But Onward did get manticore visuals pretty much spot-on. The whole thing about the Manticore owning a tavern, wielding a sword, and commanding a curse are inventions for the movie. They are lethal predators, as detailed in the short story "The Ecology of the Manticore" written by Spike & Jones and published in the 153rd issue of the official Dungeons & Dragons magazine, Dragon. Present since Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in 1977, manticores exist as an evil race of lion-like creatures who seek to eat the flesh of men. Onward lifts the Manticore straight from Dungeons & Dragons. When Ian and Barley arrive at her underworld watering hole, the legendary Manticore is now "Corey," the stressed-out owner of a family restaurant packed with busy waiters, kitschy decor, a broken karaoke machine, and crying children. Centuries after magic faded, so too did the edge of the Manticore dull. The Manticore herself is a fearsome monster no one dares to cross legend says she's slain dragons with her mythic broadsword.Īt least that's who the Manticore used to be. In Onward, Octavia Spencer voices the Manticore, a ferocious warrior beast and keeper of a mythic tavern that safeguards an ancient map leading to the Phoenix Gem (a new creation not taken from D&D). The Manticore, as illustrated in the 'Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual.' Wizards of the Coast Without spoiling too much of Onward, here are the three biggest D&D concepts that play a key role in the movie. We love that Onward is bringing fantasy to a whole new audience, and it's a testament to how D&D storytelling is part of the mainstream culture now." "There was a lot of back-and-forth in the room discussing how best to portray D&D monsters like the beholder and the gelatinous cube. "The D&D team was super excited to meet with the writers and producers of Pixar's Onward," Wizards of the Coast told Inverse. In an email to Inverse, Wizards of the Coast confirmed it collaborated with Disney and Pixar over the use of D&D characters and story elements in Onward. But Barley still believes there's magic in the world, and it's through his geekdom that Ian can survive the imminent challenges ahead. In the world of Onward, the epic adventures of paladins, druids, and dragons have become ancient history, with Barley's collectible trading cards and tabletop board games (which aren't named "Dungeons & Dragons") memorializing a nearly forgotten cultural heritage.
It's through the brutish Barley that most of Onward derives its love for fantasy role-playing games. When the spell goes wrong and their father is only restored halfway, Ian and his slacker brother Barley (Chris Pratt) embark on a quest to complete the spell before time runs out. Centuries after electricity replaced spell-casting, elf teenager Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland) receives a birthday gift from his late father: A magic staff and a hand-written spell to bring dad back for 24 hours. Tolkien and Gary Gygax get a makeover after magic is exchanged for modernity. In Onward from director Dan Scanlon, the fantasy worlds of J.R.R. Minor spoilers for Disney and Pixar's Onward ahead. For the Level 1 adventurers who want to further appreciate Onward's dorky deep cuts, here are three of the most essential Dungeons & Dragons references explained.
Still, there's so much love for things like Dungeons & Dragons embedded in Onward that watching the movie can only be enriched with familiarity for its many roleplaying game Easter eggs. You can enjoy its imaginative story, its colorful characters, and clever humor just fine even if you've never once rolled a twenty-sided die. The reliable magic in Pixar's storytelling means Onward, the latest movie from the fabled animation studio, isn't hard to grasp despite its many references to fantasy role-playing games.