Pixar's Onward stars MCU actors Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, and through the latter has a fun reference to Marvel's Infinity Saga. Like many Pixar movies, Onward has Easter eggs that pay tribute to the studio's extensive back catalog. But outside of Pixar references, there was also a nod to the defining saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, centered on Pratt's character, Barley.
Onward follows two brothers trying to reconnect with their deceased father. Barley and Ian (Tom Holland) seek out the Phoenix Gem to power their magical staff. While Ian is skeptical and afraid of magic, Barley takes him under his quest-loving wing so that Ian can finally meet his father for his birthday. Barley, the goofy older brother played by Chris Pratt, is the source of Onward's biggest MCU connection.
Barley's decked-out vest includes an Infinity Gauntlet patch on the left breast pocket. It's a bit hard to spot, as the patch rocks a red and black design that's different than the Gauntlet's classic gold look. However, the design is clearly meant to resemble Marvel's iconic Infinity Gauntlet. Plus, Pixar is known for putting multiple Easter eggs in their films, so this hardly seems like a coincidence. This design is also seen as one of several bumper stickers on Barley's van. It's easy to miss in the sea of Pixar Easter eggs, but Onward manages to sneak in some love for the MCU.
Beyond this Infinity Gauntlet patch, Barley makes the most sense as a conduit for Marvel references. In a lot of ways, Barley is similar to Pratt's Star-Lord character from Guardians of the Galaxy. Much like Star-Lord, Barley has a deep nostalgia for the world of Onward's past. While Barley is hungry for an old-fashioned quest, Peter Quill is always replaying his mixtape of classic songs. Along with that, Barley's relationship with his father is a lot like Peter Quill's relationship with his mother. Both died when Pratt's character was a child, and both times his character had a hard time facing it. While Star-Lord's relationship with his father(s) is far more complicated, there is a strong parallel between Barley and Peter Quill when it comes to their longing for the past.
The relationship between Barley and Ian makes for a strong connection to the Infinity Saga specifically. The idea of bringing their father back for a day is similar to the Avenger's quest in Avengers: Endgame. Granted, neither Pratt nor Holland's characters were around to help in Endgame until the final battle. But Spider-Man and Star-Lord do mirror Ian and Barley in Endgame's aftermath. Spider-Man reckons with the loss of his father figure Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Likewise, Avengers: Endgame sets up Star-Lord and the Guardians for a quest to bring Gamora back, even if it's a time-displaced Gamora who doesn't know them. The bromance between Pratt and Holland will hopefully have more time to play out in the MCU post-Onward.
Barley's love of nerdom and nostalgia extends beyond superhero Easter eggs in Pixar's Onward. However, it is a level of love that helps flesh out his character, and endear him to Disney fans. The bigger parallels between Barley and Star-Lord are lovely and reminiscent of the Infinity Saga, which came to a close last year.