How Onward Fits Into the Pixar Theory
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VOICE OVER: Emily - WatchMojo
WRITTEN BY: Nick Spake
The Pixar Theory plot thickens...So where does "Onward" fit in?! For this list, we'll be discussing how “Onward” fits into the Pixar Theory, i.e. the idea that Pixar films are all connected in one shared universe! From plot points, to characters, cameos and easter eggs, we're breaking down the possibility of connections within the Pixar universe to this new movie starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer and more. What do YOU think about the Pixar Theory? Let us know in the comments!
[How Onward Fits into the Pixar Theory]
The Pixar plot thickens. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be discussing how “Onward” fits into the Pixar Theory.
In 2012, Jon Negroni watched a Cracked.com video suggesting that Pixar films are all connected in one shared universe. Negroni elaborated on this concept with the Pixar Theory, which he initially published in 2013. Several Pixar films have been released since then, although each has a clear spot in the theory’s timeline. “The Good Dinosaur” naturally occurs at the universe’s beginning, while “Inside Out” and “Coco” are set in the 21st century. As for the recent slew of Pixar sequels, they obviously take place shortly after their predecessors. How does “Onward” fit into this expanding intricate puzzle, though? Does Pixar’s latest film destroy the theory or build upon it in magical ways?
“Onward” takes place in a world where magic was once a facet of everyday life, but it’s since been overshadowed by advances in technology. Instead of riding horses, motor vehicles are now the preferred choice of transportation. Speaking of which, Barley Lightfoot’s van, which he lovingly names Guinevere, has a pegasus painted on its side. If that pegasus looks familiar, that’s because it previously appeared in another film… and we’re not talking about “Hercules.” As YouTuber Jace Diehl pointed out, this pegasus is almost identical to one on the bounce castle from “Toy Story 4.” While it’s hard to say if there’s a deeper correlation between the bounce castle and Guinevere, magic would be the simplest explanation for why talking toys exist in this universe.
“Onward” follows Barley and his younger brother Ian as they try to finish a spell that’ll bring their late father back for one day. The film’s central themes of life and death are reminiscent of “Coco” where a curse enables Miguel to visit the Land of the Dead. Be it a guitar or a staff, enchanted items unlock a gateway between the living and the deceased in both of these films. Maybe Ian and Barley’s father has crossed paths with Miguel’s departed relatives. It also wouldn’t be surprising if he’s bumped into the characters from Pixar’s next feature, “Soul,” although that’s a discussion for another day.
But if “Onward” is part of the Pixar Theory, when exactly does it take place? The film’s world is populated by elves, centaurs, manticores, and more, but there are seemingly no humans, at least not the kind you’d find in other Pixar movies. Thus, “Onward” is most likely set sometime after “WALL-E” when humans abandoned Earth and went aboard the starliner Axiom. According to one theory, another ship left Earth around the same time as the Axiom and crashed on a planet with magical properties. The human survivors adapted to this strange world, evolving into various supernatural beings over time. This would mean that “Onward” takes place on a different planet in the Pixar Universe, hence why there are two moons.
It’s also been theorized that “Onward” is directly connected to “Monsters, Inc.,” which is set towards the end of the Pixar Theory. You have to admit that there’s a resemblance between “Onward”’s mystical cast of characters and the citizens of Monstropolis. As a matter of fact, Dan Scanlon directed both “Onward” and “Monsters University.” Who knows, Mike Wazowski could be a distant relative of a cyclops. Monstropolis is a very modern city with no mention of magic. This may indicate that “Onward” takes place before “Monsters University.” By the time Mike and Sulley are born, society has abandoned magic entirely in favor of technology. If the ending of “Onward” was any indication, though, it’s that magic is going to make a comeback. So, perhaps “Onward” actually takes place after the “Monsters” movies, putting it at the end of the Pixar Theory.
But wait, how would we get from Monstropolis to New Mushroomton? This ties into one of the most interesting concepts of the Pixar Theory: Mike and Sulley’s little buddy Boo grows up to become the witch from “Brave,” which takes place between “The Good Dinosaur” and “The Incredibles.” As the theory goes, the doors at Monsters, Inc. are really portals to different points in time, allowing monsters to travel back and collect children’s screams/laughs that power the city. Searching for her monster friends, Boo sets out on a journey through time and winds up in 10th Century Scotland, where she masters magic.
The Pixar Theory doesn’t delve into what happened to Boo after “Brave,” but what if she finally found her way back to Mike and Sulley? Maybe Boo decided to live out the rest of her life in Monstropolis. Sure, humans aren’t permitted to stay in the monster world. If Boo could transform Merida’s mother into a bear, though, she could probably turn herself into a monster-like creature. Come to think of it, perhaps Boo has a spell that could solve Monstropolis’ energy crisis for good. With Boo’s magic serving as an alternative power source, monsters no longer need to rely on screams or laughs. From that point on, Monstropolis and other monster communities begin to rely on magic over technology. This is where “Onward” comes into play.
The beginning of “Onward” could take place eons after “Monsters, Inc.” It’s been so long that everyone has forgotten about the tech-savvy past in a world dominated by magic. Once the lightbulb is invented, however, a new industrial revolution commences and magic becomes obsolete. This theory is in the same vein as the “Battlestar Galactica” finale, where the characters decide to abandon their advanced technology in favor of a more primitive lifestyle. Throughout the centuries, though, technology inevitably evolves with humanity, demonstrating how “this has all happened before and it will happen again.” Likewise, “Onward” could be seen as the film that brings the Pixar Theory full circle.
Of course, Jon Negroni has his own two cents on “Onward”’s placement in the Pixar Theory. While Negroni is still mulling over a few ideas, he believes that “Onward” occurs “in between the events of “WALL-E” and “Monsters, Inc.” (also A Bug’s Life, which is shortly after “WALL-E”). Negroni added, “the monsters of Monsters Inc. and Monsters University are part of the same society as the fantasy creatures we see in Onward.” As Negroni sees it, Monstropolis is more modern due to its close links to the human world. Monstropolis is like contemporary America, while New Mushroomton from “Onward” has more in common with a European town grounded in rich history and folklore.
Given the numerous Easter eggs and little details hidden in “Onward,” we’re sure that even more theories are going to surface over time. For example, TripleDent Gum from “Inside Out” is apparently still around, meaning that catchy jingle will never leave! Also, those rocks in the background certainly look like something out of “Brave,” right? If “Onward” teaches us anything, it’s that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. Wherever this puzzle piece ultimately falls, the quest for answers is half the fun.
The Pixar plot thickens. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be discussing how “Onward” fits into the Pixar Theory.
In 2012, Jon Negroni watched a Cracked.com video suggesting that Pixar films are all connected in one shared universe. Negroni elaborated on this concept with the Pixar Theory, which he initially published in 2013. Several Pixar films have been released since then, although each has a clear spot in the theory’s timeline. “The Good Dinosaur” naturally occurs at the universe’s beginning, while “Inside Out” and “Coco” are set in the 21st century. As for the recent slew of Pixar sequels, they obviously take place shortly after their predecessors. How does “Onward” fit into this expanding intricate puzzle, though? Does Pixar’s latest film destroy the theory or build upon it in magical ways?
“Onward” takes place in a world where magic was once a facet of everyday life, but it’s since been overshadowed by advances in technology. Instead of riding horses, motor vehicles are now the preferred choice of transportation. Speaking of which, Barley Lightfoot’s van, which he lovingly names Guinevere, has a pegasus painted on its side. If that pegasus looks familiar, that’s because it previously appeared in another film… and we’re not talking about “Hercules.” As YouTuber Jace Diehl pointed out, this pegasus is almost identical to one on the bounce castle from “Toy Story 4.” While it’s hard to say if there’s a deeper correlation between the bounce castle and Guinevere, magic would be the simplest explanation for why talking toys exist in this universe.
“Onward” follows Barley and his younger brother Ian as they try to finish a spell that’ll bring their late father back for one day. The film’s central themes of life and death are reminiscent of “Coco” where a curse enables Miguel to visit the Land of the Dead. Be it a guitar or a staff, enchanted items unlock a gateway between the living and the deceased in both of these films. Maybe Ian and Barley’s father has crossed paths with Miguel’s departed relatives. It also wouldn’t be surprising if he’s bumped into the characters from Pixar’s next feature, “Soul,” although that’s a discussion for another day.
But if “Onward” is part of the Pixar Theory, when exactly does it take place? The film’s world is populated by elves, centaurs, manticores, and more, but there are seemingly no humans, at least not the kind you’d find in other Pixar movies. Thus, “Onward” is most likely set sometime after “WALL-E” when humans abandoned Earth and went aboard the starliner Axiom. According to one theory, another ship left Earth around the same time as the Axiom and crashed on a planet with magical properties. The human survivors adapted to this strange world, evolving into various supernatural beings over time. This would mean that “Onward” takes place on a different planet in the Pixar Universe, hence why there are two moons.
It’s also been theorized that “Onward” is directly connected to “Monsters, Inc.,” which is set towards the end of the Pixar Theory. You have to admit that there’s a resemblance between “Onward”’s mystical cast of characters and the citizens of Monstropolis. As a matter of fact, Dan Scanlon directed both “Onward” and “Monsters University.” Who knows, Mike Wazowski could be a distant relative of a cyclops. Monstropolis is a very modern city with no mention of magic. This may indicate that “Onward” takes place before “Monsters University.” By the time Mike and Sulley are born, society has abandoned magic entirely in favor of technology. If the ending of “Onward” was any indication, though, it’s that magic is going to make a comeback. So, perhaps “Onward” actually takes place after the “Monsters” movies, putting it at the end of the Pixar Theory.
But wait, how would we get from Monstropolis to New Mushroomton? This ties into one of the most interesting concepts of the Pixar Theory: Mike and Sulley’s little buddy Boo grows up to become the witch from “Brave,” which takes place between “The Good Dinosaur” and “The Incredibles.” As the theory goes, the doors at Monsters, Inc. are really portals to different points in time, allowing monsters to travel back and collect children’s screams/laughs that power the city. Searching for her monster friends, Boo sets out on a journey through time and winds up in 10th Century Scotland, where she masters magic.
The Pixar Theory doesn’t delve into what happened to Boo after “Brave,” but what if she finally found her way back to Mike and Sulley? Maybe Boo decided to live out the rest of her life in Monstropolis. Sure, humans aren’t permitted to stay in the monster world. If Boo could transform Merida’s mother into a bear, though, she could probably turn herself into a monster-like creature. Come to think of it, perhaps Boo has a spell that could solve Monstropolis’ energy crisis for good. With Boo’s magic serving as an alternative power source, monsters no longer need to rely on screams or laughs. From that point on, Monstropolis and other monster communities begin to rely on magic over technology. This is where “Onward” comes into play.
The beginning of “Onward” could take place eons after “Monsters, Inc.” It’s been so long that everyone has forgotten about the tech-savvy past in a world dominated by magic. Once the lightbulb is invented, however, a new industrial revolution commences and magic becomes obsolete. This theory is in the same vein as the “Battlestar Galactica” finale, where the characters decide to abandon their advanced technology in favor of a more primitive lifestyle. Throughout the centuries, though, technology inevitably evolves with humanity, demonstrating how “this has all happened before and it will happen again.” Likewise, “Onward” could be seen as the film that brings the Pixar Theory full circle.
Of course, Jon Negroni has his own two cents on “Onward”’s placement in the Pixar Theory. While Negroni is still mulling over a few ideas, he believes that “Onward” occurs “in between the events of “WALL-E” and “Monsters, Inc.” (also A Bug’s Life, which is shortly after “WALL-E”). Negroni added, “the monsters of Monsters Inc. and Monsters University are part of the same society as the fantasy creatures we see in Onward.” As Negroni sees it, Monstropolis is more modern due to its close links to the human world. Monstropolis is like contemporary America, while New Mushroomton from “Onward” has more in common with a European town grounded in rich history and folklore.
Given the numerous Easter eggs and little details hidden in “Onward,” we’re sure that even more theories are going to surface over time. For example, TripleDent Gum from “Inside Out” is apparently still around, meaning that catchy jingle will never leave! Also, those rocks in the background certainly look like something out of “Brave,” right? If “Onward” teaches us anything, it’s that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. Wherever this puzzle piece ultimately falls, the quest for answers is half the fun.
