Pixar's Soul Is Exceptional (Review) 

That part where Joe played at a club and lived his dream by playing with the band, only to go “that’s it?” really hit me.

while Joe is dying the screen shows “Disney Pixar Presents:” but then it continues with the movie. No credits or anything after that screen until we get to the very end of the movie. When Joe Gardner walks out of his apartment alive that’s when they show the Title screen “Soul” because that’s when the story begins, now with his knowledge to live his life every moment.

A piece of symbolism I noticed was when Joe meets Doraphia Williams there’s a shot of her that goes down to her waist you think Joes looking at her but really he’s looking at her instrument the symbolism being that rather then focusing on humans like is mother or his friends he’s focusing on music

“I’m gonna live every minute of it”... he’s gonna be present in his life. The barbershop scene was him feeling regret at never having taken the time to get to know his barber beyond that one topic and seeing how open and free 22 was in his body. As someone with social anxiety, this really hit home. 22 felt like she was not enough as herself, but she was free and engaging as Joe. Joe was too busy being singular focused on music and missed all the other relationships he could have had.

i think that this movie gives permission to people to live their lives without accomplishing some big goal that changes the world. It gives permission to experience and love the small things like eating pizza or watching the leaves fall or feel the wind from a grate. Joe reaches his dreams and realizes he could’ve felt just as much joy in everyday life. The mundane and the beautiful. Your life doesn’t have to lead to “greatness”. The reason for living could just be...living.

this movie’s message was honestly such a breathe of fresh air because most movies end with a message like “follow your dreams” or “you can do anything” or “you can change the world. go do it.” while this movie’s message was “go live. it doesnt matter how you do it but just live.” and to me at least that is such a beautiful message. it makes me happy to be alive which is so important.

Joe: having an existential crisis Dorothea: FISH Edit: thank you for all the likes I got on this stupid, stupid comment.

I loved Soul's approach to the "live life to the fullest" message, because most stories that tackle this message usually have this implication that if you're not doing something big, like skydiving or running with the bulls, you're wasting your life. But, that sort of thing isn't accessible or even desirable to everyone. But Soul says you can live life to the fullest even while doing the most mundane things. 22 was living to the fullest while doing simple things like walking down the street or watching leaves fall because she was just appreciating being alive.

I just finished watching it and then this comes out. I loved the movie as well.

I don’t know if anyone mentioned it yet, but the scene where joe is trying to save 22 from being a lost soul stuck out to me. All the faces shouting hurtful things at her felt like a take on anxiety or depression. She was trapped in her own bubble not listening to joe, as these people she looked up to told her how much of a failure she was. It just felt so...real I guess. I don’t really know how to describe it. (Also this movie made me start crying lol)

The joke about Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln is that Jackson was a president before Lincoln who accomplished less and was a horrible person to boot. Lincoln did more, was assassinated, and was less terrible. And the money Jackson is on is worth more than the money Lincoln is on. I think that was a good enough explanation...

To me, "the ocean" is a life's goal, an existence's sole object and reason to be. When the older fish says "THIS is the ocean", it means that the current state of said life is the reason for it to exist, the purpose of life isn't achieving something or getting somewhere. The purpose of life is living, and every single experience that comes with it. When the younger fish says "this is water, I want the ocean" the fish means that it wants to find its destiny, the objective of its life, to make life meaninful. While it fails to realize that it's already happening. Because, again, the only purpose of life is to live. When Joe remembers all little moments in his life and all the little pleasures that 22 had he finally understands that he didn't have to look for the ocean, he was born in it.

Me: excited because Seamus posted Me one minute later: clicking off because I don’t want spoilers

As a person who battles with depression, this movie hit me hard. I often think of the impact I will leave on the world when I die and how people will remember me. I draw to help me forget about everything stressful in my life, and I sometimes get caught up in the monotony of the day, not wanting to waste a second that I could be drawing. I fantasize about what people will be inspired by when I'm no longer around... what impact I'll have exactly. Who will my messages reach years from my departure? Joe says his reason to live is music, he has to find a gig, something people will remember him by or his life wasn't worth anything. But this whole time throughout the movie, he had people and experiences all around him that already gave his life meaning, just in a way he hadn't noticed. His mother, the barber, his students. He is a part of all of their lives. Even the young man who got him the gig in the first place, saying it was Joe who had inspired him to get where he was. Joe didn't have a set purpose when he was born. Not a particular reason to be here. Nobody does, we just do whatever it is we like, go down any path we choose. Sometimes those paths are closed, but that's okay too. We open and close possibilities for others every day, and others for us. For a long time I thought the only thing I will be good at is drawing. That when I'm gone the only thing people will see is pretty pictures left behind like after images of a sudden bright light. But that's just not true is it? When Joe dies his mother won't just forget him will she? His students won't just forget him. Even the barber will remember and they'll all say things along the lines of "remember when Joe-?" And that story might make someone laugh, or another cry, or inspire someone to do something that will lead to something else. Nobody's impact will ever be greater or lesser than someone else's. You can't put weight on your life, or it will only be your shoulders aching in the end. Joe didn't forget all his father had taught him the moment he passed did he? He may not have been a huge name on a bill board but he was a husband and a father, and a guy who just loved music. You don't have to exist for other people. Just exist in the moment, and see what life has in store for you.

My favourite part is the “you five can go in the insecurities and you 12 can go in the self absorbed” “I think we are putting too many in that pavilion”

Dorothea mocked Joe for being a middle school teacher earlier in the film, so the ocean story doesn't seem to imply that he's already successful as a teacher, but that he's already living and shouldn't expect to "feel more alive" when doing things he's put on a pedestal.

Soul made me realize that it’s ok to be lost I guess. It made me really happy to watch it especially because I could interpret it the way I want to. That always makes me think about a movie more and feel more attached to it. Yeah, I LOVED THIS FILM

This movie saved me. I know that sounds overdramatic but I can't express how wrong things have been going lately and today its all come to an emotional head. I wasn't sure where my mental train was going to lead me and in desperation I opened Disney+ as a last ditch effort to escape. I watched the movie halfheartedly in the beginning but as it went on, I couldnt help but feel that spark they kept talking about. Ik now I'm rambling because I cant put this feeling into words but I won't lie, Soul is an automatic top five for me. Sincerely, another 2020 survivor

I honestly feel like the message of live life to fullest is arguable more relevant to me this year as this feel like the only year that I've been more excepting of myself and trying to strive for things that a year ago I never thought I could strive for.

As a jazz musician, I was AMAZED at how accurate much of the portrayal of the jazz world is legit, literally my only qualm was how Dorothea talked to Joe the first time they met would never happen like that. That alone put this movie in at least mid tier range for me Edit: also, it's not uncommon for jazz clubs (except NYC which is pretty much the center of it all) to have teachers play in trios, quartets, quintets... in fact most of the "professional jazz players" where I grew up were also college professors, or even middle or high school band directors

This is my take on the "ocean" metaphor: I think what she's saying is that the thing (ocean) that you are searching for and obsessed to find, could be something (water) that you are already in or already have

Things we learned in 2020: Seamus should start a singing career

No movie has ever made me think about the meaning of life like Soul did! This movie completely subverted my expectations! My interpretation of the movie was this: live life as a whole and enjoy the smaller things instead of focusing on one specific thing. 22 had many "odd" interests in things like food, the subway, and the little helicopter things from the trees while Joe was super focused on getting to his gig and pursuing music. Then at the end when Joe is given a second chance at life, he says he's going to live every minute of it. That's why I believe the message of the film is take your time to enjoy life because you life is short and you never know when your last day on Earth is

I cried, not in the place you would expect When the woman got her cat back

I’m just waiting for the 22 BECOMES BOO ON EARTH, theory’s on TikTok

When Joe died for the last time after his performance with Dorothea all I could think was, “His poor mother!”

the scene where he plays the piano and looks back to scenes in his life genuinely made me cry

The ocean = water story comes from “this is water”, a speech by David Foster Wallace. You can find it in RU-vid pretty easily, it really makes you think

As a child - Soul was one of the best films I’ve ever seen. They deal with death in such an amazing way that isn’t too dark but not too childish. I completely agree - We don’t know, but we should still live life. It’s such an amazing film I can’t even understand it fully and I’ve seen it twice already.

The story that Dorothea told reminded me of the quote, "You don't know your in the good old times until you've left them." Meaning that you can be swimming in water all your life looking for the ocean similar to how you can be living your life whilst always looking for something better. Joe is busy looking forward in life, he is looking for the ocean, instead of loving the life he has and just swimming in the water.

First off, Seamus, where is the 2nd "S" in your puzzle name in the background? Second, I just want to thank you for all that you have done for me this year. I have developed a profound love for the film industry, learning from channels like sideways, schaffrillas productions, as well as yours, about good filmmaking, animation, and musical motifs, that make good films. I look forward to watching pixar and I appreciate movies like toy story better when I hear other's connections and critiques of the films. I really think that you are one of the key things that have helped me find my "Spark" (referring to Soul here, sorry I know it's a bad pun) I love this community and I just want to let you know that you are a key reason that I am where I am today. Thank you.

The whole ocean water metaphor is kinda like, being unsatisfied with where you are and always wanting more. And thinking you want more. Yet everything you need for fulfillment and happiness is already around you.

as an american, the new york knicks joke was absolutely hilarious. i actually loled really hard

The fact that this movie leaves so many questions up for interpretation is a direct parallel to real life because even if we think we know what we are doing, the universe can throw a curveball and flip everything upside-down. Like with Covid-19. Soul came out at the perfect time in my opinion, because it teaches us that life won't always give you what you want, and even if it does, it might not make you feel whole. Soul is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time because of the sole fact that every time you watch it, you can find a new meaning to the symbolism.

This film deserves a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and considering how few films it's up against, I personally think it deserves to win.

I’m mad that Joe’s last name wasn’t “mama”

Literally just finished it and boom Seamus posts a video

Kind of weird they implied no one has ever cheated death other than Joe. Those people actually exist

I love it when ppl go rly deep into meanings and symbolism bc I do it too. Having said that I think my interpretation of the film is that your life isn’t one specific path and you don’t need to feel like a failure if things don’t work out the way you hoped bc there’s no pressure put on you to achieve “your one purpose in life.” This movie rly hits home bc I’m constantly stressed abt my own dreams and not achieving them. Anyways, I loved hearing your interpretation Seamus!

the two takeaways in my family were: my mom: I feel like that was a grown-up movie that kids could watch too. my aunt: HELP, SOMEONE AT PIXAR IS HAVING A MIDLIFE CRISIS!

I loved the movie except for Curley’s extremely unnatural voicemail.

Day 18 of asking Seamus to review all of the Barbie movies.

HAHA THIS DISNEY SEQUEL SUCKS love you seamus

I just realized something, 22 isn’t gonna remember joe. One of the Jerries said that they don’t remember that world. So she won’t remember him *now I’m sad*

the last time I was this early, people thought this was a funny joke format Edit: I immediately regret making this comment. I promise to add something insightful after I actually watch the video. Edit: okay it actually turns out I'll have to wait to see the movie, but.... I'll be back to redeem myself one day!

A thought I had after the movie was that Joe had become a lot like the lost souls, obsessed with one thing and nothing else and his journey with 22 brought him back from that; helped him realize there's more to life than his one dream

This movie was especially amazing for me because I am a pianist, so it's not only a wonderful movie, but it was accurate with the piano playing, and just generally accurate to how musicians are.

I think the main thing this movie will be remembered for is it’s message. And that is all that matters to me. For years now I have been looking for a purpose and Feeling like I was just not doing enough to find it. This movie is the first one I’ve seen in a long time to fundamentally change the way I feel about my life and where I’m headed. I can only hope that more people can feel that way. Easily one of Pixar’s best.

I saw this coming. I legit watched Soul with my family yesterday, and I was constantly thinking "I'm gonna get a notification for a video on this, soon, from that one channel I'm subbed to.. Aren't I?"

When you realized both Joe and 22 mentored each other.

Soul is a beautiful work of art, it made me completely rethink my life and what I want to do, and how I want to live my life! Absolutely mind blowing!

Joe: Questioning his life Dorothea: Fish!

Joe as a Cat > any other Pixar character!

When I heard the fish and ocean story, I thought of "ocean" as being the thing we are all looking for. I don't know what to call it, but something like happiness, satisfaction, purpose, value. And water is just ordinary living, whatever situation we are in. So the young fish thinks they have to go somewhere or do something to enjoy life, be valuable, whatever, but the old fish knows that life happens where you are and the purpose can be found everyday.

The “afterlife place” is the ‘before life’ place in reality, and it’s called the you-seminar

Seamus you didn’t understand the references and quotes as this is for a black culture and I enjoyed this so much as it’s finally in a mainstream platform

My day gets a little better when Seamus posts!

All my family just thought it was eh. It’s not because of the music, but when the soul became a monster and was just repeating how useless it was, it really connected with me. I cried so much, and just felt really emotional after watching it.

Its kind of interesting to say living itself has its own inherent value

Deep movie. And there were definitely many deleted scenes. Like they kept talking about a death scene with his dad. And Lisa never even appeared

Soul was definitely my favorite Christmas gift.

There’s one thing about this movie I love, and it’s this line from 22: “You can’t crush a soul, that’s what life on Earth is for” I AM ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING ABSOLUTELY DYING AT THAT LINE (There’s more to the movie than that line that I adore I just love it)

Imagine 22 becomes his student in the future

me: today was boring *seamus posts* me: this is a great day

I watched this movie and I really liked it, I don't know what it was, it's style or something but I found it more similar to Onward, that it's classics, and I like it.

Minor detail: I consider it as coincidence Soul rendering style matches Emotion rendering style from Inside Out. However, I am interested in any hypothesis/theories wtf is happening in character heads... I mean, we have classical body switch, however, Inside Out have established 5 ruling emotions model, and when 22 jumped into body must mean that unborn, inexperienced emotions got access to emotion control panel of adult human (newborn has 1 button, adult has fully operational spaceship flight control room). We definitely know Soul appearance match appearance of body it resided in, and the same is truth for Emotions (in is clearly stated in Inside Out, in film and in post credit scene, and it is applied to animals as well). Do we assume Souls and Emotions are sibling aspects made from the same matter, or Soul is mix of emotions, memories and whatever else? Also, we 100% know that grate beyond is not complete destruction of the soul, it was established in Onward by the fact that brothers managed to summon their father (somewhat successfully). Which being is responsible for such souls (Jerry, Terry, whoever?) is not clear. Also questions: does Cars have similar Souls/Emotions? They are technically alive.

Before I watch Soul I had NO idea what to expect During I loved it and it had me guessing what will happen in the end in a fun way After loved it, it made me cry, (I don’t usually cry about things not about animals) my heart has exploded... in a good way

Seamus: "...what IS living?" Me: "Woah. I- I hadn't thought of it like t-" Seamus: "hahahaha this Disney sequel SUCKS!

I love the metaphor style of this video! Much better than just saying “so Soul was pretty good”.

I feel like the Jackson/Lincoln joke will go over most American heads too, but they may still laugh because "haha upset historical figure that I know"

I just finished watching it! It was so good!! One thing I need answering though is the fate of the therapy cat’s soul?? I thought it went off to the afterlife!

Me and my family keep quoting the “we worked it out with jerry”

What a year it was indeed... a coaster of a year. And Soul is an emotional coaster of a film. Pixar is victorious at making us cry once again

Soul is my favourite Pixar film since Toy Story 3, and since Toy Story 3 is my favourite film of all time, that is a pretty remarkable achievement.

I have a theory that since Joe was out of his body, 22 went into Joes body and became Joe. While Joe went to live a new life to the fullest. “Im gonna live every minute of it.” Hes gonna live a new life, to the fullest.

I strongly recommend David Foster Wallace's lecture called "This is Water"...it's a graduation speech he gave before he killed himself. It's on RU-vid

The joke about the New York Knicks had me laughing out loud

The moment that broke me was when Joe was playing the piano and replaying all of 22’s “ordinary” life moments in his head. My dad, who was sitting next to me, whispered: that’s what life is all about, the “little things.” I realized, in that moment, that this was the perfect quarantine movie, and tears came streaming down. Everyday life during a pandemic is terrible, and at least for me, my perception of time is way off: a week ago feels like years ago and I can’t even remember what I did yesterday. We remember the special little moments, like blue sky and music and love. Since watching it last night, I have started looking at life - especially during quarantine - in a completely new way, The morning before I watched the film, I was dreaming about my Disney trips and thought about how, right when I wake up the morning I leave to go to the happiest place on Earth, I tell myself to truly live in the moment and be mindful so I can remember everything and savor every millisecond of my time I Walt Disney World. And then I realized, why don’t I live like this all the time? Live every moment like it’s special and is something to be celebrated so that when there are truly special moments, you are fully open and ready to experience them with everything that you are. Thank you, Disney and Pixar, for creating another story that will stay with me forever. ✨ “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” ~Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

Soul is amazing for so many reasons, however, the main reason is that the main character is called Joe, what a phenomenal name!

I took "the ocean" to mean an "aha!" moment where he feels happy in his life. Joe is looking for "the ocean"-- he is looking for a big purpose, but fails to realize that he is already happy-- that he has had a good life, and that he is "already in the ocean". "Water" feels normal to him-- it's the idea of "the ocean" that excites him, not the real thing, because again, he is already in it.

*Next year is 2020 won* :(

I definitely got a little confused with the message of the film, I didn’t necessarily leave unsatisfied, but it didn’t feel quite complete. I like your interpretation of it and I feel like it’s a movie I need to process and revisit before I have a full opinion.

SEAMUS I LOVE YOUR HAIR IT’S GOING THROUGH SUCH A FABULOUS ERA

I think what Dorothea was trying to tell Joe with the ocean/water story is that Joe kept striving for this "big break" when his life would finally begin, but he's actually living his life now. He was going through life not appreciating the little things that make life special because he was so hyper-focused on his goals. 22 noticed and fell in love with life's little details.

I love Soul, it’s so psychological and really deep... and yet it’s still a movie for children??

My takeaway for the ending: Joe was living life, but now he was *living LIFE.* You know what I mean? Idk if that makes sense

I watched Soul the day it came out in *preparation* for this video

22: The fire is so pretty I just want to let it spread Joe: Ok let’s move on ( you are going to end up in jail when you get to earth)

Isn’t it just Seamus. The inevitable video is finally here ☺️

I absolutely loved this movie and the ending. I watched it with my parents and my mom was really confused and kind of disappointed about how open-ended it was but I loved how they left it up to interpretation

I loved it but my parents are crazy and when it finished my dad said “Well it wasn’t that great” Come again for big fudge. This man is crazy.

Those 93 dislikes are Gerry making wrong calculations 😂

I watched this film this-morning and I loved it soooooooo much joe was such a great character he was a little flawed with his morals as he was willing to steal A kids life??? I thought twelve was really funny and I loved how she didn’t want to go to earth until she got there where she got her spark

What I got from this film is , just because you’re good a something, does not mean you have to do it for the rest of your life. It’s good to do stuff different. It’s okay to like something but you gotta make room for other interest too. and to not only focus on that one thing you’re good at/ love, or you’ll forget about everything else, you’ll overlook everything. Don’t take life for granted

I loved soul. I just saw it last night. I was about to cry at the ending!!! That and onward were the 1st pixar movies to bring me through a emotional roller coaster (all of the other movies just got spoiled so I didn't feel that way, knowing how it's gonna end + all the sad twists). Icannot believe how good this movie was.

Ur review is far more better than that schaffs guys review in my opinion

So you know I’m not very emotional yet the ending of this actually made me cry( No movie has ever been Able to do that)so I think that is proof to how good the film is.

When I watched this I honestly thought I was watching a movie about me. My passion is music listening to it and making it. I also have a huge fear of death. This sort of opened my eyes a little. I’m still asking questions and I’m still afraid of death but I know now I shouldn’t be living in fear and should be living my life to the fullest. Honestly I’m the Joe of this World. (Now I need a Tina Fey lmao)

i loved soul.Its crazy how a movie can make me believe that i now know the meaning on life.

This was incredible to watch, and the teacher in me loved it the most! The messages I took away the most was to enjoy simply living, and that mentors/teachers/etc. are VITAL to our lives. Joe was teaching 22 while they were trying to get him his body back, even if it wasn't super obvious. He was teaching by example and experience, which is one of the best ways to teach! But in the same way, 22 was teaching Joe how to fall in love with life again, and how to look for MORE than 1 spark, since sparks can come and go. I don't think I can quite put it into words, but I don't think it's necessary to tbh. There really are many messages to take away from this movie, and I'm happy I watched it!