On this Women’s week we present to you the most powerful female animated characters that have been inspiring us through their thoughtfulness, quick wittedness, bravery and patience.
1. Helen Parr / Elastigirl (The Incredibles)
Helen Parr is your typical suburban housewife. While it takes some convincing to get Helen back to her superheroine roots, Elastigirl turns out to be as awesome as she ever was: fierce and fearless. Bob may be the breadwinner, but Helen a.k.a. Elastigirl holds the family together. Sometimes literally, as when she turns herself into a parachute to save her kids.
2. Dory (Finding Nemo)
Dory might have Memento-level memory problems, but she never seems to lose her friendliness, her optimism, her loyalty, or her ability to speak whale. Sure, she’s a bit oblivious, but she’s got the heart of a hero. Her life philosophy hits that Pixar sweet spot between inspirational and realistic: “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming…”
3. Sadness (Inside Out)
As the film goes on, however, it becomes apparent that her true gift is empathy. It’s Sadness who’s able to comfort Bing Bong, and Sadness who allows Riley to connect with others. Sadness isn’t what we typically think of as a positive emotion, but by the end of Inside Out she’s made her peace with herself — and shown us how we can come to peace with our own versions of Sadness as well.
4. Jessie (Toy Story 2 & Toy Story 3)
Lively, charming Jessie is the perfect cowgirl companion, whether you’re a little girl or a sentient toy. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind or go after what she wants (including a certain dashing spaceman). Beneath her sunny demeanor is a traumatic past, and to Pixar’s credit they don’t shy away from her lingering emotional scars.
5. Ellie Fredricksen (Up)
She’s all messy hair and boundless enthusiasm, and her creativity proves infectious when she sweeps young Carl away on a pretend adventure. Ellie retains that same lust for life as she grows old with Carl, and even after her death her intrepid spirit informs the movie.
7. Roz (Monsters Inc.)
Don’t be fooled by her unassuming appearance — Roz is one tough cookie. She’s not swayed by sweet talk, she makes no apologies about closing the office on time, and she refuses to suffer fools who can’t turn in their goddamn paperwork in a timely fashion. In retrospect, maybe it’s not such a surprise when she’s revealed as the CDA’s top undercover agent.
9. Colette Tatou (Ratatouille)
Colette is the quintessential woman in a man’s world, and she’s all too aware of that fact. As she explains, “haute cuisine is an antiquated hierarchy built upon rules set down by stupid old men, rules designed to make it impossible for women to enter this world.”
10. Merida (Brave)
Fortunately for Pixar, as well as for little girls everywhere, this gutsy princess was up to the task. Merida insisted on doing things her way, refusing to accept convention for its own sake. Yet she also proved wise and kind enough to know when to set aside her own self-interest.
Courtesy slashfilm.com
