Pixar's Soul: 10 Of The Most Thought-Provoking Quotes
In 2020, Pixar released one of its most thought-provoking movies yet — Soul. Similar to 2015’s Inside Out, Pixar dabbles into the mind, body, and soul as the characters find the deeper meaning of life.
The animated film tackles difficult and heavy topics like life, death, and the concept of lost souls; but continues Pixar's tradition of handling these issues in a way that children can understand and not be overwhelmed by - while still hitting the adults watching pretty hard. In a movie like Soul it's no surprise there are some quotes that stick with viewers long after they've finished watching.
Terry’s main job in the Great Before (an in-between state of Heaven and consciousness) is calculating the souls that come through. Terry takes their job seriously and has a huge problem when Joe snags 22 and runs off to Earth without consent or preparation. Because of their actions, Terry's numbers were off and they go to Earth to find them.
It was while Terry was looking for 22 and Joe that they said this quote. However, there's irony in this quote because both Joe and 22 were looking for the inner workings of what made their soul spark. Viewers could say the same thing when also searching for their soul's passion.
Soul is an animated film that tackles serious issues. From death to the Great Before to one's purpose... it's all covered in a positive light without fear. But that doesn't mean there weren't emotional moments in the film.
In human form and soul form, Joe knew his spark was music. He lost himself in music and felt it was his true passion — his life's work. But when Joe goes to the Great Before, and later when he takes the body of a cat while 22 takes his human body, Joe loses his temper with 22. Joe (as a cat) loathed that 22 was beginning to like being a human in Joe's body. The two got into a fight where 22 made Joe realize that the reason why he was so snappy with her was because he didn't live life to its fullest. It's that realization alone that makes this quote so powerful. One can't snap at others due to their own misgivings or failed dreams.
Although Libba and Joe loved each other as mother and son, they didn't always see eye to eye. Libba wanted Joe to take the full-time music teacher position he was offered because it gave Joe security, but Joe still wanted to chase his dream of playing professionally. This caused a rift between them.
Libba prepared him to have backups in case his dreams didn't work out. As his mother, she was looking out for him and this line made Joe (and viewers) think about what he'd do if his plan of a professional piano player didn't work out. The quote is important because it reminds viewers what their own backup plan would be if Plan A fell through. Thankfully, Joe and Libba had the perfect ending because Libba gave Joe her blessing to play music and watched him perform.
When Joe asked 22 what she wanted to be remembered for, she didn't know how to respond. It's a question that leaves a person (or soul) stumped because there can be multiple things a person wants to be remembered for. It's a line that connects life, death, and logic.
Joe always wished that he'd be remembered for his music, but since he never became the musical sensation he knew he could be, it made him wonder what people would think about when they thought of him. This quote provokes viewers to also think about how they want to be remembered when it's their turn.
Moonwind brought some of the funniest moments to the film. He was a dreamer who chased his passions and lived in between Earth and The Astral Plane. It's a place where souls go when their human body is in the zone doing something they're passionate about.
In The Astral Plane, Moonwind introduces Joe to these scary beings known as lost souls. These are souls with bodies still on earth but have nothing to live for until they break themselves from the hamster wheel they're on. For viewers, it's a reminder to live a life of passion to stray from disconnecting and getting lost.
After spending a day in Joe's body, 22 decided that she was ready for Earth but was scared to take the leap. Joe reminded her that life was precious and to make something of it once she transitioned.
Joe continued saying, "Spend your precious hours doing what will bring out the real you. The brilliant passionate you, that’s ready to contribute to something meaningful into this world.” This inspires viewers to stay true to themselves and to focus on the good instead of the bad.
Joe and 22 were under the impression that without finding a spark, they would never know what their purpose on Earth was. It's not until the end of the movie when Terry brought Joe and 22 back to the Great Before that they realized a spark isn't a soul's purpose – it's a passion.
The difference between a spark and passion is what's thought-provoking about this quote. This leads the viewers and characters to dig deep to find what their purpose on Earth was and what made them feel alive. It's an emotional aspect of the movie.
The saying "get in the zone" takes on a new meaning in Soul. The zone was a magical place where souls were participating in things that got them out of their own minds.
It left Joe wondering what on Earth brought him to this special place aside from music. For viewers, it's thought-provoking to think about the zone and what it was in life that brought them to this happy place.
At the end of Soul, Joe gave his Earth pass to 22 because she was ready to leave the Great Before for Earth. His sacrifice left the mentors in the Great Before impressed, so Counselor Jerry gave Joe another chance at living. Joe learned a lot during his time with 22 and became his own version of a Pixar hero.
When Jerry asked Joe how he was going to spend his second attempt at life, he said that he wasn't going to take it for granted. Jerry's simple question is thought-provoking in itself. How does anyone want to spend their life? It sparks an interesting topic and can prompt children to, perhaps for the first time, look towards the future and what they enjoy in life.
After performing with Dorothea Williams for the first time, Joe admitted that he thought he would feel differently. Dorothea understood what he was getting at and told him the story of a fish. The story left Joe (and viewers) in thought.
It meant that the thing Joe has been searching for has been in front of him all along. This story is inspiring for viewers because they too can put themselves in the fish's proverbial shoes and compare it to their own lives.