UB Film Spotlight: Preview Pixar/Disney’s ‘Soul’ | Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett + More

What is it that makes you…YOU? Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town.

But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth.

Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Voice Cast:
Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner
Tina Fey as 22
Graham Norton as Moonwind
Rachel House as Terry
Alice Braga as a Counselor
Richard Ayoade as a Counselor
Phylicia Rashad as Libba Gardner
Donnell Rawlings as Dez
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson as Curley
Angela Bassett as Dorthea Williams
Daveed Diggs as Paul
Wes Studi as a Counselor
Fortune Feimster as a Counselor
Zenobia Shroff as a Counselor
June Squibb as Gerol

Disney and Pixar’s Soul is streaming on December 25 only on Disney+.

“Soul” capitalizes on the contrasts between the big city and the cosmic realm. Filmmakers’ approach to the film and the characters’ performances was inspired in part by two diverse influences: the art of English artist and satirical cartoonist Ronald Searle, and the animation from Disney’s 1961 animated classic “101 Dalmatians.” Stated animation supervisor Jude Brownbill, “Searle and ‘101 Dalmatians’ influenced the look and feel of ‘Soul’ in almost every department—from the imperfect shape of buildings, furniture and props, to the number of folds on a characters’ clothing.

Complementing those visual choices is a two-pronged approach to the music. “GRAMMY®-nominated Jon Batiste—singer, composer, songwriter, band leader, jazz genius.

“Soul” also marks the first film at Pixar to feature a host of characters with black and brown skin. Filmmakers took special care to ensure all skin types were richly and authentically depicted. “I’m really conscious about skin tone,” says shading art director Bryn Imagire. “We wanted to represent a wide range in the African American characters. It was important to me to get that right.”

Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter , co-directed by Kemp Powers and produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray.

Check out UB‘s Interviews and Previews below, courtesy of Disney/Pixar.

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