Onward
Movie, 2020, Originals, Set in New Mushroomton
Onward is #22 of 31 in release order and #8 of 31 in chronological order in the Pixar.
The story
In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.
Onward recap
In a modern fantasy world where magic has been replaced by technology, the elf Ian Lightfoot turns sixteen, shy and unsure, with an older brother, Barley, obsessed with magic and history. Their mother gives them a gift from their father Wilden, who died before Ian was born: a wizard's staff and a spell to bring him back for one day. Ian has the magic, but the spell fails halfway, restoring only their dad's legs. With less than a day, the brothers set off in Barley's van, Guinevere, to find another phoenix gem. They visit the Manticore's tavern, now a family restaurant, and set off a curse; their mother and the Manticore follow. Barley's quest instincts keep saving them, and the map leads back to Ian's high school.
Onward ending explained
The gem sits in the school, and its curse forms a dragon from the rubble. Ian finishes the spell while Barley holds off the dragon, then lets Barley be the one to meet their father, realising Barley was the father figure he needed. Ian watches from a distance as Barley says goodbye. Afterward, Ian is more confident, and Barley gets a new van.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Onward
Onward is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Toy Story 4, before Soul.
- Chronological order: after Coco, before Soul.
What to watch before Onward
In release order, 7 Pixar essentials come before Onward (2020), from A Bug's Life (1998) to Coco (2017).
Cast
- Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot (voice)
- Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot (voice)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot (voice)
- Octavia Spencer as The Manticore (voice)
- Mel Rodriguez as Officer Colt Bronco (voice)
- Kyle Bornheimer as Wilden Lightfoot (voice)
- Lena Waithe as Officer Spector (voice)
- Ali Wong as Officer Gore (voice)
- Grey DeLisle as Dewdrop (voice)
- Tracey Ullman as Grecklin (voice)
- Wilmer Valderrama as Gaxton (voice)
- John Ratzenberger as Construction Worker Fennwick (voice)
Directed by Dan Scanlon.