Joe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz -- and he's good. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.Soul / Film synopsis

Voiced by Jamie Foxx, the character was somewhat based on real-life middle school teacher Dr. Peter Archer, who helped shape the character in more ways than one. From the Queens borough of New York City, the 58-year-old teacher dedicated his life not only to music, but also to inspiring young people to pursue the arts.

That said, “Soul” is perhaps the most adult of Pixar's films to date, forgoing any attempt at merchandising in favor of digging deep into the human experience. The movie deals with mortality in ways that, while they might be deemed kid-friendly, do not pull any punches and delve into some deep and uncomfortable themes.

It also opens a discussion about the true meaning of life. Soul confronts our society's capitalist focus on success and the idea that our lives are only meaningful if we are thriving. Even after Joe achieves his life goal and performs with his idol at a jazz club, he still isn't satisfied.

Docter says the film's message is that life has meaning that goes beyond personal ambition. "The movie's aim is really to say that we're already enough," he says.

The “message” of Soul One of the key mistakes that Joe makes through this movie is thinking he has some grand purpose in life. For him, he thinks music is his purpose. It's why he was brought to earth and what he was meant to do. But music isn't his purpose, it's his spark.

In "Soul," a music teacher from Queens named Joe Gardner is brought to life by animators from Pixar and the unique voice of Jamie Foxx. He plays a fictional character, but he is based on a very real teacher. "The movie starts in my classroom," Dr. Archer said.

Though the film isn't rooted in any one particular religious tradition, it takes inspiration from the Abrahamic religions and also Buddhism, whilst weaving in a bit of modern science fiction for good measure. 'The Great Before' reminded me a bit about what Muslims believe about souls.

"That was really a powerful driving force from the very beginning." Docter says the film's message is that life has meaning that goes beyond personal ambition. "The movie's aim is really to say that we're already enough," he says.

Soul is a delightful visual animation that is very enjoyable to watch. The mature themes of life and death might confuse some children and require explanation, so it's not suitable for children under 8 and parental guidance is recommended to 10 years.

Lost souls are also representations of persons experiencing depression or anxiety. This becomes clear after 22 and Joe have a fight about whether or not 22 truly found her spark on Earth or if she was just experiencing Joe's spark while in his body. This fight sends 22 into a state of depression.