In 2004, Brad Bird and Pixar hit very hard by releasing The Incredibles. A superheroic team in an animated universe. 14 years later a sequel finally sees the light of day and it's still superb. On the occasion of the release of this new opus, back on the first episode.
Brad Bird plays with superhero movie clichés
Every Pixar is a new event. But this time it is particularly. After 14 years of waiting and complaints, The Incredibles 2 is finally released in theaters. Almost expected as Infinity War, this sequel has made more than one dream. Why so much enthusiasm? Because the first opus was ultra innovative. Brad Bird has fun with the clichés of superhero movies that he uses as comic springs in this rereading of the myth. He takes up all the themes, all the codes, to place them in a universe that does not correspond to them. We have of course Mr. Indestructible, archetype of the strong and protective male representation, with a hint of Homer Simpson. There are the complicated and tormented teenagers, whose concerns are reminiscent of Peter Parker's problems when he was still in high school. There is the big villain, a former fan disappointed by the behavior of his idol, a way to demonstrate how youth can be influenced and controlled by screens and myths. There's even Edna, who serves as Q in James Bond. An extravagant and hilarious character who comes to caricature all the Alfred or Jarvis of the superheroic universe.
But it is also in the artistic choices that this intelligent parody is drawn. Heroes put on the shelf (like Watchmen or Civil War comics), a secret organization, a train that derails, sublime sets for a conclusion in the middle of the city and a superheroic music of Michael Giacchino, which has nothing to envy to the lazy musical themes of current superheroic productions. Even Jack-Jack is an element of all this, a free electron, an ultra powerful character who reminds us that these cinematic figures are sometimes totally disconnected from reality. Brad Bird also wanted to highlight the notion of family in his work by wanting to tell:
"The story of a family where each member learns to balance their personal life with their love for others. It's also a comedy about superheroes discovering their more ordinary human side. Over the course of writing, I wanted to create a world rich in popular culture, with spy gadgets, super-powers straight from a B.D., abominable villains who use extraordinary machines, but at the same time, I wanted to write a story that is really about family. I put a lot of myself into this story. Being a husband, a father, the fear of getting older, the importance of family… All of this is there."
Pixar: these animation geniuses
Pixar dominates the world of animation with ever more impactful films and bright staging ideas. The Incredibles is of an unprecedented fluidity. The Pixar teams have reached a technical milestone, the animated film being particularly complex logistically with nearly a hundred different sets created for the occasion. The film emphasizes the humanity of the characters, Brad Bird asked that the humans in computer graphics be as expressive as possible, with skin, hair and clothing that can be found natural mobility on screen. It is also the first film from Pixar Studios to feature human beings.
As is often the case, Pixar creates an exciting double reading. All this superheroic dance has a purpose. Brad Bird wants to show the evolution of our society. These superheroes represent a tired people. Mr. Indestructible is forced to work in a company, in a repetitive job. Elastigirl has to babysit her children. In short, The Incredibles highlights the life of ordinary mortals, a daily life synonymous with gloom. The powers represent joy, risk, childhood, dream. Feelings destroyed by an oppressive society. Mr. Indestructible is forced to exercise his power in the shadows, with an unknown organization, like a thief, as if his feelings were forbidden. The Incredibles is ultimately a reading of a well-framed society that locks its soldiers in a dull and repetitive daily life, rather than leaving them free of their joys and follies.
The Incredibles instantly became a cult work. A superhero movie like no other that allowed Pixar studios to expand their range.
