From the onset, there is nothing at all similar between 2018's God of War and A Goofy Movie. One is a multi-award-winning action/adventure game set in a world inspired by Norse mythology; the other is a 1995 Disney film that serves as a follow-up to the Disney Afternoon show Goof Troop. They seem to be on two opposite sides of the spectrum, yet despite their many differences, both titles have similar sections in their narrative that make them familiar to one another.
This stems from the fact that both God of War and A Goofy Movie are father/son stories that focus on the relationship between two characters. Two people (or in the case of A Goofy Movie, humanoid dogs) spending an extended amount of time together are bound to bond, whether they like it or not, so it's interesting to examine the instances where God of War and A Goofy Movie's narratives are similar.
The Father and Son Are Estranged
In God of War, both Kratos and Atreus are very different from one another. Kratos is the gruff, silent, serious type, while his son Atreus is mellow and talkative. This leads to the two not knowing how to communicate with one another effectively. The recent departure of Kratos' wife Faye further adds to the tension between the two, as they have a lot of emotional baggage to sort through before their journey begins.
A Goofy Movie is similar in that Goofy and his son Max both have trouble expressing themselves. Goofy is the epitome of his namesake, working at a photo studio where he almost always unintentionally makes his clients laugh. Max is the complete opposite, as he constantly attempts to steer clear of his father's wacky antics and make a name for himself in school. While the subject of Goofy's wife is never mentioned, the ever-growing emotional gap between Goofy and Max is shown through their different personalities and perspectives.
The Father Knows Something The Son Doesn't
Kratos, being the son of the Greek god Zeus, is a god. This means Atreus, by virtue of his father, is also part-god. This is the big secret Kratos wishes to keep from his son, as he views gods in a bad light. He hopes that in keeping Atreus from the truth, he can save him from a lifetime of responsibilities and tragedy that comes with the role.
Goofy's secret isn't as big as the one Kratos is keeping, but it is also the result of a parent wanting to keep their child safe. After Max is sent to the principal's office for upstaging a school assembly, Principal Mazur tells Goofy how he fears Max could end up a felon if he continues down his current path.
The Two Main Characters Go on A Buddy Road Trip
God of War's "road trip" is a realm-spanning adventure that leads Kratos and Atreus across multiple Norse realms. Their goal is to spread Faye's ashes to the highest peak in all the nine realms, which was her last wish before her untimely death.
In A Goofy Movie, the road trip is literal. Fearing that Max might turn to a life of delinquency, Goofy packs up their bags and takes them on a trip to Lake Destiny, Idaho, following a map of locations and spots Goofy's father took him to when he was a child. He hopes that in doing this with Max, Goofy will be able to bridge the divide between them.
The Pair Run Into Monster(s)
Just as with previous entries, God of War is filled with many obstacles that block the main characters' path. There are puzzles, traps, and monsters. These range from ogres and dark elves, all the way up to the corrupted Valkyries, which serve as the game's end-game bosses. These adversaries challenge both Kratos and Atreus as they learn to work together.
A Goofy Movie has a literal monster of its own: the infamous Bigfoot. While Goofy and Max practice fishing, they are ambushed by this monster and trapped in their car without the keys. Forced to spend the night in a cramped AMC Pacer wagon, they argue about their present situation before reconciling with some alphabet soup. In a way, the presence of Bigfoot forced them to face each other and their problems before continuing their road trip.
Arguments and Reconciling
As with any pop culture road trip, there is a lot of tension. God of War sees Kratos and Atreus argue constantly. Kratos gets irritated at his son for being naive and open to others, while Atreus is annoyed that his father is emotionally distant and doesn't always trust his judgment. As their situation changes, both find new thing to be mad at and proud of about the other. In the end, both Kratos and Atreus get a better understanding of each other and themselves.
Goofy doesn't usually show emotions beyond being goofy, but he does share with Max how much he wants to be a part of his son's life. This is what lead him to plan the road trip. On the other hand, Max wishes his father wouldn't be so silly all the time and let him have his own life. But throughout A Goofy Movie, the two learn to give each other the space they need, both with and apart from each other.
These are just a few instances where the stories of God of War and A Goofy Movie overlap. Narratives focused primarily on two characters as specific as father and son usually have some similarities, but it is interesting to see how this can be the case even with two very different pieces of media.
God of War is now available on PC and PS4.