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Vineland Today
By the People, for the People
GOAT Ending Explained: How The Animated Underdog Sports Movie Sets Up A Sequel
GOAT plays with many of the tropes of a sports underdog story, but the sweet approach and strong execution give the film a good emotional core — all while leaving the door open for a potential sequel.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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The animated film GOAT focuses on Will, a young goat in a world of anthropomorphic animals where a variant of basketball called Roarball is a massive success. Will ends up joining his city's losing team, the Thorns, and his presence inspires them to make a run for the championship. While the ending doesn't feature many surprises, the film's execution makes Will's victory in the championship game emotionally effective, as it highlights the importance of community and how a professional sports team can become a unifying symbol for a city. The film leaves enough threads open that a sequel focused on the world of Roarball could be possible.
Why it matters
GOAT plays with the tropes of the underdog sports story genre in a sweet and effective way, using the unique elements of the Roarball sport and the animated format to explore themes of confidence, community, and the impact a sports team can have on a city. The ending sets up potential for a sequel to further expand on the world of Roarball and the characters' journeys.
The details
In GOAT, Will, a young goat, ends up joining his city's losing Roarball team, the Thorns, and his presence inspires them to make a run for the championship. By the end of the championship game, Jett, one of Will's teammates, uses her public persona to lure the other team into over-covering her, giving Will an opening to make the game-winning shot. This plays into the film's focus on how a professional sports team can become a unifying symbol for a city, as the Thorns' success brings the community together. The film also sets up potential storylines for a sequel, such as the Thorns defending their title, other "smalls" like Will being recruited by other teams, and the lingering fate of Jett's injury.
- The film GOAT was released on February 13, 2026.
- The runtime of GOAT is 93 minutes.
The players
Will
A young goat who ends up joining his city's losing Roarball team, the Thorns, and inspires them to make a run for the championship.
Jett
One of Will's teammates on the Thorns, who uses her public persona to help the team in the championship game.
Modo
The owner of the Thorns who uses his wealth to purchase the team and keep them in the city of Vineland.
What they’re saying
“GOAT is a fairly sweet and straightforward underdog sports story, with a focus on using the animal players and extreme elements of Roarball as visual stand-ins for the challenges faced by both rookie and veteran athletes.”
— Brandon Zachary, Author (screenrant.com)
“Much of this comes through in confidence, with Will, Lenny, Olivia, Archie, and Dennis finding fulfillment and success once they begin believing in themselves. Meanwhile, Jett learns to believe in the capabilities of others and not just herself.”
— Brandon Zachary, Author (screenrant.com)
What’s next
The success of the Thorns in the Roarball league has made them champions, but subsequent seasons could challenge them. Other "smalls" like Will could begin to be recruited by various teams, potentially giving him a more direct challenge over the need to outmaneuver larger players. Characters like Mane, who were embarrassed in the final game by the Thorns, could seek a chance to wrest back the crown from Will after his defeat in the championships. There's also the lingering fate of Jett, who ignored the advice of the courtside doctor to rejoin the team for the final minute, potentially meaning the injury she suffered is a career-ender.
The takeaway
GOAT uses the unique elements of the Roarball sport and the animated format to explore themes of confidence, community, and the impact a sports team can have on a city in a sweet and effective way. The film's ending leaves the door open for a potential sequel that could further expand on the world of Roarball and the characters' journeys.
