Through a spell-laden quest, siblings grow closer in ‘Onward’

“Onward” begins by zooming us through a land full of witches and wizards, of dragons and mermen.

And while this prologue phase of Pixar Animation Studios’ “Onward” is set in time before magic faded from the land — although the film’s characters are elves and other fantasy creature, they live in the suburbs and rely largely on the wizardry of smartphones — there is plenty of enchantment to be found within this tale of two brothers trying to bring their father back to life for one day.

Thanks to a very nicely crafted story that pays off on seemingly every little thing it sets up, a steady stream of laughs and endearing voice performances by stars Tom Holland (“Spider-Man: Far From Home”) and Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), “Onward” is Pixar’s best original work — that is to say, not a sequel, prequel or spin-off — since 2009’s “Up.” No, it isn’t quite in that Academy Award-nominated film’s class, but it is highly entertaining and hits you right in the feels before it’s over.

Ian Lightfoot (Holland), born after his father died, is turning 16. He’s a good kid, but he lacks confidence. He makes an aspirational to-do that includes speaking up for himself and inviting some classmates to his birthday party. He fails at achieving those, as well as other goals, fairly spectacularly during one day at school.

His gregarious older and much-bigger brother, Barley (Pratt) — who has a few memories of their father from early childhood — is crazy about fantasy role-playing games. He possesses encyclopedic knowledge of the magical spells of the past and drives a beat-up but colorful van he’s named Guinevere. (He’s tricked it out to fit his personality. For instance, instead of a D for “Drive,” it has an O — for “Onward.”)

About all the boys have to remember their father, Wilden (Kyle Bornheimer), by is a brief audio tape Ian plays often and with which he even, heartbreakingly, pretends to interact. (The film’s director, Dan Scanlon, says the idea for the movie stems from his brother and him possessing a very brief audio recording of their late father.)

Following instructions from her late husband, the boy’s mother, Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Downhill”),

gives Ian and Barley a gift from him she’d been holding until they were old enough for it. It contains a letter with instructions for a spell, as well as a wizard’s staff and a special gem.

After Laurel leaves them to pick up Ian’s cake, Barley attempts to cast the spell but is unable to conjure any magic. Much to his surprise, when Ian tries, he has some success — some in that he recreates Dad only up to his waist.

“I definitely remember Dad having a top part!” Barley exclaims.

With the gem now destroyed, a determined Barley, a skeptical Ian and the silent half of Wilden pile into Guinevere for an epic quest to find another stone that will allow them to complete the spell before day’s end.

Along the way, they encounter the once-ferocious, now family-friendly tavern-running Manticore (Octavia Spencer, “Ma”), who subsequently tries to help a frantic Laurel find her sons before something terrible happens to them. (The Manticore does feel a tiny bit guilty for not telling the lads they may run afoul of a deadly curse.)

They boys also have to fend off Laurel’s wellmeaning cop boyfriend, Officer Colt Bronco (Mel Rodriguez), who, incidentally, is a centaur.

As written by Scanlon, Jason Headley and Keith Bunin and performed by Holland and Pratt — who performed together the last two years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s two-film “Avengers” epic — it is easy to fall in love with Ian and Barley. Given that they are siblings, “Onward” truly is a bromance, one with ups and downs, laughing and loathing.

Their journey is richly satisfying, chock full of challenges and dangers foreshadowed largely by Barley’s knowledge of what previously seemed to be make-believe.

Under the steady hand of Scanlon, who takes a step forward as a director from 2013’s decent “Monsters University,” the tale never loses its magic. Ultimately, it delivers a noteperfect ending you may feel you should have seen coming before you do.

While hoping Pixar continues to bring us more non-sequels brimming with the freshness of “Onward” — the studio has the likewise original “Soul” coming in June — we have to admit we’d happily go onward again with Ian and Barley Lightfoot.

“Onward” is rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements. Runtime: 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Thanks to a very nicely crafted story that pays off on seemingly every little thing it sets up, a steady stream of laughs and endearing voice performances by stars Tom Holland (“SpiderMan: Far From Home”) and Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), “Onward” is Pixar’s best original work — that is to say, not a sequel, prequel or spin-off — since 2009’s “Up.”