Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Up (2009 film)

Up is a 2009 American animated adventure comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Up is a 2009 animated adventure film produced by Pixar. It follows 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen as he flies his house to South America with a young stowaway, Russell.

What it is

Up is an American animated adventure comedy-drama produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter with Bob Peterson as co-director, the film was released in 2009 and became one of Pixar’s best-known titles. The runtime is 96 minutes.

Plot and characters

Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old widower, attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house to honour a promise to his late wife and flies to South America. He is joined by Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer stowaway. The voice cast includes Ed Asner as Carl, Jordan Nagai as Russell, Christopher Plummer as Charles Muntz, and Bob Peterson as Dug.

Reception and availability

Up was released in 2009 and is widely recognized for its opening sequence, adventurous storyline, and emotional themes. In Canada, it has been available through theatrical, home video, and streaming distribution, though current platform availability varies by region.

In short

  • Up is a 2009 Pixar film directed by Pete Docter.
  • Centres on Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old widower, and his journey to South America.
  • Voice cast includes Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, and Christopher Plummer.
  • Known for its emotional opening and adventurous story.
Canadian angle

Up is widely known in Canada through Disney and Pixar releases and has been available to Canadian audiences through theatrical, home video, and streaming distribution, though current platform availability varies by region.

Quick questions

Who directed Up?
Up was directed by Pete Docter.
How old is Carl in Up?
Carl Fredricksen is 78 years old.
What is the plot of Up?
The film follows Carl Fredricksen as he flies his house to South America with thousands of balloons to fulfil a promise to his late wife, while a young boy named Russell stows away and joins him.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film)
    Supports: Director, release year, plot summary, and basic film identification.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/up
    Supports: Carl's age, synopsis, release date, runtime, and production details.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/up/cast-and-crew
    Supports: Cast and crew listing including director, screenwriter, and voice cast.
  4. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6414EAdGznQ
    Supports: Cast list and production credits shown in the video description.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/list/ls576201607/
    Supports: Pete Docter identification as the Oscar-winning director of Up.
  6. Time Out — https://www.timeout.com/movies/up
    Supports: Co-direction by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson.