The Incredibles

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Craig T Nelson signs autographs

Brad bird cropped 2009

The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Elizabeth Peña. The film follows a family of superheroes who are forced to hide their powers and live a quiet suburban life but are drawn into action to save the world.

Plot

The film opens with interviews of the superheroes Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr), Elastigirl (Helen Parr), and Frozone (Lucius Best), discussing the pros and cons of their abilities. However, due to a series of lawsuits filed against superheroes for the collateral damage caused by their crime-fighting activities, the government initiates the Superhero Relocation Program, which forces them into civilian anonymity.

Years later, Bob and Helen, now married and known as the Parrs, live a normal life in the suburbs with their three children: Violet, who can become invisible and generate force fields; Dash, who possesses super speed; and Jack-Jack, whose powers are unknown. Bob, dissatisfied with civilian life, secretly moonlights as a superhero, longing for the glory days.

Bob's desire for action leads him into a trap set by the villain Syndrome, who plans to unleash a robot, the Omnidroid, on the city to prove himself as a hero and later sell his inventions so that everyone can become super, making the concept of superheroes obsolete. With the help of his family and Frozone, Mr. Incredible fights to stop Syndrome's plan and save the city.

Themes

The Incredibles explores themes of family, identity, and the role of the individual in society. The film also comments on the litigation culture of the United States and the notion that mediocrity is often celebrated at the expense of individual excellence.

Production

The film was written and directed by Brad Bird, who was inspired by his own experiences with balancing work and family life. The Incredibles was Pixar's sixth feature film and marked a departure from the studio's previous work, as it targeted a slightly older audience and featured human characters as the protagonists. The animation team faced challenges in creating realistic human anatomy, designing detailed environments, and simulating realistic cloth.

Reception

Upon its release, The Incredibles received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its writing, animation, and voice acting. It won two Academy Awards: Best Animated Feature and Best Sound Editing. The film also performed well commercially, grossing over $631 million worldwide.

Legacy

The Incredibles has been recognized as one of the best animated films ever made and has influenced the superhero genre in animation and film. It spawned a sequel, Incredibles 2, which was released in 2018, further exploring the family dynamics and societal roles of superheroes.