by Henry Pham
Many people remember what Walt Disney said, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” But another quote he said that needs some recognition is “You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world…but it requires people to make a dream a reality.” This animated film speaks for itself.
Sony Pictures Animation is known for producing the Spider-Man animated films (with Into the Spider-Verse receiving an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018) and KPop Demon Hunters (for which it received a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature recently).While the studio gets back on its feet, it holds a unique place in animation history. The film manages to impress me, as if Sony is saying, “With this animation technique, we will for sure take down Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Illumination by storm.”
Goat takes place in an all-animal world called Vineland and centers on Will Harris, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball, a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. However, as his new teammates, including his idol Jett Fillmore, aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove that small animals can ball no matter what.
Actor Caleb McLaughlin (Netflix’s Stranger Things) voices Will Harris, a young goat who dreams of becoming the greatest of all time, inspired by his idol Jett Fillmore (voiced by Gabrielle Union, BET’s Being Mary Jane), a ferocious, high-profile roarball player for the Thorns. McLaughlin brings heart to the story, portraying a character determined to succeed regardless of size or age. The supporting voice cast — including Stephen Curry, Nick Kroll, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Jenifer Lewis, Aaron Pierre, Patton Oswalt, Andrew Santino, Bobby Lee, Eduardo Franco, Sherry Cola, Jelly Roll, and Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson — also adds humor, depth, and warmth to the film.
Produced by Stephen Curry and directed by Tyree Dillihay, the film echoes (and embodies) the spirit of “The Little Engine That Could,” emphasizing perseverance and self-belief. Dillihay’s adaptation expands on these themes, exploring passion, passing the torch, the uncertainty faced by veteran athletes and celebrities nearing retirement, and the pursuit of legacy. The film delivers a clear message: regardless of age, race, or size, anyone can achieve great things. The animation style and energy, reminiscent of the Spider-Man animated films and KPop Demon Hunters, stand out, as do the consistent performances from the talented cast. Kris Bowers’ score adds emotional depth to the story and characters. More importantly, the basketball scenes are truly fun and exciting to watch.
With 100 minutes of basketball adventures, Goat demonstrates the power of determination, dream fulfillment, resilience, and sports passion. I enjoyed this piece as it feels like Sony’s own version of Space Jam, but with animals instead of theLooney Tunes characters. The animation, voice acting, the themes of basketball, and inspiring messages are spectacular, and I think thefans of both basketball, Stephen Curry, and the Spider-Man animated films would appreciate this piece. Kudos to the entire filmmaking and animation team for making this project possible. This film teaches me how to dream big in the world of motion pictures, and it really needs recognition. Remember, even though it’s an animated film, it could lead to something good and interesting in your life. So please, go ahead and lower your expectations, and watch it.
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