LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Soul” takes animated films to new heights, not only with its philosophical themes of the meaning of life but as the first in the history of Pixar’s 25-year film appear mostly black.
Featuring Jamie Foxx as a jazz pianist who wants his life not to turn out as it should, the family film “Soul” will first appear on the Disney + streaming service on Christmas Day.
His voice actors include Phylicia Rashad, Questlove, Angela Bassett and Daveed Diggs, with Jon Batiste playing the jazz music.
Co-director and writer Pete Docter said “Soul” was not aimed at being based around a Black man.
“It was just a film that was very appealing in my own experience. And then the choice to make him a jazz musician gave us the feeling that that was the right and appropriate choice to make him black too, ”said Docter.
Foxx, who won an Oscar in 2005 for playing musician Ray Charles, welcomed the opportunity to take the role.
“I was really sad for people to see this – the first African American Pixar Disney lead. That’s what we need, you know? ”He said.
After an opening in New York City, Foxx ‘s character falls down a hole and finds himself in the Great Before, where he must counsel another lost soul, heard by Tina Fey.
Docter said the film was inspired by his own feelings about life.
“Many of us need to figure out what’s going on, what we’re doing with our lives … why we’re here and what we should be doing to make the best of it make of it? ”
Fey named the film a Christmas present after a year marked by coronavirus pandemic challenges.
“We have been through so much. We need to ask big questions about our lives and what we fear. So hopefully it will be a joyous gift for people to watch the Christmas holidays with their families, ”said Fey.
Reciting with Rollo Ross; Written by Jill Serjeant; Edited by Lisa Shumaker