Onward (film)

Onward
Onward
Directed by	Dan Scanlon
Screenplay by	Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin
Story by	Dan Scanlon
Produced by	Kori Rae
Starring	Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer
Cinematography	Sharon Calahan, Adam Habib
Edited by	Catherine Apple, Jason Hudak
Music by	Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna
Production; companies	Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios
Distributed by	Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date	March; 6, 2020 (United States)
Running time	102 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$175–200 million
Box office	$141.9 million

Onward_poster

Onward is a 2020 American computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Dan Scanlon, the film features the voices of Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer. The film is set in a suburban fantasy world and follows two elf brothers who embark on a quest to find an artifact that will temporarily bring back their deceased father.

Plot[edit | edit source]

In a world inhabited by mythical creatures, magic was once commonplace but has since faded away, replaced by modern technology. In the town of New Mushroomton, teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot receive a wizard's staff as a prearranged gift from their late father, who passed away before Ian was born. The staff comes with a spell that can bring their father back for one day. However, the spell goes awry, and only their father's legs are reanimated. The brothers set out on a quest to find a way to complete the spell and bring back the rest of their father before the 24-hour time limit expires.

Voice Cast[edit | edit source]

Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot
Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot
Octavia Spencer as The Manticore
Mel Rodriguez as Colt Bronco
Kyle Bornheimer as Wilden Lightfoot
Lena Waithe as Officer Specter
Ali Wong as Officer Gore

Production[edit | edit source]

The film was directed by Dan Scanlon, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jason Headley and Keith Bunin. Kori Rae served as the producer. The film's score was composed by Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna. The animation was done by Pixar Animation Studios, known for their high-quality computer-animated films.

Release[edit | edit source]

Onward premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2020, and was released in the United States on March 6, 2020. The film's theatrical run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an early release on digital platforms.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Onward received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its animation, voice performances, and emotional depth. However, it underperformed at the box office, grossing $141.9 million worldwide against a budget of $175–200 million, largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.