Pixar executive Pete Docter has expressed his disappointment with the Disney+ release of the acclaimed animated movie Soul, which debuted in December 2020. The Jamie Foxx-led dramedy was originally set for a theatrical release. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was delayed and instead given a direct-to-streaming release on Disney+.
Soul was directed by Docter and Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami). The story follows Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher who dreams of playing in the best jazz club in town before a misstep causes him to arrive in The Great Before — a place where souls meet their personalities. It featured the voices of Foxx, Tina Fey, Phylicia Rashad, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, Angela Bassett, and Daveed Diggs. It was produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. (Pixar short Lou), with Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross handling its music and score, respectively.
Pete Docter on the consequences of releasing Soul on Disney+
During a recent interview, Docter reflected on the consequences of releasing Soul on Disney+, admitting that the 2020 movie didn’t make a huge impact due to its lack of theatrical impact. Despite this, the film still earned positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a Certified Fresh rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also bagged two Oscar Awards, including Best Animated Feature.
“Very few people talk about Soul because it didn’t have the big theatrical impact. There’s something indisputable about that,” Docter said (via IndieWire). “At the beginning, like Soul, I don’t think we had a choice. It was such a joy to work on, and I felt disappointed that it came out and it got dropped into the ocean. What’s the great thing about theaters? We have this drama. People watch it together.”
He continued, “And the thing that I would love to hold on to as much as we can is that every [Pixar] film you see, it’s a different flavor, so that it feels like it’s within this circle of what defines a Pixar film. But Soul is way over here, and Cars 2 is way over there. I love that balance. I’m hoping we can preserve that.”
