Disney and fairytales. A tradition dating back to 1937 with the first animated film released under the name Walt Disney hit theaters. However, the past decade (and some change) has seen the typical love stricken, damsel in distress heroines melt away to more independent, confident, and general adventure focused leads. All which comes to head with their newest film, Raya and the Last Dragon.
Every once in a while, a film comes along that feels like a filmmaker announcing their arrival onto the scene in the loudest possible fashion. With Promising Young Woman, director and writer Emerald Fennell delivers a darkly funny, serious and distressing film. Paired with an actress whose comfort in this setting is practically unsettling, and you get one of the year’s best films.
As an animation studio, Pixar is no stranger to weightier concepts. Each Pixar film has some message of deeper meaning under the colorful animation and delightful characters, and Soul is no different. It still has all the charm and gorgeous animation you come to expect from Pixar, but with a dash of existentialism and a very easy metaphor for the meaning of life. Yeah, Pixar is going for it this time.
