Described as a return to form for Pixar, the fabled studio's latest film Soul has more in common with its past animated features than merely its critical success. Pixar has been turning out groundbreaking projects for over 25 years, distilling a recognizable set of common elements that codify their brand. Audiences know that when they see a Pixar film, they can expect an entertaining, wildly imaginative, and tear-jerkingly poignant story for the whole family. Whether rats or race cars, whether in outer space or the depths of the ocean, certain common themes prevail. Soul is no exception.

The story of Soul follows hapless middle school band teacher Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) as, just on the precipice of breaking into the competitive New York jazz scene he loves so dearly, a near-death experience catapults his soul into the Great Beyond. Not ready to die, he finds his way to the You Seminar, a physical rendering of the "Great Before," where yet-unborn souls are prepared for life on Earth, given personalities, and discover their "spark." Joe enlists the help of a cynical soul named 22 (Tina Fey), who is intrigued by this apparently mediocre person's relentless drive to achieve his dream of becoming a successful jazz musician. Over the course of the film, Joe and 22 learn about life and ponder its meaning before Joe ultimately achieves his musician goal by playing a gig after scorning 22. But when he's finished, he can't help but feel like he's missing something. It's then he learns his lesson: a person's purpose isn't singular, and the way we approach every moment is what gives us purpose. Having self-actualized, he helps 22 overcome her own demons and, in the end, gets a second chance at life himself.

Related: Every Song In Pixar's Soul

Most obviously, the film's ethereal concept and the manifestation of such abstract ideas as souls and personality and one's "spark" find their spiritual ancestor in director Pete Docter's previous effort, Inside Out. In that film, we enter the mind of young Riley, whose anthropomorphized emotions traverse an equally creative manifestation of cerebral concepts like memory, the subconscious, and personality. The two share so many similarities, Soul was once actually theorized to be Inside Out's sequel by many fans.

Inside Out Soul Pixar

A good writer creates driven characters, and given the folks at Pixar are among the best writers, thus their characters are often among the most driven. Joe's passion for music calls to mind Remy the rat's passion for cooking in Brad Bird's Ratatouille. Gusteau himself remarks "Good food is like music you can taste," while waxing poetic on his and Remy's shared profession. But after Joe plays with the Quartet, he feels yet unfulfilled. Perhaps his way of thinking needs adjustment; maybe instead of this singular success he's been chasing his whole career, it's the things and people around him during everyday life in which he needs to find meaning. Lightning McQueen, of 2006's Cars, knows this lesson well, having chased the Piston Cup with unhealthy focus before learning that it's not about the destination, but rather the journey.

Pixar is famously undaunted by the notion of tackling such adult themes as mortality and legacy in what ostensibly are children's films. Joe all-but-dies in the first 15 minutes of Soul, soon thereafter coming to the bleak conclusion that his "life was meaningless." But after reaching an emotional and profound conclusion, Joe passes on the ability to live a life on Earth to 22, telling her he already lived his, "now it's your turn." Through the tears, audiences surely conjured Ellie's posthumous message in Carl's Adventure Book from 2009's Up, in which she thanks him for the adventure and encourages him to "go have a new one."

Pixar studio has crystalized their method over the years to the point where each of their original features amounts to a well-oiled emotion evocation machine. While they're gaining unfettered access to your tear ducts, they're simultaneously imparting profound notions on such existential themes as those in Soul: mortality, legacy, and the meaning of life. The captain of the Axiom in Wall-E famously declares "I don't wanna survive, I wanna live!" His statement finds a not-so-distant cousin in Joe Gardner's resolution to live every minute of his second chance at life.

Next: Soul: All Easter Eggs & Secret Pixar References Explained