22 vs. Earth
Detailed parental analysis
A Pixar animated short with a light and mischievous tone, '22 vs. Earth' is a prequel to 'Soul' that follows the character of 22, a reluctant soul, as she attempts to convince other souls to join her rebellion against the rules of the soul world. The film is primarily aimed at young children and families, with a deliberately accessible and benevolent tone.
Underlying Values
The film builds its narrative around the questioning of authority and established rules, but with an interesting subtlety: 22's rebellion is presented as naive and clumsy rather than as a model to imitate. The short ultimately values curiosity and openness to others over resistance for its own sake. This is a useful angle to discuss with a child: why do we question rules, and what distinguishes a justified rebellion from a simple refusal to cooperate? The resolution clearly leans towards solidarity and human connection as more satisfying answers than outright opposition.
Social Themes
The film poses, at a child's level, a philosophical question about the meaning of existence and the value of life before even having experienced it. This is not treated in an anxiety-inducing way, but the very premise, of souls who have not yet lived and who resist the idea of being born, can open an unexpected conversation about what it means to want to live and find one's place in the world.
Strengths
The short succeeds in condensing a genuine philosophical idea into a format of less than twenty minutes without ever weighing down the subject matter. The humour works on multiple levels, accessible to children in its form and slightly more reflective for the adults accompanying them. The dynamic between 22 and the souls she attempts to recruit is well-paced and avoids mechanical repetition. For a child, it is a gentle introduction to the idea that rules sometimes have a meaning we do not immediately perceive, and that curiosity is better than withdrawal.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is suitable from age 5 or 6 onwards, without particular reservations. After viewing, two discussion points are worth exploring: ask the child why 22 did not want to go to Earth, and what finally made her change her mind; then explore together whether they themselves have ever refused something on principle before realising it was worthwhile.
Synopsis
Set before the events of ‘Soul’, 22 refuses to go to Earth, enlisting a gang of 5 new souls in attempt of rebellion. However, 22’s subversive plot leads to a surprising revelation about the meaning of life.
About this title
- Format
- Short film
- Year
- 2021
- Runtime
- 9m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Kevin Nolting
- Main cast
- Tina Fey, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Micah Chen, Adela Drabek, Aiyanna Miorin, Karee Ducharme, Samantha Ho, Azriel Dalman, Juliana Alcaron
- Studios
- Pixar
Content barometer
- Violence0/5None
- Fear0/5None
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity0/5Simple
- Adult themes0/5None
Values conveyed
- Friendship
- Acceptance of difference
- Perseverance
- meaning of life
- belonging
- self-acceptance
- curiosity