Onward (2020)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
In a modern-day suburban fantasy world where magic has become obsolete, two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, navigate a world of high-tech and fading mysticism. On Ian's 16th birthday, their mother gives them a magical staff and a rare Phoenix gem, along with a letter describing a 'visitation spell' that can resurrect their late father, Wilden, for twenty-four hours. When Ian attempts to cast the spell, he is interrupted, leaving their father only partially revived. The brothers must then embark on a perilous quest to find another gem and complete the ritual before the sun sets, while their mother searches for them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a world where magic was once common but became obsolete as technology advanced, Ian and Barley Lightfoot are two elf brothers living in a suburban fantasy world. On Ian's 16th birthday, they receive a gift from their late father: a magical staff and a Phoenix gem. Ian attempts to cast a visitation spell to bring their father back for 24 hours, but an interruption leaves Wilden only half-formed. The brothers, accompanied by the partially-formed Wilden, travel to the Manticore's Tavern to find a map to a second gem. After a chaotic sequence involving a fire and a quest to a nearby mountain, they face various obstacles, including a chase by a centaur police officer and a motorcycle gang of sprites. They eventually reach a cave where Barley confesses his fear of not saying goodbye to their father. After a battle with a dragon-shaped golem, Ian and Barley are given the chance to complete the spell. Ian realizes Barley has been a father figure to him, and they ultimately find a way for both to find closure with their father. The film ends with the brothers embarking on a new quest as the world begins to rediscover magic.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Dan Scanlon
- Writers
- Dan Scanlon · screenplay; Jason Headley · screenplay; Keith Bunin · screenplay; Dan Scanlon · story; Keith Bunin · story; Jason Headley · story
- Cast and characters
- Tom Holland · Ian Lightfoot; Chris Pratt · Barley Lightfoot; Julia Louis-Dreyfus · Laurel Lightfoot; Octavia Spencer · Corey; Kyle Bornheimer · Wilden Lightfoot; Mel Rodriguez · Colt Bronco; Lena Waithe · Specter; Ali Wong · Gore; Grey Griffin · Dewdrop; Tracey Ullman · Grecklin; Wilmer Valderrama · Gaxton; George Psarras · Avel
- Genres
- animated; fantasy; adventure
- Themes
- brotherhood; grief; legacy
- Tone and mood
- heartwarming; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- fantasy; adventure; quest
- Reception
- The film received positive critical reception but underperformed at the box office due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Reported review scores
- PostTrak · score: 4.5 · scale: 5
- Awards and nominations
- Best Animated Feature Film · Golden Globe Awards · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film's concept was inspired by the death of director Dan Scanlon's father.; The film was the last Pixar film released in theaters worldwide until Lightyear in 2022.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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