Pixar doesn’t just create movies that make us laugh, cry and secretly wonder if our stuffed animals come to life when we leave the house, though. They have created a franchise full of stories and characters that actually managed to teach us a few things about life, even if we didn’t realize it at the time. Here are some examples.
1. Toy Story
Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase isn’t just for toys. Trapped by the evil neighbor kid and discovering he can’t fly didn’t keep him down for long, and we can soar through life with the same attitude. We can’t be the best at everything, but we can be pretty good at some things, maybe even many of them. We just have to believe we can succeed, and find a way to make it happen. With perseverance and faith, the possibilities are infinite.
2. A Bug’s Life
Flik’s lesson to Dot about being small and unable to fly is about a lot more than physical flight. Like Dot, we all have those moments where we don’t feel big or experienced enough to do what we feel we’re ready to do. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, though, doesn’t mean it never will. Every still moment is just life’s way of letting us know it’s time to slow down and grow.
3. Monsters, Inc.
Mike and Sully have been through a lot together since they met at MU. Like all good friends and roommates, they have their differences, which often result in arguments. When the going gets tough, though, they always stick together. In the end, no matter how much they get on our nerves, our friends are the most important thing of all. Our true friends will always be there when we need them most. We don’t have to wander through life’s obstacles alone.
4. Finding Nemo
Our favorite blue fish is known not only for her forgetfulness, but also for her optimism. No matter the dangers Dory and Marlin face on their quest to find Nemo, she is without fail the voice of positivity. She never stops swimming, and neither should we. We’ll come face-to-face with sharks and get stung by jellyfish. Eventually, we’ll get to where we need to go. When life gets you down, just keep swimming.
5. The Incredibles
Edna’s not just your average supersuit designer. There’s a lot of wisdom packed into such a small person, but we probably missed it the first few times around since she talks a thousand miles a minute. The best thing about Edna is that she’s not one to glance over her shoulder. Once it’s behind her, there’s no looking back. Look at all she’s managed to accomplish with that clever philosophy. What happened yesterday is over. The present is our key to owning our futures.
6. Up
Ellie taught Carl the lesson of a lifetime when they were only kids: if you can’t find adventure where you are, it’s out there somewhere waiting for you to discover it. When we feel like we’re stuck in the same old place living the same uneventful life, it might be time to make a change. Maybe floating away to South America is a little much for our current financial situation, but never say never. Adventure is never far away. We only need to let our imaginations be our guide.
7. Brave
Merida is good at a lot of things, including archery. She’s not so good at getting what she wants, though, until she realizes her fate was right there in front of her the whole time. Sometimes where we want to go and where we end up don’t seem to line up, but they will. We just have to be brave and face what’s ahead. When we take a deep breath and take aim, everything will turn out the way it was always supposed to be.
8. Inside Out
Fear holds us back from doing a lot of things, but it also serves as a reminder that avoiding the absolute worst case scenario is actually a good thing. Sometimes we’re in a tough place and have to learn to take life’s challenges one day at a time. No matter what happened today, the most important thing is that we survived it, and we’ll make it through tomorrow, too. We’ve only covered a handful of the Pixar classics that can learn and inspire us. Now that you’ve made it to the end of the article, you’re free to go make some popcorn and indulge in a much-needed Pixar movie marathon. Enjoy! Featured photo credit: Lucius Kwok via flickr.com
