Golden Globes 2021: 'Soul' wins for best animated feature

By Carson Blackwelder

"Soul" has won for best animated feature at the 2021 Golden Globes.

"Being able to tell a universal tale that explored the meaning of life through the prism of a Black man's experiences was a special honor," co-director Kemp Powers said in an acceptance speech during the 78th annual Golden Globes.

"And though the details are specific, I really do believe our story is universal," he continued. "So many friends and strangers from all walks of life wrote to tell us how this film resonated with them and how grateful they were to be reminded the seemingly simple everyday moments of life are often the most important."

The movie, directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Powers, hit Disney+ on Christmas Day and made history as the first Pixar film with a Black lead character. It's the 23rd Pixar feature film in the studio's history, with the first being 1995's "Toy Story."

"Soul" -- which also won in the best original score category -- beat out fellow best animated feature nominees, "The Croods: A New Age," "Over the Moon" and "Wolfwalkers" as well as Disney/Pixar's "Onward."

"Soul" tells the story of a middle school band teacher named Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who gets a gig at one of the hottest jazz clubs in New York City. However, before he can perform, he falls down a maintenance hole, and his soul separates from his body.

Finding himself in "The Great Beyond," Joe sets out to reunite his soul and body, and, along the way, he finds a friend in a wayward soul named 22, voiced by Tina Fey, whom he helps by sharing all the beautiful parts of what it means to be alive.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."