Over the last few decades, Pixar has created movies that have provided some of the most memorable characters in the film industry. Some characters have managed to get more screen time in their feature film like Buzz in the upcoming Lightyear film, while others became iconic throughout multiple films in the franchise.
While some characters stood out because of their personality, others stood out more due to how relatable they are. From working hard to fit into learning how to deal with unexpected changes, Pixar has been able to make characters that are very relatable for many fans.
Bob Parr – The Incredibles (2004)
The Parr family was one of the first family’s all on-screen together in the Pixar franchise. Each family member had their own unique set of powers, but they had to keep them hidden from the world. Besides the superpowers, the family went through life as most people do.
Bob Parr, also known as Mr. Incredible, maybe the most relatable. He was a big shot in his career field, then was cut down to a boring desk job where he struggled to find the joy in it. On top of having to work a desk job, he had to help raise three kids that not only were going through the usual things kids and pre-teens go through, but they also had superpowers. His growth from The Incredibles to The Incredibles 2 is immense and can be relatable to any person, or parent, that has had to switch careers and has had to raise a family.
Mike Wazowski – Monster’s Inc. (2001)
From the beginning of Monster’s Inc., it’s clear that Mike Wazowski has worked hard to earn his place on the scare floor. Although he may be little, his heart, his drive, and his passion for the job are huge, and this is only backed up by Monster’s University.
Mike is relatable to those who know what it’s like to have to work hard to achieve your dreams. For those whose dreams may have been derailed for a bit, but it helped guide them to where they wanted to be in the end. He not only works hard, but he tends to follow the rules to a tee. A rule-follower can be great, but sometimes it’s necessary to bend a few rules, which is something he learns in both movies.
Woody – Toy Story (1995)
As the unofficial leader of Andy’s toys, Woody has his work cut out for him. The other toys constantly look to him for guidance and support, which can be a lot of pressure.
Woody’s questionable leadership is one thing about the Toy Story franchise that doesn’t make sense. He seems used to this role, but one thing that can get to him is change. This is normal for most people as change can be hard. Luckily, he has a large group of friends that support him and are there to help with each transition, which can be a crucial part of getting through scary moments.
Mei Lee – Turning Red (2022)
Perhaps one of the most confident characters in the Pixar franchise is the young Mei Lee from Turning Red. The 13-year-old exuded confidence and was not afraid to express herself until she became the panda. This change scared her and made her doubt who she was, and her mother’s eagerness to contain the panda did not help.
Going through change can be hard but embracing one’s true self is important. While it takes some time, Mei can accept herself for who she is, a panda and all. It wasn’t necessarily easy and caused some strife among the family, but in the end, it allowed her to be happy which resulted in her family being happy too.
Joe Gardner – Soul (2020)
Pixar’s Soul resonated with many fans as it addressed the topic of pursuing one’s dreams instead of settling. Soul is one animated movie that deals with serious issues by telling the story of a middle school band teacher, Joe Gardner that had settled for that position instead of pursuing his passion – jazz music.
Not everyone gets to go on a journey through The Land Of The Dead to realize how they should live their life, but sometimes people do need a push. It’s fair to say that Joe got more than a push, but in the end, he realized he needs to live his life to the fullest instead of settling since he only gets one chance, and that’s something a lot of people realize at one point in their life.
Russel – Up (2009)
Some of the best human characters are in Pixar’s Up. Rusell who is a Junior Wilderness Explorer had gained many useful life skills. From how to navigate using a GPS to knowing which clouds meant a storm was coming, he was full of all sorts of knowledge.
Besides being incredibly resourceful and curious, as most kids his age are, he was also very nice. Russell is the epitome of an extroverted child. Open to helping anyone that may need it, stubborn, but in a good way, and extremely kind. He also had the tendency to keep a positive outlook on things even when things got bleak, which helped on the adventure to Paradise Falls.
Miguel – Coco (2017)
Besides being an animated musical with great character design, Coco tells the story of what it’s like to be raised in a family that bans something that is everywhere. Miguel has to keep his love for music a secret even though he seems to have a natural talent for it.
Harboring a piece of himself that he is so passionate about is hard, but he eventually convinces his family that it is a part of him he refuses to give up. Having something that one is passionate about is something that should be pursued, not given up because others think it’s silly, and Miguel shows the importance of that in Coco.
Alberto Scorfano – Luca (2021)
As time has gone on, Pixar has gotten much deeper with the underlying themes in some of their movies. In Luca, fans are introduced to Alberto who is a sea monster that was abandoned by his father. Alberto had to quickly learn to be on his own but was incredibly lonely, so when Lucas came into his life he was ecstatic to have a friend.
When they met Giulia, Alberto became jealous when Luca and she were becoming close because he didn’t want to lose his only friend. He was loyal to a fault but was just looking for a new family. Jealousy and loneliness are normal human feelings, so it was a relief to see Alberto being accepted as a sort of son by Giulia’s dad at the end of the film.
Flik – A Bug’s Life (1998)
Inventions aren’t always great the first time around, and that’s what prototypes are for. Being the only one to want to try new things in a group that is used to doing things in a very specific way can be challenging, but Flik continued to power through in A Bug’s Life.
Flik was not only an inventor, but he had a hard time conforming to the old ways since he saw that they caused strife in the colony. He only wanted to make the ant’s lives more enjoyable. It took a lot of convincing, and a battle between the ants and the grasshoppers, but his inventions ended up taking to the colony and ended up allowing them to live a better life. Putting in the hard work ended up being more than worth it.
Andy
Throughout the first three Toy Story movies, fans see Andy grow up and move on. Watching him play as much as he did with Woody and the rest of the toys showed just how important they were to him.
Most kids tend to have a favorite toy, or object, of some sort. When the day comes to part with that object, it can be incredibly hard. Some people choose to keep it to pass on to their children, while others donate it to a good home as Andy did with Bonnie. Regardless, the decision is never an easy one, and can often be an incredibly emotional moment.
