BY: Caitlin Gallagher
This article contains spoilers for the movie Onward. Disney Pixar rushed the release of Onward to Disney+ due to the worldwide CoVid-19 pandemic, and I’ve watched it several times already. I was so impressed. I have cried, I have laughed, and I have related to it. It really is a heart-warming movie about love, magic, wonder, redemption, trust, family, faith, and sacrifice. What really caught my attention, though, was how Pixar shows the different family dynamics, challenges, and ailments that are relatable to kids and adults today. This film is filled with hard-hitting personal challenges that could prepare children for real issues raised in society.
The story is centered around a young boy, Ian, and his older brother, Barley. Ian was not even born yet when their father died, leaving their mother, Laurel, to raise the boys alone for most of their lives. Single-parenting has become more and more common, and Onward raises awareness of this while also focusing on the challenges a family faces when a parent passes too soon. Ian and Barley go on a quest to help bring their father back for a day. Ian makes a list of everything he wants to do with his father in that one day—everyday things that other kids get to do with their dads. This is a feeling that children feel all too often today.
One scene that really took me by surprise was the scene in which the boys were talking to the cops, morphed into the sheriff (who is also Laurel’s boyfriend) and one of the female cops, talks about her girlfriend’s daughter. There was just one line addressing the LGBTQ community and honestly it could have easily been missed. A child watching might not even notice it, but as an adult watching, it took me by surprise that Pixar is openly showing its support for the LGBTQ community..
Another example of Pixar showing how they are reflecting more on real world people and the challenges we face is Ian’s classmate, who walks with braces, not because he is injured, but because he has a condition that requires him to use them. Making this character and letting him blend into the crowd normalizes people with disabilities and other ailments. They did not focus too much on what challenges he has, just that he was well-liked.
There isn’t a Pixar movie I haven’t liked, and Onward was no different. So should you watch this movie? Well, in the words of my very cool, five-year-old nephew: “That movie was awesome cool. I loved it so much. Especially the funny parts.” There you have it folks– go watch Onward, it’s one of the best!