Jamie Foxx’s Role in ‘Soul’ Becomes First Black Lead in a Pixar Film to Win a Golden Globe

Jamie Foxx made history becoming the first Black lead in a Pixar film and winner for the Golden Globe category, “Best Animated Movie.” Not only was this a big win for the actor, but this was also the first time a Black lead was in a Pixar film. The film also received the winning title for Best Original Score. 

Jamie Foxx made history as the first Black lead in a Pixar film ever, and now he’s the first to win a Golden Globe award too👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/v4nilCEGhP

— CULTURE CENTRAL (@_CultureCentral) March 1, 2021

The brilliant acting, music, cast, crew, and storyline helped compose the overall emotion behind the film. 

Soul was Pixar’s first film to feature a Black protagonist. Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a talented Jazz musician, loses his passion for life. As a middle-school band teacher, Joe spends his days in a slow repetition feeling lost. When he ends up in another realm, Joe encounters 22 (Tina Fey), the only soul to not have made it to Earth. Joe and 22 go on a journey to find the true meaning of the soul.

Traditionally, the directors and producers speak for winning a Best Movie category. Director Pete Docter, screenplay writer Kemp Jones, and producer Dana Murray celebrated the win. 

Foxx did not speak at the ceremony. On Instagram, he emphasized how “humbled, thankful, and blessed” he was.

In another Instagram post, Foxx said, “To receive a Golden Globes for best-animated feature and best original score. There’s no way to describe how great it feels to be the first African-American lead in a Pixar film and to be acknowledged by the Hollywood foreign press!!!”

The film has grossed over two million streams, becoming one of Pixar’s most-streamed films. Soul has become an incredibly successful animation. It has broken barriers such as having a Black lead, that many companies have yet to do. 

Twitter users complimented this much-deserved win. Foxx’s youngest daughter rooted for her dad too.

Soul is nominated at the #GoldenGlobes tonight—but it’s Jamie Foxx’s 12-year-old daughter’s reaction that really got us. 😭 Congrats Jamie on making history as the first Black lead in a Pixar film. (📷: Disney +) pic.twitter.com/zht1KMeC8u

— E! News (@enews) February 28, 2021

Soul won Best Animated Feature! This film truly deserved to win for its incredibly compelling themes. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/1Hqhz25h8M

— Isaac Vargas (LUCA HYPE!) (@AnimationFan15) March 1, 2021

Perhaps the success of this film will lead Pixar and other companies to create more inclusive works.

Soul is available for streaming now on Disney+.