Sony Pictures Animation has started the year off on the right foot with the release of Goat, a movie that you might’ve seen before – that of an animal utopia that might resemble Zootopolis, or even an underdog basketball story with animated animals that might make you think of Space Jam. But the new film does a decent job of not feeling like either of those others and standing on its own, despite the obvious similarities. It tells a story that’s so familiar among adults and kids (unless this is their first movie), but it does so in such an enthusiastic and energetic way with its storytelling, animation, and overall craft that it makes it worth watching.
Out of all the major animation studios that are releasing movies, Sony Pictures Animation has been one of the only ones to step outside of its boundaries. Animation is an ever-evolving technique, and we’ve gone from 2D animated films to the world of 3D, and thankfully we have Sony Pictures Animation to thank with their Spider-Verse movies that started to bring a little style into their animation, blending 2D and 3D to create something remarkable, and they’ve continued to do so with The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Kpop Demon Hunters, and now Goat continues that streak of Sony Pictures Animation trying to stay at the top of the animation chain. This film doesn’t do anything groundbreaking to get the streets talking about how animation has once again changed, but it’s still a visually spectacular film to watch that gets creative with its camera techniques to make the world feel large and lived in.
Tyree Dillihay, known for his work on Bob’s Burgers, delivers his directorial debut here, telling the story of Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin), a goat that has dreamed since he was a kid of becoming a professional Roarball player (a basketball-inspired sport). When Will goes viral for outsmarting a professional player, Mane, he catches the eye of Jett Fillmore’s team, his idol, and finally gets the opportunity to show the world that the sport isn’t just for big animals.
Goat is set in the fictional city of Vineland, a city that’s inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. Similar to the aforementioned Zootopia franchise, the film doesn’t just pretend like this is a fictional world with no problems. It’s very much close to our own world with societal issues, prejudice, and all the nasty things we have to unfortunately deal with. Will has this dream of becoming a professional Roarball player, and even when he finally gets the chance to play alongside his idol for the Thorns, he realises that it isn’t all that it was set out to be. He’s not accepted by society as someone who could play the sport, as he’s considered small (despite him being a medium).
The movie deals with the regular beats that you can find in a film like this, but what helps it stand apart is the genuine struggle that Will finds in this world and not just with any one particular character. It sends strong messages of believing in yourself, dreaming big, and teamwork that are so important for the target audience of this movie, and each message comes through in a heartwarming, sincere, and engaging way.
For fans of the NBA, there are bound to be various references that have been thrown in to help you connect further with the world of Goat. I’ve never been a basketball fan myself, but I was able to catch a few of the references and also the sneaker culture that exists, which was implemented into the movie.
Goat might be a basic and classic underdog (goat) story that we’ve seen a million times, but Tyree Dillihay impresses with his directorial debut, delivering a story that’s packed with so much heart and care. It has innovative animation that blends various art styles to create a vibrant world. The voice actors, ranging from Caleb McLaughlin to Gabrielle Union, all do a fantastic job, bringing in all the emotion and energetic chaos into their performances that help to make the film an engaging watch. It does enough to stand apart from other films in its ballpark, but without a doubt, this will be a movie that this current generation will be able to connect with just as much.
★★★ 1/2
In cinemas from February 13th / Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Nick Kroll, Stephen Curry, Jenifer Lewis, Patton Oswalt / Dir: Tyree Dillihay / Sony Pictures Animation / PG
Related
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
