WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Pixar's Onward, in theaters now.
Despite all the fantastical aspects of Onward that bounce off the more mundane elements of modern society that fill the movie's world, it's not until the end of the film that magic fully takes hold. The ending of the film even suggests that magic will have a bigger presence going forward for this society -- especially for the core cast of characters who were prompted to go the movie's quest in the first place.
Onward ends on a bittersweet but happy moment for the main cast, and even sets up an exciting future going forward for the characters.
THE END OF THE QUEST
With the spell to briefly bring their father back to life about to run out, brothers Barley and Ian have made their way across the land to find a Phoenix Gem so they can finish the spell before it fully wears off. However, when their quest returns them to where they began, Ian loses faith and tears into his older brother, although he soon regrets his words and realizes just how important Barley has been to him throughout his life. Meanwhile, Barley discovers the Phoenix Gem in the nearby ruins of a construction site and removes it, activating a curse in the form of a massive stone dragon that attacks the brothers while seeking the Phoenix Gem.
Ian, the brothers' mother Laurel and her new friend the Manticore, aka Corey, hold the dragon at bay using their assorted skills and strengths, eventually working together to drive Corey's enchanted sword into the heart of the dragon. This destroys the beast and ends the curse on the gem. In the end, Barley gets the chance to see his father and say goodbye to him. The pair embrace before the boys' father disappears with the sunset. While Ian never speaks to his father, he gets to briefly see him and is at peace with the happy relationship he's developed with Barley in his father's absence. Barley shares the message their father had for Ian, and their quest ends with the two embracing and fully coming to terms with the fact that their father is gone.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
The film ends with many of the characters in potentially life-changing positions. Notably, Ian and Barley have proven to the world that magic is still a powerful force around them. Ian has taken to showing off his powers to the rest of his fellow high-school students, potentially inspiring more people to try to learn magic for themselves. He might even try to find ways to bond his magical skills with more modern technology, given how he was formerly a member of a science club and has a knack for math.
His new expertise has also given him a sense of confidence that he lacked before, helping him find the quiet courage to open up and become friends with some of his peers. The film ends with Ian using his magical power to make Barley's new van fly. On top of that, Barley's deep knowledge of magical creatures and artifacts could become much more impressive now that it's been confirmed to the world that magic definitely still has power in the world. He could even make a case for becoming something of a magical archeologist.
Meanwhile, the mission the brothers went on seems to have had a positive impact on the rest of their family. Laurel has successfully found the warrior within herself. She's shown going out for "girls' nights" with Corey after the climax of the film, suggesting the pair go on quests together to dangerous settings and locations. This could be an exciting direction for any future stories within the Onward universe to take, showcasing the kind of adventures that the unlikely pair of friends take on together.
Barley and Ian's quest has even had a positive impact on other characters, such as the sprite biker gang (who have rediscovered their ability to fly after encountering the brothers) and Laurel's longtime boyfriend, Colt. In the case of the latter, the police officer has embraced his centaur heritage and begun to go running instead of using his car to get to work. It suggests that the future of this fantasy world may become a hybrid of modern society and ancient magic, which would be an interesting shift to see play out.
Written and directed by Dan Scanlon, Pixar's Onward stars Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer.