Pixar has provided their global viewers, young and old alike, with some of the best-animated films ever created. Throughout the past 25 years, they have delivered hits like the Toy Story series, Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, and many more. Pixar has always been famous among fans who like to take their experience to a new level by leaving out easter eggs and point-outs to other popular movies and characters. Likewise, their 2020 movie ‘Soul‘ was no exception. Significantly, the Hall of Everything scene contained multiple point-outs to Pixar movies. Following tradition, the creators hid quite a few references to their earlier movies in plain sight.
‘Soul’ is about a middle school music teacher Joe Gardner who plays Jazz music. He is a good musician, but his music lacks life. He finally gets his first big break. However, an accident leaves him stranded as a soul in the Great Before. To return to his earthly body, Joe has to guide 22, an ancient soul to her true passion so that she can be born anew. Finally, he realizes what it means to have a soul.
Disney officially released the movie on Blu-Ray and other digital media. As a celebratory giveaway, they provided a list of easter eggs for the audience to detect. Below, we will be taking a look at those easter eggs.
1. The Streetcar from Coco
The red streetcars from Coco were the main modes of transportation for the dead. Pixar used the red streetcars from real-world Mexico, where funeral cars are popular in Dia de Muertos celebrations.
In the background of the Hall of Everything, a red streetcar from Coco appears and fades out.
2. Archery Targets from Brave
One of the most memorable scenes from ‘Brave‘ is Merida’s skilled display of archery skills. The coiled straw archery targets with cloth covers pointed to real-life medieval tournament descriptions.
The training film in the You Seminar shows souls practicing archery on targets from ‘Brave’.
3. Sid’s Graffiti from Toy Story
Sid Phillips was perhaps the only character in the Toy Story series who found out that the toys were alive. He was Andy’s neighbor and the main antagonist in the first film.
There is a scene where Joe walks talking on the phone. Beside him on the sidewalk, a post-box bears Sid’s graffiti.
4. Pizza Planet Truck from Toy Story
Andy and his toys, especially Woody, Buzz, and Rex, regularly visited the Pizza Planet Restaurant. The space theme of the restaurant is quite catchy.
A Pizza Planet Truck appears parked in the bottom left of the Hall of Everything scene.
5. Axiom from Wall-E
Axiom is one of the more popular Starliner space-crafts. Buy-n-Large Corporation built it to evacuate humanity from trash-suffocated earth. Aboard the Axiom, the fans meet Wall-E for the first time.
An outline of the Axiom appears on the far upper-right of the Hall of Everything scene.
6. Rex from the Toy Story series
Rex is popular among the audience as the ever-palpitated plastic T-Rex toy. He always backs his friends in times of need, despite being scared out of his bones.
In ‘Soul,’ there is a scene where Terry almost entraps Paul. A box falls over, revealing Rex from Toy Story.
7. Willy’s Butte from Cars
Willy’s Butte was a rocky outcrop amidst the desert, a landmark near Radiator Springs. It holds massive significance in the Cars storyline as Lightning McQueen’s training and home track.
An outline of Willy’s Butte appears in the Hall of Everything scene in the middle left of the screen.
8. Luxo the Lamp, Pixar Mascot
Both Luxos appeared in the computer-animated 1986 film Luxo Jr. The movie followed the strangely humane story of two desk lamps. Since then, Luxo has become the famous mascot of Pixar films.
In the Hall of Everything scene, Luxo appears conversing with some souls of the Great Before.
9. 020386: Pixar’s Birthdate
February 2, 1986
On February 2, 1986, Steve Jobs purchased Lucasfilm’s Animation Division and renamed it Pixar. They started producing computer-animated movies and, just within a decade, received worldwide fame for their creations.
The parking sign outside The Half-Note Club in ‘Soul,’ where Joe gets his first big break, commemorates Pixar’s birthday.
10. Ferris Wheel from Toy Story 4
The illustrated Ferris Wheel from the ‘Toy Story 4’ poster was a standout artwork among fans. It was featured in the official poster, trailer, and even net-release banners of the movie.
The Ferris wheel also finds a place in the Hall of Everything scene’s background in ‘Soul’.
11. Princess Dream World from Inside Out
The Princess Dream World was a castle in Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’. The mind workers from Imagination Land demolished it into glitter.
The Princess Dream World appears in the Hall of Everything scene’s background in ‘Soul,’ right below the Axiom starship.
12. The Whale from Finding Nemo
Fans still consider the blue whale encounter of Marlin and Dory as one of the best-animated scenes from the entire Pixar universe. The whale helped them by directing them towards Nemo’s possible location, Sydney.
The blue whale fades in and out of the background in the Hall of Everything scene as Joe & 22 enter.
13. Step Pyramid from Coco
Coco’s Land of the Dead drew a lot of inspiration from Mexican history. The Aztec and Mayan step pyramids were star attractions to Miguel on his journey.
The Pyramid silhouettes appear on the Hall of Everything’s background alongside others in ‘Soul.’
14. Brang advertisement from Inside Out
Riley’s dad works for Brang in ‘Inside Out‘. He sports a t-shirt of his company throughout the movie.
A Brang ad appears on the subway in ‘Soul’.
15. Portorosso Travel Advertisement from Luca
In the upcoming Pixar film ‘Luca‘, in June this year, Portorosso is the town where the story unfolds.
In ‘Soul,’ Joe walks by a travel agency. There is an ad to travel to Portorosso with a picture of the seaside town. This is a shoutout to the upcoming movie.
The audience and professional critics worldwide have lauded ‘Soul’ for its moving story and brilliant screenplay. It is now available on Blu-Ray and other digital media. Disney+ also offers to stream the movie. If you haven’t watched it yet, add it to your list of must-watch movies. If you have, tell us more about any more easter eggs you may spotted in the comments.
Official Trailer:
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