar los pequeños detalles de la vida diaria, recordándonos que la felicidad no siempre se consigue con grandes logros, sino en valorar y apreciar las pequeñas cosas. Esto resulta en un equilibrio entre filosofía y entretenimiento. Existen elementos que pueden resultar debatibles desde la narrativa y/o ética. Como las decisiones que toma Joe, aunque se entienden dentro del marco lógico de la metáfora de la película, no siempre parecen coherentes con la realidad del personaje, lo que me genera cierta tensión con la interpretación que uno podría tener sobre los temas que se abordan. Desde lo técnico, 'Soul' destaca por su fotografía y diseño de escenarios. La recreación de entornos cotidianos logra un realismo notable que facilita la conexión emocional con los personajes. La animación, especialmente en los movimientos y gestos, son sorprendentemente naturales. La integración musical refuerza la experiencia sensorial, ofreciendo una propuesta atractiva para quienes disfrutan tanto de la animación como de la música. A pesar de tener ciertas discrepancias personales con la trama, lo técnico acentúa mi aprobación. No es la mejor película de Pixar, ni mi favorita, desde luego. Pero es recomendable para quienes busquen dialogar sobre la vida sin tampoco comerse mucho la cabeza.

This movie was pretty fine by all means but unfortunately it wasn't anything special or unique. The idea was fine, the animation was the same as the studio's previous animations and it wasn't really breath taking. The humor was fine for the most part and I enjoyed the moral of the story but sadly the entire movie felt really average and not that interesting.

This was not a good film. At times the plot felt empty, boring and lazy. This would be a great film for maybe older people.

Tried watching this with my kids. They were not hooked at any point. The character and themes are not targeted at kids at all. I guess Pixar learnt that most of it's audience were adults anyway, so they forget what made them movies special for youngsters. Sure, the plot is interesting and very well acted and animated. Just make sure you watch it with the right audience, kids will be bored.