Media 1 Weekly Ethan, Ashton, Ikuo, Leigh-Ann, April, James
An Animated Dissection: Remembering ‘The Incredibles’ 10 years later Probably not since Toy Story, had PIXAR undertaken such a major production. Brad Bird is always striving to break down barriers, and The Incredibles is a film that barreled through a number of major hurdles that the company was still trying to get down: humans, hair, water, cloth, and even interaction between those 4 things at one time was huge. Just take the scene below. This simple scene of Bob Parr (Craig T Nelson) putting his hand through the rip in his supersuit, was incredibly complex at that time! And speaking of that rip in the supersuit, Bird did something that really earned my admiration, and that of others: he made us believe that even though these were animated characters, they could be harmed. When Bob is first attacked by the Omnidroid, and it tears his suit (leaving a red scratch on Bob’s skin). I remember my eyes popping open: this was something that no studio seemed willing to do: making you believe the peril was ‘serious. Edna Mode is an amazing example of giving us a fun character, but not letting that character overpower your story. E definitely has a personality that seems 5 times her normal size, but it’s in keeping her role small, that makes her all the more memorable. Bird has done similar smallyet-big characters like this, with Dean in The Iron Giant, or Anton Ego in Ratatouille. Less can often equal more in cases like this. One place where the filmmakers do not skimp on, is making all characters seem believable. I can’t think of any characters that ever seem to not seem real or important. Even Bob Parr’s government supervisor Rick Dicker (voiced by Bud Luckey) is memorable for the few minutes of screen time he has. And of course, there’ s something very real amid the comical dialogue of the “Where is my supersuit” moment between Frozone and his (unseen) wife, Honey. The film was also notable, for having (at the time) the most locations and wardrobe changes of any film the company had done. Just consider PIXAR’s films from Toy Story up through Finding Nemo. While several of those films had humans, they did not go through multiple wardrobe changes. And in some cases, some characters in those films didn’t wear clothes! Bird also manages to write his characters like they are real people, such as in the rather grownup depiction of Bob and Helen’s marriage, let alone how half-way through the film, Helen suspects that Bob might be having an affair. Violet’s timidity feels genuine, as does Bob’s dejectedness at being denied the ability to do the things he wants. It is only after the family has been imprisoned, and are watching Syndrome’s Omnidroid wrecking Metroville, does Bob finally admit his faults, and how stupid he’s been. The funny moment comes when Violet frees herself. Dash sees this, but Helen quickly hushes him. The reason this is funny? Because Helen is getting what she’s wanted: Bob admitting what he did was wrong, and she knows if anything interrupts him, he might never admit his mistake, ever again! On a more personal note, The Incredibles was screened at a theater I used to work at, a month in advance for a college audience. As a head projectionist, I begged to be the guy in charge of this thing, and got my wish! I recall that evening being a lot of running around, checking sound levels and waiting for the print to arrive (it had a special padlocked code, and I was supervised by an editor from PIXAR, as I assembled it).
After it was over, and I had broken down the print to be sent off to its next super-secret screening, I got the chance to say hi to Brad Bird and producer John Walker. Almost everyone who was attending had brought Brad things to sign (DVD’s of The Simpsons, The Critic, and someone had an Iron Giant poster!). As for me, I had brought with me the just-released Art of The Incredibles book. I recall Brad being surprised that it had come out already. Though hearing that I was the projectionist in charge of the screening, Brad added an extra little thank-you to his signature, as can be seen here: 10 years later, The Incredibles is spoken of with much love for those who are animation fans (it’s my 2nd favorite PIXAR film, right behind Toy Story 2). While Finding Nemo was PIXAR’s big moneymaker at the time, The Incredibles won many of us over with what Brad Bird brought to the table. While many see it as ‘a superhero movie,’ it is moreso the strength of the story and its characters, that makes it rise above and beyond. Those two areas are what Bird strives to do well, and his efforts were greatly rewarded come Awards Season following the film’s release. I will also admit, I was never keen on the idea that the world needed an Incredibles 2. Many have pestered Bird for over a decade that we “need” one, and while one is being developed from an idea of his (though Brad isn’t in the driver’s seat), I’m one of the minority that feels it is unnecessary. There’s so much incredible (no pun intended) stuff to be found in this film, that it just feels there’s no way to give us a sequel that can improve on it. As well, I love that Brad has kept pushing forward with each of the films he’s done. He turned Ratatouille into an ode for artists. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol brought a human element of danger that made these characters feel expendable. And like many, I am eager to see what Brad will bring to the table next year, when the Disney-inspired Tomorrowland takes us away. It’s hard to believe that almost 10 years later, Walt Disney Feature Animation is about to release its own take on superheros, with the Marvel-associated, Big Hero 6. Just like The Incredibles, I am very excited to see what 6 has in store for audiences. Disney‘s Feature Animation division has almost become what PIXAR was 10 years ago: a studio that keeps churning out new stories and innovative ideas, though we’ll have to wait and see if audiences will warm up to the superheroes of San Fransokyo, the way they did to the Parr family some time ago.
Universal Themes of The Incredibles March 26th, 2018
In 2004, Pixar made cinematic history when it released the best Fantastic Four movie to date. The Incredibles was an action-packed animated superhero tale starring a family of heroes, and it won fans over across the world. The movie tapped into all the classic superhero tropes, even subverting a few of them, and combined that approach with a smart semi-political message that felt very relevant for its time.
Nobody was surprised when Pixar announced the sequel. The challenge, though, will be for Pixar to make the sequel every bit as relevant as the original. The themes and ideas of The Incredibles are timeless and powerful, and it’s worth remembering them as we prepare to watch this family’s continued adventures.
The Importance of Family
[Credit: Pixar/Disney]
The most obvious theme is the importance of family. The film kicks off with Mr. Incredible choosing to go solo, but it doesn’t take long for his heroism to become his undoing. It’s only possible for the Incredible family to save the day when they stand united as both a team – and a family.
This theme was what led superhero fans to compare The Incredibles to Marvel Comics’ first heroes, the Fantastic Four. The FF are actually known as “Marvel’s First Family,” and are led by husband and wife Mister Fantastic and the Invisible
Woman. The Incredibles goes one step further, making the children a core part of the super-team.
Although this is a pretty common theme in animated movies, somehow The Incredibles managed to make it feel fresh. Probably the coolest scene was the unexpected synergy between kids Dash and Vi, as Vi manifested her force-fields for the first time!
Compassion Is Not A Weakness
[Credit: Pixar/Disney]
When Mr. Incredible believes his family is dead, the moment gives The Incredibles one of its best scenes. Furious, he attempts to grab the villain Syndrome, but Syndrome’s agent Mirage gets in his way. The hero demands to
be released or he’ll crush her. “It’ll be easy,” Mr. Incredible snarls. “Like breaking a toothpick.”
Syndrome knows his adversary better than that. He challenges Mr. Incredible to do it, but he’s unable to. Ironically, that moment becomes a character-defining tipping point for Mirage. She realizes how little Syndrome cares for her, and how compassionate Mr. Incredible truly is. Mirage inevitably betrays her master, setting the hero free and revealing that his family are alive. The artists at Pixar play the moment perfectly, letting us see the different personalities at play and understanding why Mr. Incredible’s nature sways Mirage’s decision.
Don’t Hide Who You Are
[Credit: Pixar/Disney]
The ultimate message of The Incredibles is that everybody should be willing to embrace their true nature. The movie is set in the world which has become afraid of superhumans, and where heroes hide their powers. It’s an analogy that’s common to comic books, where the X-Men routinely stand in defense of a world that hates and fears them. The Incredibles must learn to embrace their gifts, to stand proud and confident in them once again. After all, the world hasn’t changed; it still needs heroes.
But there’s more to The Incredibles than just that. One of the most amusing scenes is at the end when the teenage and formerly withdrawn Vi – who’s now become much more comfortable with her identity – arranges her first date. It’s a scene that left fans beaming with delight. Vi’s self-acceptance has allowed her to come out of her shell, and the world is ready and waiting for her.
The Incredibles is gloriously optimistic. Acknowledging that the world is a complex place, it still recommends a simple philosophy; “To thine own self be true.” In the face of a world that may fear, that may not understand, The Incredibles gladly tells viewers that they should be willing to be themselves.
Leigh-Ann Waddell Professor Charles Media 1 6 March 2019
1. Take care of your personal belongings. Perhaps if Frozone had known where his super suit was, he could have got down to saving the world super sooner. 2. Never underestimate someone. Just because it’s not obvious what someone’s superpower is, doesn’t mean they’re not capable of greatness. Everyone thought Jack-Jack was helpless until he demonstrated not one, but three superpowers! 3. Don’t look back. It distracts from the now. It’s easy to fixate on what you think you’ve done wrong in the past. What really matters is what you’re going to do in the present
4. Take risks. It would have been easy to stay at a stable, albeit boring job, but instead Mr. Incredible quit to follow his true passion of crime-fighting. Two Omnidroids and one disgruntled ex-fan later, he found value both in his family and in himself.
5. The smallest act can have the biggest impact. For Mr. Incredible, picking up a car is just a way to release anger. For the kid on the tricycle, it’s “totally wicked!”
6. Don’t be afraid to be yourself Sometimes we all wish we could be invisible, but it’s when you truly believe in your abilities that you maximize your potential.
7. Having a weakness doesn’t mean you’re weak. Although Syndrome called Mr. Incredible “weak” for not being able to crush Mirage, his compassion is what actually makes him so super. 8. You can always count on family When Mr. Incredible couldn’t save himself from being trapped by Syndrome, his family was able to save him. Each person is a “super” on their own, but together they’re even stronger.
Is Disney-Pixar making Incredibles 3? by Taylor Sturm, 3 weeks ago
Wondering if Disney-Pixar will make an Incredibles 3? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. It was 14 years between the Incredibles and the Incredibles 2, but fans are already hungry for more. That is far too long to wait for a sequel, even though it is understandable it took a while for both the animation and the deals to get done for Incredibles 2 to become a reality. But will there be an Incredibles 3 from Disney-Pixar? The short answer is yes. The director, Brad Bird, stated that he definitely sees it happening in the future. In this same interview, he mentions that he has ideas for the third movie which is a good sign for the future of the Incredibles. Even better, Incredibles 2 absolutely crushed box office records en route to being one of the highest grossing animated movies of all time. Any film that does this well in terms of profit is likely to get a sequel, and that is a positive for Incredibles 3 moving forward. The bad news is that, after taking 14 years to do the second film, then it might take an extended time to get the third film finished and into theaters. I doubt that happens. 14 years is an extremely long time to wait for any type of sequel — even if the wait was worth it. The good news is that, while you wait for the next film, you can watch the second Incredibles on Netflix right now. yes, Incredibles 2 is available on Netflix, despite Disney removing many of its films from the streaming giants heading into this year as they try out their own streaming service. Check it out by following this link to watch Incredibles 2 on Netflix. Make sure to check back with Netflix Life as we bring you any and all updates surrounding your favorite shows and movies like the Incredibles!
Review: Age 7+ Top-notch, action-packed fun for the entire family. •
PG
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2004
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105 minutes
Parents say
age 8+ Based on 92 reviews
Kids say
age 7+ Based on 182 reviews Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
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Character Strengths
A LOT OR A LITTLE? The parents' guide to what's in this movie. Educational Value Positive Messages Positive Role Models & Representations Violence & Scariness Sexy Stuff Language Consumerism Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW Parents need to know that The Incredibles is an animated superhero adventure that's considered one of Pixar's all-time best for portraying mature themes about families in a way that both kids and adults can enjoy. You can expect quite a bit more violence than in many kid-targeted animated movies. There are all sorts of weapons, explosions, deaths, wide-spread destruction, and more. A man tries to kill himself by jumping off a building. Mr. Incredible saves him, but then is taken to court, where they talk about how the man should be allowed to carry out his plan. A few characters are shown with drinks in hand, and one character smokes a long-stemmed cigarette. Despite the intensity of
the Bond-level violence, there are plenty of positive themes about family, courage, and identity to make this a must-see for families. Continue reading
USER REVIEWS •
PARENTS SAY • KIDS SAY
Parent of a 1, 3, and 6 year oldWritten byPaulaDonaldJune 1, 2009 age 5+ Left the theater DH left the theater with our 5 year old after the opening sequence: a burning building with lots of screaming. Report this review
Parent of a 6 year oldWritten byNurturingMom247September 30, 2009 age 8+ For kids age 8+ to see WITH their parents IF a 5+ age child sees this they will see the violence, question (silently or aloud) the passionate kissing and butt pinching. When did saying 'totally wic... Continue reading Report this review
See all 92 parent reviews.
Teen, 13 years oldWritten bySweetheartCassieOctober 4, 2009 age 8+ As, dare I say, incredible, this movie is, many things little ones shouldn't watch are snuck in. 1) A man attempts suicide and sues the person who stops hi... Continue reading Report this review
Teen, 13 years oldWritten byrobinrunnerMarch 23, 2011 age 6+ A fun-to-watch combinaton of a super hero movie combined with a warm familyoriented pixar flick. I remember seeing this movie a long time ago. I was never so impressed at what I saw before in my life. Parents don't need to worry that much. Violence is... Continue reading Report this review
WHAT'S THE STORY? In THE INCREDIBLES, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), a superheroine whose limbs and torso can stretch the length of an Olympic swimming pool, pauses for just a second on the way to saving the world to check out her rear end in the form-fitting super-suit. Seems that after three kids, there's a bit of stretching there that doesn't have anything to do
with superpowers. Her super-strong husband, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), finds that if he isn't careful throwing evil robots around, he can throw his back out, too. Everyday life is challenging enough for these superhero parents, especially with a young baby, a super-speedy son, and a middle-school daughter who can create force fields and make herself invisible. Cleverly these super-powers resemble some familiar family roles -- powerful dad, stretched-thin mom, hyperactive jock son, shy and awkward daughter -- and add resonance to this story of family who sticks together, no matter what. Continue reading
IS IT ANY GOOD? What is most incredible and most engaging about this film is how, well, credible it is. Writer-director Brad Bird and the brainiacs at Pixar have climbed the Mount Everest of animation and created human characters as vivid and believable and utterly endearing as any who have ever appeared on film -- animation, live-action, and everything in between. In a witty prologue, we see the superheroes being interviewed. As Mr. Incredible leans toward the TV camera, he gets slightly out of focus. It must have been tempting to take advantage of the endless precision of computer images to keep the edges sharp. But this is a movie that is clever and confident enough to permit a little imperfection in pursuit of perfect believability. The action sequences in The Incredibles are superbly staged, inventive, and exciting, especially the fights with a many-tentacled robot, and when the Incredible family is joined by the very, um, cool Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), who can create ice out of the water molecules in the air. It's also a very funny movie, hilarious at every level, from school-age snickers to good-natured teen snarkiness to subtle grown-up laughter. Bird himself plays the funniest character in the film, the supersuit designer Edna Mode. Most of all, though, the movie has wisdom and tons of heart. It's a smart, fresh, and funny movie about the real superheroes: families who stick together. Continue reading
TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT ... •
Families can talk about what superpowers they would most like to have and why. What would your uniform look like? Why did Violet begin to wear her hair back after she used her superpowers, and what made Syndrome so angry?
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Talk about the violence in The Incredibles. Did it bother you? Did you notice yourself feeling more aggressive after watching? Would the movie have been as effective without the violence?
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How do the characters in The Incredibles demonstrate communication and perseverance? What about courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Continue reading
MOVIE DETAILS • • • • • • • • • • • •
In theaters: November 5, 2004 On DVD or streaming: March 15, 2005 Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson Director: Brad Bird Studio: Pixar Animation Studios Genre: Family and Kids Topics: Superheroes, Adventures, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models Character Strengths: Communication, Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork Run time: 105 minutes MPAA rating: PG MPAA explanation: action violence Awards/Honors: Common Sense Media Award Continue reading
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OUR EDITORS RECOMMEND Toy Story (1995) Pixar classic is one of the best kids' movies of all time. age 5+ Finding Nemo Sweet father-son tale has some very scary moments. age 5+ Over the Hedge Cute animated tale with some mild scares, cartoon violence. age 5+ PreviousNext
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