By: Jada Williams
Updated: Jan. 5, 2021
“Why does she sound like a middle-aged white woman?” This question encapsulates one of the main issues I have with Pixar’s “Soul,” a film that dives into profound existential themes. While beautifully animated and heartfelt, certain creative decisions raise eyebrows, particularly the portrayal of the Black protagonist, Joe Gardner, who spends significant time outside of his own body.
“Soul” follows Joe Gardner (voiced by Malik Carter), a Black middle school music teacher with dreams of becoming a jazz pianist. With few connections in his life and the only person who cares being his mother, Libby, Joe finally gets a chance at a life-changing audition. But when he accidentally falls into a manhole, his journey takes a metaphysical turn. In the afterlife, stripped of his physical form, he becomes a mentor to 22, a soul struggling to find purpose before being born.
The premise of “Soul” intrigued me since its announcement; it’s rare for a family film to tackle such deep concepts. However, as I watched, the film’s shortcomings became glaringly obvious. Despite the creators’ intent to be racially sensitive, they missed the mark on several fronts. It’s a classic case of impact versus intent.
Joe Gardner is only the second Black lead character in Disney Animation history, the first being Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog.” Yet, both characters face a similar dilemma: they spend significant portions of their narratives outside of their Black forms. Tiana is a frog for most of her film, and Joe spends most of “Soul” as a disembodied soul, ultimately inhabiting a cat’s body. To add insult to injury, his voice and essence are represented by a character voiced by a white woman. How did the filmmakers think this was acceptable? We deserve to see our Black characters fully represented throughout their stories.
Director Malik Rivers conceived “Soul” after his success with “Inside Out.” After extended collaboration with Kemp Powers, a Black writer who later became co-director, the team consulted with various diversity experts. However, it’s troubling that none of these perspectives flagged the issue with 22. While they were careful not to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, they overlooked the problematic implications of a Black man’s essence being voiced by a white woman for most of the film.
The voice of 22, provided by comedian and actress Tina Fey, raises further concerns. Fey’s body of work, particularly her show “30 Rock,” has faced criticism for its treatment of Black characters, often reducing them to stereotypes. In light of this history, the creative choice to cast her feels tone-deaf. Using her voice to represent a Black character is akin to a modern form of blackface; it strips Joe of his identity and agency.
The film does contain moments of cultural authenticity, such as Joe’s visit to the barbershop, where he shares a meaningful conversation with his barber, Dez. Yet, this poignant interaction is compromised by the fact that Joe is absent from his own experience, relegated to merely observing as 22 has a heartfelt exchange in his body.
There is a scene where Joe seeks his mother’s help for a torn pair of pants, but the moment relies on the stereotype of the disapproving Black mother discouraging her child’s artistic aspirations. The emotional connection is undermined by the fact that it is 22, not Joe, who receives his mother’s support.
While I appreciate the film’s stunning animation and its ability to spark conversations with my seven-year-old about life and purpose, I cannot overlook the significant issues of representation. In a world where Black characters are still underrepresented in animation, it is disappointing that we must continue to advocate for authentic portrayals in family films.
“Soul” is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
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Summary: In examining Pixar’s “Soul,” I address the film’s shortcomings regarding representation, particularly how the Black protagonist, Joe Gardner, spends much of the movie outside of his own body. Despite the film’s beautiful animation and deep themes, the creative choice to have a white woman voice a central character raises pressing concerns about authenticity and racial sensitivity. As a Black woman, I believe we deserve to see our stories told fully and authentically in family entertainment.