Soul

2020

A jazz musician on the verge of his big break falls into the cosmic soul world and must find his way back to Earth.

Content Guide

⚔️

Violence & ScarinessNone

Violence & Scariness

💬

LanguageVery mild

Language

👀

Sex & NudityNone

Sex & Nudity

🍷

SubstancesNone

Substances

😱

Frightening ScenesVery mild

Frightening Scenes

💚

Positive MessagesExcellent

Positive Messages

⭐

Role ModelsExcellent

Role Models

What's in this movie

•The main character dies in the opening minutes
•The nature of death and the afterlife are central themes
•An unborn soul nearly fails to find its purpose
•Existential themes about the meaning of life

🌍 Cultural & Representation Concerns

Moderate

•Joe Gardner, a Black man, spends the majority of the film as a formless blue/white soul wisp and then as a cat — a creative choice that literally erases his physical Blackness for most of the runtime
•Some critics drew parallels to a long history of animated films where Black characters are transformed into animals
•The film's jazz-music setting centers on Black American cultural heritage while the character's race is visually absent for most of the story

Educational Value

A profound meditation on what makes a life meaningful that works for children and adults alike. Raises beautiful questions about purpose, passion, and presence.

💬 Pause & Talk — Discussion Topics

1.What is the difference between a spark and a purpose?
2.Why does Joe's moment on stage feel different from what he expected?
3.What does 22 teach Joe about simply being alive?

🏆 Awards: Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score