Pixar’s 2020 animated feature Onward reimagines classic fantasy tropes by dropping elves, sprites, and manticore beasts into a suburban landscape where magic has been traded for smartphones and lightbulbs. The story follows two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, who receive a magical staff and a spell from their late father that can bring him back for a single day. When the spell goes haywire and only forms the lower half of his body, the brothers must race against time across a changing world to complete the incantation.
Understanding who populates this modern mythical realm helps you appreciate how Pixar subverts traditional Dungeons & Dragons style lore. From anxious teenage spellcasters to roaring tavern owners, every figure in the film drives the emotional core of the brothers' journey.
The Lightfoot Brothers: Core Characters and Motivations
The entire narrative rests on the contrasting personalities of Ian and Barley Lightfoot. Their dynamic anchors the emotional weight of the film, transforming a high-concept magical quest into a grounded story about brotherhood and loss.
- Ian Lightfoot: Voiced by Tom Holland, Ian is a shy, self-conscious sixteen-year-old elf who struggles with self-doubt. He’s the youngest brother, and because he lost his father before he was born, he keeps a literal list of things he wishes he could ask him. When he accidentally awakens half of his father using a wizard's staff, he discovers a hidden knack for incantations.
- Barley Lightfoot: Voiced by Chris Pratt, Barley is Ian's older brother and an enthusiastic history nerd obsessed with roleplaying games like Quests of Yore. Loud, boisterous, and completely unapologetic about his quirks, Barley acts as the fearless navigator of the quest, treating every highway and roadblock as a real-world dungeon crawl.
Supporting Figures Who Shape the Quest
While Ian and Barley drive the van, several memorable figures shape their path, push them out of their comfort zones, and provide crucial comic relief along the way.
- Laurel Lightfoot: Voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Laurel is the fiercely protective mother of Ian and Barley. She's resourceful, athletic, and doesn't hesitate to wield a broadsword when her sons are in danger. Her relentless pursuit to find Ian and Barley proves that parental devotion requires no magical shortcuts.
- The Manticore (Corey): Voiced by Octavia Spencer, Corey is a fearsome winged lion-bat hybrid who used to run a legendary tavern filled with adventurers. In modern times, she operates a family-friendly restaurant franchise complete with a gift shop and safety waivers. Seeing her reclaim her fierce warrior spirit is one of the film's standout character arcs.
- Colt Bronco: Voiced by Mel Rodriguez, Colt is a centaur police officer and Laurel’s boyfriend. While well-meaning, his horse half struggles with modern sedan seating, and he frequently tries to offer unwanted stepdad advice to Ian and Barley.
- Wilden Lightfoot: Voiced by pausa and physical performance by Jim Cummings, Wilden is the father whose lower half drives the bulk of the plot. Though he lacks a head or torso for most of the movie, his expressive pants, socks, and loafers communicate surprising amounts of emotion and paternal support.
Lesser-Known Creatures and Background Threats
The world of New Mushroomton features dozens of background mythical creatures whose daily routines mirror human suburban life.
- Pixie Dwellers: Once terrifying winged terrors that hunted adventurers, these pixies have traded their bloodlust for motorcycle culture. Led by a tough biker boss voiced by Wilmer Valderrama, they pursue the brothers across the highway in a chaotic turf war.
- The Gelatinous Cube: Serving as a classic nod to tabletop roleplaying games, a harmless-looking pink cube in a convenience store acts as a dangerous obstacle when the brothers accidentally spill magic inside a gas station.
Common Misconceptions About Onward's Lore
Many viewers watch the film and wonder why magic vanished in the first place, or how the fantasy creatures evolved.
- Magic wasn't banned; it was abandoned: The film establishes that performing spells required immense focus, physical danger, and arduous study. When modern inventions like lightbulbs, cars, and television sets made daily life easier, citizens simply stopped practicing arcane arts because convenience won out over wonder.
- The setting isn't a parallel dimension: It's our own Earth, just inhabited entirely by mythical species who adapted to industrial revolutions and modern economies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ian and Barley based on real people?
Director Dan Scanlon based the core relationship of the brothers on his own life. Scanlon lost his father at a young age, and he and his older brother shared a very close bond while wondering what their father was like.
What is Quests of Yore?
Quests of Yore is a fictional tabletop roleplaying game within the universe of the film that acts as a historically accurate encyclopedia of magic. Barley uses the game's rulebooks to navigate real spells because the game preserves the lore of their ancestors.
Does Wilden Lightfoot ever get his top half back?
Ian makes a crucial sacrifice at the climax of the film, trading his own chance to meet his father so that Barley can say goodbye and thank him for raising him through surrogate brotherly love.
Why did magic disappear slowly instead of all at once?
The film portrays the decline of magic as a natural societal shift. As technology made life safer and more predictable, fewer people chose to risk the difficult training required to master spells.
