Disney-Pixar’s Soul was released on Christmas, and Jamie Foxx voiced Joe Gardner's character in the animated comedy film. The 53-year-old actor reflected on being Black in Hollywood and revealed that the movie's creative team encouraged him to bring the Blackness into the protagonist's character.
The Oscar and Grammy Award winner opened up in an interview with Variety and disclosed that he has never been apologetic about being a Black actor. Foxx recalled working on In Living Color back in the ‘90s, in which Keenan Ivory Wayans portrayed a Black boss.
In fact, the creators and writers of the comedy sitcom were Black artists. He also noted that The Jamie Foxx Show also had a Black cast, and he was never worried about being a Black actor. Moreover, he acknowledged that great things happened in his career whenever he is himself.
Although he noted that portraying a lead character in a Disney-Pixar film being the first African-American feels amazing, Foxx explained how the film’s co-writer and co-director, Kemp Powers wanted the character to be a Black person.
In fact, the Ted Schmitt Award winner further insisted on the character's haircut to be right as Foxx explained that it is a cultural thing in Black communities. The actor agreed that the entire team of Soul, including the producer Dana Murray, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, writers, and directors, infused the Black culture in the animated comedy in a serious way.
Foxx admitted that many other movies trying to showcase Black culture often do caricature, stereotypes, and tropes, but this one had nailed all the references. The 52-year-old Chief Creative Officer also noted that the team wanted to portray the character as correctly as possible and ensure that it looks authentic.
“Because I think when you are in the audience, and you can tell something’s not quite right, it has an effect on the potency of the film. What we’re always trying to do is just move people make them care, make them feel something," he explained.
The creators gathered several musicals, cultural, and consultants of faith, including Yo-Yo Ma, Quincy Jones, Kenya Barris, and Ryan Coogler, to help with the story from their perspective. Powers also acknowledged the wonderful people coming together to lend their voice to the characters. He further said that the idea was not to gather all the Black people but to understand a different kind of thinking in humans.