Onward: The Creative Journey and Production of a Pixar Fantasy
Creating a world that blends the mundane nature of suburbia with the wonder of high fantasy is no small feat. Onward, a Pixar production, emerged from a deeply personal place for director Dan Scanlon, evolving over six years of development into a story about brotherhood, loss, and the magic of family.
The Heart Behind the Story
The inspiration for Onward was rooted in Dan Scanlon's own life. Having lost his father when he was only a year old—and his older brother was just three—Scanlon spent much of his life with only silent home videos of his father. The spark for the film occurred when a family member discovered an old cassette tape containing his father's voice. At the end of the recording, the father says just two words: "Hii" and "Goodbye." Scanlon described this moment as "magical," and it became the emotional catalyst for the film's narrative.
The project was first announced by then-studio head John Lasseter at the D23 Expo in July 2017 as a "suburban fantasy world" film. While Scanlon directed, Kori Rae served as producer. To maintain the surprise for his brother, Scanlon kept the project a secret during its long development cycle. In 2019, the creative team brought in Jason Headley and Keith Bunin to refine the screenplay and story.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Bringing the Characters to Life
The casting process for Onward focused on chemistry and authenticity. On December 12, 2018, the lead cast was revealed, featuring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer. To capture a natural sibling dynamic, Holland and Pratt recorded several sessions together, allowing them to improvise lines based on their existing real-life friendship.
The ensemble grew in December 2019 with the addition of Ali Wong, Lena Waithe, and Mel Rodriguez. By February 2020, the cast was rounded out by Wilmer Valderrama, Tracey Ullman, Kyle Bornheimer, George Psarras, and Pixar veteran John Ratzenberger.
The Art of Digital Magic
One of the film's greatest technical challenges was the visualization of magic. Effects supervisor Vincent Serritella and his team wanted the spells to feel abstract yet personified, ensuring the magic complemented the suburban setting rather than clashing with it.
The animators studied classic magic sequences from films like Fantasia, Aladdin, and Hercules to find a unique visual language. The process involved a hybrid approach:
- 2D Foundations: Magic was first conceptualized through hand-drawn animated drawings to establish shapes and graphic elements.
- 3D Integration: These 2D graphics were then converted into computer-animated "light objects."
- Volumetric Lighting: By adding a glowing atmosphere and CGI depth perception, the team achieved a balance that felt neither too graphic nor too physically real.
This technical progression mirrored the character arc of Ian, providing a visual roadmap for the animators to follow as the magic evolved throughout the story. The final production was completed on November 21, 2019.
Deleted Concepts and Refinements
Not every idea made it to the final cut. One storyboarded sequence featured Ian, Barley, and a character named Wilden traveling with a goat girl. In this scene, they encountered three evil mermaids who used a mesmerizing song to lure them into rental houses that eventually sank into the ground.
Ultimately, the filmmakers removed the goat girl to ensure the narrative remained tightly focused on the relationship between Ian and Barley. The mermaid sequence was also cut because the team felt the tone was too grim for the overall film.
Key Facts
- Development Time: The film spent six years in development.
- Core Inspiration: A cassette tape featuring the voice of director Dan Scanlon's late father.
- Animation Technique: A blend of hand-drawn 2D choreography and volumetric 3D CGI.
- Lead Chemistry: Tom Holland and Chris Pratt improvised lines during joint recording sessions.
- Completion Date: The film was finished on November 21, 2019.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Dan Scanlon |
| Producer | Kori Rae |
| Lead Voice Cast | Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer |
| Visual Style | Suburban Fantasy |
| Magic Influence | Fantasia, Aladdin, Hercules |
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired the story of Onward?
The film was inspired by director Dan Scanlon's personal experience of losing his father at a young age and the emotional impact of hearing his father's voice on an old cassette tape for the first time.
How did the animators create the look of the magic?
The team used a hybrid method, starting with hand-drawn 2D animations to define the shapes and then transforming them into 3D volumetric, glowing light objects using CGI.
Did the voice actors record their lines together?
While most lines were recorded separately, Tom Holland and Chris Pratt had several joint sessions to allow for improvisation and a more natural sibling chemistry.
Why was the goat girl character removed from the film?
The filmmakers decided to omit the goat girl to keep the story's emotional focus strictly on the relationship between the two brothers, Ian and Barley.
How long did it take to develop Onward?
According to director Dan Scanlon, the film spent six years in development before its completion.