Art by SAMANTHA HO Text by ANDIE TETZLAFF and SASHA BOUDTCHENKO
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ANIMATION STIRS REFLECTION
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N OUT-OF-TUNE melody breaks the rules and escapes off the path bounces around the room as into an abyss. Traveling through dimenmovie protagonist Joe Gard- sions, he tumbles into an unexpected life ner struggles to conduct a dys- — and afterlife — changing adventure. functional middle school band. In the The film discusses a person’s purdimly lit classroom, students in front of pose and the concept that each soul him slouch in their chairs, surrounded needs a “spark” which comes with the by beige walls with joy of discovering a some music posters passion, like playing pinned up in a des- The movie sent a soccer or the cello. perate attempt at Through this converstrong message predecor. sation, Disney and Amid the dreary senting how there is Pixar’s newest movie environment, Gardtackles quesmore than one path to “Soul” ner’s eyes shine with tions of the meaning his passion for mu- happiness and success, of life, prompting sic as he guides the and reimpacting my image of introspection students through flection. the notes. But this success.” — SEAN ISAYAMA, junior Students on “Soul” average day of his monotonous life is Since the movabout to take a turn. ie’s release on Dec. 25, “Soul” has gained After years of teaching middle a reputation for its significant impact on school band and chasing after gigs with audiences, including students at Palo hopes of a music career, Gardner gets a Alto High School. chance to perform with a celebrity sax“The movie sent a strong message ophonist. Ecstatic about the chance to presenting how there is more than one finally pursue his dream career, Gardner path to happiness and success, impactcheerfully waltzes through the hectic ing my image of success,” junior Sean streets of New York and… dies? Isayama said. He wakes up to find his soul on a Isayama says he believes that “Soul” long conveyor belt-like path towards the engages with issues prevalent in society light — the Great Beyond, as it is called. today, especially in Palo Alto where stuUnwilling to accept his fate, Gardner dents tend to correlate good grades with
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40 FEBRUARY 2021
