2026 is at last heating up and with it comes the first of a plethora of heavy hitting animated movies coming our way, from franchise returns like Toy Story 5 to original pictures like GOAT. Directed by Tyree Dillihay, it follows the story of Will Harris, a young and small goat who dreams of playing in the basketball championships alongside his childhood hero and team, The Thorns.
Visually, it’s yet another breath of fresh air from Sony Animation to have an animated movie uniquely styled, similarly to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and other recent projects such as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, as opposed to the now perhaps bland aesthetic that flooded the 2010s’ animated pictures. GOAT is not only vibrant in colour, but also sharp and slick in how every frame on screen looks like a constant moving and living painting in progress. It’s complimented further by the physical movements and rigs of the characters as well as the designs of the world that they inhabit. This stands out most loudly of all in the film’s basketball play action sequences, which showcase the arenas and courts at times literally coming to life. A fellow critic pointed out how they were reminiscent of a Mario Kart racing map, which is absolutely the case.
Story-wise, GOAT’s primary playing field is one we’ve seen many, many times before and will likely see many times again. It’s a largely safe and risk-free underdog story, and one that follows all the familiar beats you can expect: the tough backstory, being underestimated by loved ones, the hard climb to the top, the stumble down, and on and on. It’s all present and does wear the movie down at times. However, with that is subject matter explored alongside the main plot that is often overlooked in similar films, which adds layers to the movie lacking in its peers.
GOAT explores themes of community, and how sport can bring a town, a club, or family together in unison. It touches on how even people’s idols, people’s champions in sport, struggle, not only to keep going and constantly improve themselves, but to prove that they are worthy of carrying on, and the complexities of how in doing that it could derail ones overall legacy and accomplishments, especially in the eyes of the press and public perspective. That specific point in question is navigated through the character of Jett, portrayed vocally well by Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys 2). Will and Jett share a strong, though turbulent in the beginning, dynamic on-screen, with several moments that not only allow the film to breathe, but for the characters to as well amongst the craze of competing in the championship.
Additional vocal talent in the cast includes David Harbour (Stranger Things), Aaron Pierre (Lanterns), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), and Stephen Curry, whose personal rise to the top of the NBA is the concept the film is very loosed based on, with several creative liberties respectfully at play. All are just okay; there isn’t particularly anything dazzling about either their performances or their characters outside of a handful of moments, and they’re mostly just assets rounding the numbers of the team up for the film’s premise. A standout, however, is undoubtedly Will’s Gerbil landlord voiced by Wayne Knight (Seinfeld): he’s an effortlessly funny and endearing piece of the film, and a genuine look into the life of a working-class dad simply having to provide for his family, even at the cost of things he’d rather not have to do.
Though it’s not anything we haven’t seen before, and it’s a largely safe, very risk-free outing, GOAT nonetheless delivers a sweet, charming, and humourous tale. It ultimately serves a sincere message, particularly to its clearly young target audience: to not give in and always chase your dreams.
