Onward: Tear-jerking new Pixar movie inspired by director's heartbreaking personal story

In recent years, Disney’s Pixar movies have not only left audiences in fits of laughter but also tears. From the grief of Up’s opening scene to Coco’s touching ending, now the animation studio has given us Onward, starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland. The new movie is set in a fantasy world which has lost its magic, as two brothers set off on a quest to resurrect their dead dad for just one day.

However, when the spell he left sons Ian and Barley only restores his legs, the siblings have until the sun sets the next day to restore him fully.

Last December, Onward producer Kori Rae presented a press preview of the movie, where she revealed the film’s narrative was inspired by director Dan Scanlon’s heartbreaking true story.

The producer said: “When Dan was a year old, his father passed away.

“He doesn’t remember him at all and neither does his brother who was three at the time.”

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She added: “Dan and his brother listened to the whole first side of the cassette and [there was] nothing from Dad.

“They flipped over and were almost to the end when their aunt finally found their father with the recorder.”

It turns out all that they could hear was their father saying “Hi” and “Bye”.

Nevertheless, those two words “were like magic” for Dan and his brother.

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The producer revealed: “They could read into those two words and they could learn something about him.

“Dan had always wondered who his dad was and how is he like him. And those questions became the road map for this film.”

But it wasn’t just the director’s story that provided inspiration, with other crew members opening up about those they had loss.

It turns out Onward’s story resonated with others on the production too.