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Onward 2020

Movie · 102 min · English · February 21, 2020

Directed by Dan ScanlonWritten by Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin

Starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Kyle Bornheimer

A 2020 American animated fantasy adventure film, Onward features a story rooted in personal loss and family bonds. It was directed by Dan Scanlon and written by Scanlon, Jason Headley, and Keith Bunin. The production was handled by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, and includes voice performances from Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer. Set in a modern suburban fantasy world, the plot centers on two elf brothers named Ian and Barley Lightfoot (voiced by Holland and Pratt). Their mission involves searching for a magical artifact that can bring their late father, Wilden (Kyle Bornheimer), back to life for one day.

Following his work on Monsters University in 2013, Scanlon decided to explore narrative themes closer to his own experiences. The idea of Onward originated from the passing of Scanlon’s father in a car accident during childhood, and his relationship with his older brother. He began developing the story after listening to a recording of his father's voice. The film's announcement took place at D23 Expo in July 2017, with its title disclosed in December 2018 along with the casting details. To suit its suburban setting, the animation team studied various magical representations in animation and created their own distinct style for the magic used in the film. The development process lasted six years.

Mychael and Jeff Danna were selected to compose the soundtrack, and Brandi Carlile contributed a closing credits song. Onward made its debut at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2020, before opening in theaters in the United States on March 6, 2020. Although praised by critics, it failed to meet financial expectations, earning $141 million globally against a production budget ranging from $175 to 200 million. The global pandemic, which caused widespread theater closures, impacted its box office returns. Many of the early 2020 releases saw better performance through streaming platforms, and Onward was no exception. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at both the 78th Golden Globe Awards and the 93rd Academy Awards. Onward marked Pixar's final theatrical release until Lightyear in 2022.