One small goat is out there to prove that dreaming big does pay off. GOAT, the newest animated film from Sony Pictures Animation, is set in an all-animal world where the biggest sport is dominated by the biggest animals. Will Harris, a passionate and talented roarball player, idolizes the pros and dreams of playing beside them, but has been told time and time again that “smalls don’t ball.” Despite this, he is determined to prove that anyone with talent can be on the court with the big leagues.
Lending his voice to Will is Stranger Things actor Caleb McLaughlin, who feels a kinship with his character. “Will is a hero in his own world,” says McLaughlin. “He’s got this bigger vision for himself and for the people he loves, and that’s what keeps him going. He’s inspired by the role models around him, and I totally connect to that idea of being on a personal quest with a lot of heart behind it.”
Director Tyree Dillihay says Will is inspired by the younger generation, and the big dreams that younger people have for their lives. “He represents the youth generation,” Dillihay says. “He doesn’t have a route to get there but he’s hungry, passionate, hardheaded. He wears an armor of courage and strength and go-get-it-ness. I love that about Will.”
Head of character animation Daniel Pozo had a lot of fun with creating Will’s signature movement, taking inspiration from basketball stars for how he navigates his world. “He’s a teenager with a lot of confidence—he’s got swag,” says Pozo. “We looked at references like Kobe Bryant when he was in high school and Caleb’s own movie performances. He exudes so much confidence in how he walks. We started with that and layered in these idiosyncratic behaviors that basketball players tend to have—they seem to always have a ball passing between their hands, always in movement.”
McLaughlin made sure to inject a lot of personality with Will, and had fun with it. “One of the most fun parts for me was finding Will’s signature moments—like his unique laugh or those improv bits that really capture his personality,” says McLaughlin. “I think everyone has their own version of that little signature quirk—their own goat ‘baa,’ if you will. Discovering Will’s personal touch really made those scenes enjoyable.”
For co-director Adam Rosette, Will’s story is everyone’s story, and what it means to be determined. “It represents what it’s like to have a dream, not only what it’s like to play sports,” he says. “It’s about Will’s dream, which just happens to be becoming a pro roarball player. If you’ve ever had a dream—something that you aspire to be—this movie is for you. There’s heart, there’s hustle and humor.”
The court awaits as GOAT arrives in Philippine cinemas on February 11.
Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”
