Onward

A long time ago, there was magic in the world. And it was beautiful. And useful. But learning magic was difficult. It required study, mental concentration, and artifacts to channel the magic – a wizard’s staff and a power stone. In the meantime, knowledge of the natural sciences made leaps in progress and ushered in new technologies. Electricity! You no longer need to expend your mental and physical energy and concentration to conjure a spell of light; just flip the switch and the light comes on.

 

This is the setting of Onward, a marvelous animated movie with an original story line that didn’t get as much press as other well-known franchises such as Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2. Onward is a better movie, trust me. I was hooked from the start as the tale opens with the brief history above. The elves, dragons, gnomes, unicorns, centaurs, no longer use magic. They’re making do without it. Just like we do in our world.

 

Magic will reawaken and there will be a quest, but I won’t spoil the story. While it is ultimately a story about relationships, there are clever vignettes in the movie hinting that magic might break out at any moment. It’s there lying dormant, waiting for someone with the talent and will to use it. But before all that happens, “knowledge” of magic seems only to lie in the imagination of nerds indulging in a role-playing Dungeons & Dragons-ish boardgame. And such head-in-the-clouds nerds aren’t taken seriously by folks getting along with the realities of life. Eventually history and fantasy will intertwine, and that’s where the fun begins.

 

Watching Onward made me think of Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Where magic is prevalent, electrical technology goes wonky. (I’ve previously speculated why.) Why is a school of magic needed? To train young witches and wizards how to use and control magic. They have the potential talent, but they will still have to study, concentrate, and practice, if they want to be good at it. Magical wands help to channel the magic. As do incantations. But ultimately, it’s still a matter of personal will and the expending of physical and mental energy. It can be exhausting, but perhaps it’s worth the effort.

 

What about natural talent? Harry seems to be destined to an uber magic user, given his magical genes. And he does do some remarkable things, including learning the Patronus charm in his third year – with practice and effort, of course. However, it is Hermione, the “cleverest witch of her age” who, I think, is the most adept overall even if what she does is less showy. Yes, she is intelligent. No, she doesn’t have the genes. But more importantly, she is willing to put in the work. Lots of it. Harry and Ron are frequently chided by Hermione for their lack of discipline. She has indeed learned to use and control magic, not by luck, but by practice-makes-perfect.

 

While magic is an important part of the of the Harry Potter series, the heart of the story is about the ties that bind: friends and family. The same is true for Onward. It showcases the magic of story-telling. Short, sweet, thoughtful, and not overdone. I highly recommend Onward for your viewing pleasure!