Pixar Reveals Their "Soul" in First Trailer

Scene from Soul (2020)

It is likely that if you've been to a movie theater or watched sports in the past few months, you'll know that Pixar already has one film to look forward to. Onward looks to be a comedic take on fantasy full of fun hijinks. However, 2020 is looking to be one of those years with not one but two films from the beloved animated studio. Their other film, Soul, finds the filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning Inside Out returning with a film that asks the question "What does it mean to have a soul?" With the first trailer now out, it looks like another promising journey into the metaphysical, finding a way to make abstract concepts into family film gold. It looks like another hit for the studio that keeps reexamining what it means to be human.

For what it's worth, I consider Inside Out to be among the best that Pixar has ever done. Where most of their films could be considered quality entertainment, I love how the film captured a complex understanding of emotions without isolating audiences. On one level it could be this entertaining ride into a preteen's brain. On the other, it's an understanding of why humans feel emotions. It's such a compelling film that has become used by psychologists to explain to young patients what they're feeling. To say the least, most Pixar films are really good, but Inside Out is a masterpiece because it captures the studio what they're doing best in a distilled form. 

That is why Soul seems like an exciting continuation of the themes. While Onward looks like a whole lot of fun, Soul seems like it is bound to become a deeper understanding about something every human has. What does it mean to have a soul, and what value does it have in everyday life? There's a lot of substance there and any other average animated film would likely struggle to capture it effectively. However, Pixar has the track record to prove it, and it makes one wonder what this Soul will have, especially in a way that's accessible to audiences. 

Check out the trailer below:

Looks rather inspired. Here's the plot description according to IMDb:

A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself.

It's too early to diagnose whether or not it's Oscar-worthy, though all things considered it seems like an obvious yes. There's a lot to love about the trailer, including the fact that it's not hiding so much from us. The plot is still a mystery, but there's enough idea of the themes to get everyone excited. Even the little soul dancing at the end alludes to something cute and fun that will happen just beyond the trailer. This is a decent version of what a teaser needs to be. It gets the audience interested enough and raises questions about what they would do within the context of the film. If nothing else, it shows different ways to have a soul in your everyday life perfectly juxtaposed with having a soul in the afterlife. 

Soul is still over half a year away but is probably going to be one of the highlights of animated films for 2020. While it's yet to be seen which Pixar film is likely to be more acclaimed and lead a potential Oscar push, there is hope that both end up being great. It's enough of a tease into this world full of interesting animation choices that it could be fun to just see where things go there. Also, the idea that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are scoring a Disney movie is endlessly exciting. There's way too much going on that we'll want answers to sooner than later, and that's the magic of Pixar. They give our souls something to look forward to, and it's hard to deny their power.