GOAT review: This heartfelt animated sports drama works equally for kids as it does for adults
GOAT Movie Review: The animated film GOAT tells the inspiring story of a young goat chasing his sporting dreams. The film explores themes of resilience, community and breaking gender norms in a vibrant fantasy world.
In Gen Z lingo, ‘GOAT’ is the quintessential compliment – the greatest of all time. But in this delightful new animated film, goat It is actually also a goat. Cleverly mixing swag of profanity with animalistic innocence, director Tyree Dillihay has crafted a story that, while it may not carry the title of greatest movie of all time, still leaves you with a warm smile, a hopeful heart, and a gentle inspiration to dream.
Set in the fantasy world of Vinland, where a high-octane game called Roar Ball rules the arena and the famous team the Thorns fans dominate, the story begins with a young goat who dares to dream beyond his circumstances. Will Harris, voiced with deep sensitivity by Caleb McLaughlin, idolizes the game’s star player Jett, and like every kid who has ever seen the poster, whispers that he wants to be like him when he grows up. His mom does what the best parents do: believes and encourages him to dream big.
Even after a decade, the dream has not faded; It has become more real. Fate intervenes and gives Will a chance to not only play like his idol, but also play with him. But just when it seems the stars have aligned, there’s a sharp turn – Jett (Gabrielle Union) doesn’t want her on the team. What happens next, and how Will and Jet eventually find rhythm, trust, and friendship, is best revealed on screen.
What makes the GOAT quietly special is not just his weak side, but also his likability. The ideal here is a woman – a fierce, flawed and talented cat athlete. And just moments into the film, a young boy declares that he wants to be like her, which is a surprisingly powerful statement. In a cultural landscape still crowded with male heroes, this simple inversion feels fresh, modern, and deeply meaningful without ever seeming preachy.
The film connects its imaginary world with the threads of contemporary life. The proliferation of social media, public perception, locker-room friendships, professional jealousy, and leadership pressure all naturally take over. There’s also sadness – a child navigating life after losing his mother, held together by a community that proves the eternal truth that it takes a village to raise a child.
Jett’s own journey adds another emotional layer. She is a star facing the quiet terror of fading relevance, clinging to fame and making choices that may not always be good but are painfully human. It is a struggle that many at the top in sports, cinema or even corporate corridors will identify with. Parallelly, Will’s dream is never portrayed as merely wishful thinking; It is built on effort, failure, perseverance and sweat.
Here is the trailer:
What follows is for the rest of the team to be ecstatic: a towering giraffe who raps, a rhinoceros torn between parenting and playing, an ostrich who surprises her with a timely flight, and a fire-breathing Komodo dragon named Modo who gets the last laugh. Coach, a proboscis monkey, comes through with warmth, humor and a pep talk near the finale that is guaranteed to make the audience smile a little more than expected. The antagonist, an eccentric, scene-stealing horse, brings flair, drama, and some of the film’s most entertaining lines. Every animal in this bustling universe is imbued with personality, turning it into a vibrant, memorable crowd rather than mere background decoration.
What makes it particularly effective is how differently the film plays across different age groups. Adults may find themselves relating more than expected. Behind the colour, comedy and chaos lie familiar mistakes, quiet ambitions, insecurities about relevance and the fragile hope for second chances. Meanwhile, for children, the magic is immediate and simple: cute animals lead vibrant, emotional, adventurous lives. They are playful, funny, hearty, and incredibly easy to love.
And when the story finally moves toward its big game, the climax delivers exactly what a sports finale promises: tension, spectacle, drama, and emotions. You can sense where it’s going, yet you root, cheer, and hold your breath. Choosing a basketball-inspired game like Roar Ball proves to be a smart narrative move, allowing for gravity-defying jumps, hard-fought wins, and a slight echo of the universal ‘don’t want to pass the ball’ feeling among players that’s familiar to sports fans from different cultures.
Visually alive and emotionally honest, GOAT may not redefine animation, but it charms, comforts, and inspires in equal measure. And sometimes, that’s more than enough for a movie.
