‘GOAT’ review: Nice animation, not a slam dunk

Some inspired character designs saves the routine sports underdog story of the Steph Curry-produced GOAT.

Sony Pictures has arguably defined the signature animation style of the late 2010s and early 2020s. After breaking onto the scene with the spectacular Spider-Verse saga and reinforcing it with KPop Demon Hunters, the studio demonstrated that this bold and visually kinetic approach could serve as a versatile framework for a new era of animated films, rivaling the more standard photorealistic Pixar style.

So far, the formula has been effective and has inspired more studios to explore a wide array of styles. Now with GOAT, produced by basketball superstar Stephen Curry, Sony is applying that style to a more traditional narrative. While the film doesn’t break new ground in terms of story, it refreshes the classic underdog (under-goat?) formula with energy and charm. The result is a familiar, but enjoyable sports tale that ultimately works as a heartfelt reminder of the power of teamwork.

The eponymous underdog goat Will (Caleb McLaughlin) lives in the animal metropolis of Vineland and is an avid fan of roar-ball; a coed, multi-species, high-paced version of basketball. After growing up idolizing superstar Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union) of the struggling local team, the Vineland Thorns, Will finds himself struggling financially while chasing every possible opportunity to play roar-ball. This is despite the obvious challenge of being a small goat in a sport dominated by much larger animals. When a viral clip of Will humiliating rival phenom Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre) explodes online, he’s unexpectedly signed by the Thorns. Now at the center of this highly competitive sport, Will must prove himself in a league not built for athletes his size, motivate a former superstar who fears her glory days are behind her, and help unite a fractured team that desperately needs to learn how to trust and communicate with one another.

Tail as old as time.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures

The story structure follows the classic beats of a sports underdog narrative. There are questions about Will’s ability to compete, the team gradually comes to accept a signing they initially doubted, and a former superstar begins to contend with the legacy of her career. All of these developments are punctuated by a series of energetic montages charting the Vineland Thorns’ return to competitiveness.

Notably, the script’s emphasis on developing team communication is especially effective. This works not only because the supporting ensemble includes comic specialists Nick Kroll and Patton Oswalt, but also because their characters are given defined arcs that, while entirely predictable, ultimately land successfully. It’s impossible not to cheer when Olivia the ostrich (Nicola Coughlan) begins to reconsider her relationship to social media or when Archie the rhino a rhino (David Harbour) learns about parenting. However, the heavy references to internet memes and crypto ads end up hurting the overall effectiveness of a straightforward script.

A wild vision.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures

Yet what makes GOAT stand out is its incredible animation work and effective visual language. The virtual camera moves with relentless energy, capturing the intensity of roar-ball and emphasizing its more fantastical elements, from biome-shifting courts to the signature tricks each animal performs. This is particularly effective because, unlike other films that downplay or treat the animal nature of their anthropomorphic characters as a fleeting joke, GOAT embraces those differences and uses them to showcase a truly dynamic game. Giraffes execute agile moves using their necks, birds fly with the ball, and Will uses his rectangular pupils to increase his field of vision.

This attention to detail comes through in the artistic direction of the different animal cities the film introduces. While most of the 100-minute runtime unfolds in Vineland, a hectic urban landscape reminiscent of a chaotic solar-punk illustration that feels vividly lived in, the film also offers glimpses of arctic and volcanic environments that, like the character design, unapologetically embrace the constraints of those creative choices. Those settings are so impressive that it makes you wish the movie spent more time in them.

The bottom line.

Ultimately, GOAT reinforces Sony’s status as the most visually adventurous mainstream animation studio working today. Its aesthetic ambition elevates a familiar sports narrative into something energetic and memorable, even if the script itself rarely risks the same boldness. The film proves that style can invigorate formula, but it also suggests that the next evolution of this animation movement will require storytelling that is just as daring as its visuals to make a slam-dunk.

GOAT is now playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the trailer here.

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures. Read more articles by Pedro Luis Graterol here.

Pedro Luis Graterol

Based in Mexico, Pedro Graterol is the News editor for TV and Film of InBetweenDrafts. He is a Venezuelan political scientist, violist, and a nerd of all things pop culture. His legal signature includes Sonic The Hedgehog’s face.