The quest of a lifetime

Director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae tell 3D World the tale of Onward’s journey to the big screen

For the past 34 years Pixar has been at the forefront of the computer-animated film, pushing the boundaries of technology and storytelling alike. Now, on their 22nd outing, the pioneering studio is finding new ways to hone their craft and enchant audiences around the world. Onward introduces two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, and their quest to spend one more day with their dear departed father, using what little magic is left in the world.

The film is a deeply personal one for its director, Dan Scanlon. “The story is inspired by my own relationship with my brother and our connection with our dad who passed away when I was about a year old,” he explains. “He’s always been a mystery to us. A family member sent us a tape recording of him saying just two words: ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye.’ Two words. But to my brother and me it was magic.”

“That was the jumping-off point,” continues Scanlon. “We’ve all lost someone, and if we could spend one more day with them – what an exciting opportunity that would be. We knew that if we wanted to tell that story that we’d have to set the movie in a world where you could have that incredible opportunity.”

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