One of the many ways that Inside Out differentiates out from the rest of the Pixar lineup is the focus it places on female characters. Joy and Sadness, the two major characters, are both female. Riley, the 12-year-old boy whose head the entire movie is set in, is as well. That’s a refreshing change of pace for Pixar, which didn’t have a female lead character until its 13th movie, Brave, in 2012.
However, that doesn’t negate the fact that Pixar had fantastic female characters before that. The Pixar canon has always had smart women and interesting girls, despite the fact that they are frequently cast in secondary parts. Here’s a look back at some of the studio’s most famous female characters to commemorate the release of the new girl-driven movie.
15. Kevin (Up)
It’s understandable why everyone wants a piece of her once Kevin unintentionally starts the second half of Upin. Kevin might be the most attractive character ever made by Pixar with to her vibrant and brilliant feathers. She’s undoubtedly one of the cutest with her naughty and fun demeanour. Not to mention that she is a wonderful mother who does everything for her daughters.
Dot from A Bug’s Life
A Bug’s Life may not be one of Pixar’s better acclaimed movies, but this tiny sister of royalty nonetheless leaves her imprint. Dot is a tenacious little ant who never gives up trying to fly with her teeny small wings and isn’t scared to tumble with the boys. She is strong-willed, charming, and it’s tough not to giggle when she confronts the ominous grasshopper on a leash and slaps him until he flees.
13. Boo (Monsters Inc.) (Monsters Inc.)
In comparison to other toddlers, Boo is pretty darn fearless. Boo alternatively terrifies and charms other youngsters her age who are cowering in dread of monsters. Randall is the only monster who truly terrifies her, and when he threatens her cherished “Kitty,” she eventually manages to beat him senseless with a baseball bat to give him what he deserves. Even though we never get to see what happens to Boo as she gets older, we’d wager that this brave person has an interesting life.
Dean Hardscrabble 12. (Monsters University)
Why are the Scarers afraid? It is easy to understand why Dean Hardscrabble is known as Dean by the Monsters University students. This legendary Scarer in her own right leads the programme with a firm hand and is a graceful, almost regal presence. She won’t put up with subpar performance or unruly behaviour, but she’s fair enough to grant second chances when they’re merited. She informs the stunned children in her opening statement that “scariness is the genuine measure of a monster.” She is one of the greatest monsters in the entire world, according to her own logic.
11. EVE (WALL-E) (WALL-E)
EVE takes some time to get comfortable. When she first meets WALL-E, she actually behaves in a hostile manner. She eventually reveals herself to be a curious and amiable robot, nevertheless. And with a little help from WALL-E, she learns she can even be kind and brave. Finally, when WALL-E loses his personality, she is able to repay the favour by restoring him to his original state. Who would have expected that one of Pixar’s most enchanting stories would contain two robots at its core?
Merida 10. (Brave)
Merida carried a lot of weight simply by virtue of being Pixar’s first female protagonist. Thankfully for Pixar and young girls everywhere, this brave princess proved up to the challenge. Merida was adamant about following her own rules and rejected tradition for its own sake. But she also demonstrated that she was nice and knowledgeable enough to know when to put aside her own interests. Additionally, she could be one of the few celebrities in all of pop culture that could compete favourably in an archery match with Katniss and Hawkeye.
Colette Tatou 9. (Ratatouille)
Colette is the ideal woman in a world dominated by men, and she is well aware of this. Haute cuisine, she says, “is an archaic hierarchy founded upon rules established by foolish old men, laws designed to prevent women from entering this realm.” She tells Linguini that despite this, she was able to land a prominent position at Gusteau’s because she is “the toughest cook in the kitchen.” That is, tough but not ruthless. Colette is an assertive woman who doesn’t back down from a challenge, much to Remy and Linguini’s respect. She also believes that “everyone can cook,” and she is a devoted friend.
8. Joy (Inside Out) (Inside Out)
Riley is dealing with five different emotions, but Joy is the one who truly controls things. She is a natural leader and the kind of woman you want by your side in a crisis because of her Leslie Knope-like skills and can-do attitude. As Sadness discovers during their joint trips, that’s true even if you’re not best friends. Joy wants to see the best in everyone and create a happier world, and simply by being her sweet, intelligent, and understanding self, she succeeds.
7. Roz (Monsters Inc.) (Monsters Inc.)
Do not be deceived by her modest appearance. One tough cookie, Roz. She won’t be persuaded by flattery, won’t apologise for closing the office on time, and won’t put up with fools who can’t submit their goddamn paperwork on time. In retrospect, it may not have come as a complete surprise when she was identified as the senior undercover operative for the CDA. For a position like that, you need someone who is “always observing.”
Edna Mode 6. From “The Incredibles”
In the world-saving business, superpowers, bravery, and a pure heart all have their place, but any superhero worth the moniker knows that an iconic appearance completes the package. Herein lies Edna Mode’s role. She has a remarkable aptitude for creating chic superhero costumes and a no-nonsense disposition that would make Anna Wintour shudder in her Chanel boots. And to top it all off, “NO CAPES!” turns out to be the best advice in the film, making her possibly the smartest character in the entire Incredibles universe.
Ellie Fredricksen, no. 5 (Up)
When Carl first sees Ellie, it’s love at first sight for him, and it is for us as well. She has unbridled energy and unkempt hair, and when she takes young Carl on a pretend expedition, her imagination proves contagious. Even when she passes away, Ellie’s adventurous spirit permeates the film because she still has the same love for life as she ages alongside Carl. She keeps repeating, “Adventure is out there!,” and Carl and Russell take this to heart as they embark on their trek through South America.
Jessie 4. (Toy Story 2&Toy Story 3)
Whether you’re a little girl or a sentient toy, Jessie is the ideal cowgirl partner. She doesn’t hesitate to express her opinions or pursue her goals (including a certain dashing spaceman). But she is more than just a tough frontierswoman. Her happy exterior belies a difficult history, and Pixar deserves praise for not avoiding her emotional scars. Jessie is difficult in addition to being a badass.
3. Tragedy (Inside Out)
When compared to the bubbly Joy, sadness initially appears to be a soggy blanket. But as the movie progresses, it becomes clear that her actual talent is empathy. Bing Bong can be comforted by Sadness, while Riley can interact with people thanks to Sadness. Although we don’t normally think of sadness as a positive emotion, at the end of Inside Out, she has come to terms with herself and has demonstrated to us how we too can do the same.
2. Dory (Finding Nemo) (Finding Nemo)
The fact that one of Pixar’s most recognisable characters is also one of its most forgetful is a little ironic. Although Dory may have memory issues on the level of Memento, she never seems to lose her friendliness, optimism, loyalty, or whale language skills. She may be a little naive, but she has a heroic heart. Her outlook on life strikes the ideal balance between motivational inspiration and practicality: “You know what to do when life gets you down, right? Don’t stop swimming; just keep swimming…”
1. Elastigirl / Helen Parr (The Incredibles)
Helen Parr appears to be your normal suburban housewife. However, we obviously know better. Elastigirl proves to be as wonderful as she ever was: tough, daring, and even a little seductive, even though it takes some persuasion to convince Helen to return to her superheroine beginnings. (Her flirting is top notch.) Although Helen, a.k.a. Elastigirl, keeps the family together, Bob may be the family’s breadwinner. Occasionally in a literal sense, as when she uses herself as a parachute to save her children.
