Up

Carl Fredricksen has spent his life dreaming of travel and discovery, but by age 78 his world has shrunk to a small house in a changing city and the memory of his late wife, Ellie. To honor a promise to her he bolts thousands of balloons to his home and lifts off toward the wilderness of Paradise Falls, only to find an unexpected stowaway: Russell, an eager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer trying to earn his merit badge. Along the way they cross paths with a pack of talking dogs and a legendary explorer whose reputation complicates their plans. The film traces how two mismatched companions learn to care for one another while confronting loss and hope, with no spoilers about how things resolve.

Released in 2009, Up was directed by Pete Docter and developed at Pixar Animation Studios with story contributions from Bob Peterson and Tom McCarthy, then distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

Up won two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, and it picked up additional Oscar nominations, marking it as one of the few animated films to receive major recognition from the Academy.

The film's opening montage showing a lifetime of marriage in a few minutes is widely referenced, and the image of a house lifted by balloons became instantly iconic. Lines like "Adventure is out there" entered popular culture, and the talking dog Dug also inspired a lot of parodies and merchandise.

Critics praised the emotional range, inventive visuals, and Michael Giacchino's score, and audiences responded strongly to its mix of humor and feeling. Main themes include coping with grief, the value of companionship across generations, and how small acts can redefine a life. Voice performances, especially Ed Asner as Carl and Jordan Nagai as Russell, help sell the tenderness and occasional silliness that keep the film from getting too heavy.