The Pixar Principle: Part 3

Movies will always be about adventure, about self-discovery, about mystery, about the “human condition.”  The Pixar Principle represents how “Hollywood” can have a profound impact on family relationships and values, and even tho animated, appeal broadly to kids and adults alike.  In this final blog post on The Pixar Principle, we look at even more lessons we’ve learned from Pixar movies….

At its heart Wall-E is about a lonely robot who finds a mate.

In The Incredibles, a father longs for adventure and respect, and in the process neglects his wife and children. Only when he thinks he has lost them does he realize his folly.  ”I’ve been a lousy father–blind to what I have, so obsessed with being undervalued that I undervalued all of you,” he admits to his family after discovering they are alive. “You are my greatest adventure. And I almost missed it.”

Last year’s Pixar film, Up, was probably its strongest statement yet on the value of relationships. It begins with an extended and emotional sequence about a married couple going through life together. In one sense it is depressing: Carl and Ellie long for adventure, and then for children, but their hopes and dreams are crushed by infertility, by financial challenges, and finally by Ellie’s death. Yet at the same time it celebrates marriage: Their love for each other brings deep joy to their lives.

As the story progresses, Carl clings to memories of Ellie by clinging to their house, even as the neighborhood gives way to modern high-rise buildings. He finally leaves on the trip to South America that he and Ellie dreamed about, only to discover a stowaway in a young boy named Russell. And by the end of the film Carl realizes that real adventure is found in his relationships. As his final note from Ellie says, “Thanks for the adventure–now go have a new one!”

You can tell that the filmmakers at Pixar have families of their own, because their experience is reflected in their stories.  In the final post on The Pixar Principle, we’ll look at a few more Pixar movies and how they bring home the point of family and relationships as the greatest adventure of our lives.

Finally, Leave your comments about how your family has been the greatest adventure in your life.

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Special thanks to FamilyLife for the original blog posts on this subject.