Interestingly, Disney’sOnwardreexamined that trope.
Released theatrically in 2020,Onwardis as full of humor as pathos.
Ian realizes that Barley is the one who has been supporting him his whole life.
ButOnwardrejects that idea in favor of leaning in to the emotional discomfortat the heart of the story.
Ian is brought to tears at the sight, but they are clearly only bittersweet at the worst.
Scanlon’s idea sprung from his own experiences, which became the blueprint for Ian’s character arc.
Custom image by Zahra Huselid
The genuine pain and loss of his own father clearly influenced Scanlon’s crafting ofOnward.
Critical acclaim aside,Onwardis a very important journey for its characters, its creator, and any viewer.
Pixar’s Onward takes place in a land filled with mythical creatures. It concerns the story of brothers Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt), who learn that their long-lost father had unlocked the ancient power of magic, something long rendered obsolete by technological advances. The brothers learn they have just 24 hours to resurrect their father and set off on a magical quest across the land to reunite their family.
