Pixar movies are known for making adults ugly cry. Even when the protagonists are clownfish, their struggles inspire huge amounts of audience empathy. The flip side of this is that Pixar movie endings usually result in fans cheering and bumping fists. That’s because knowing the depth of a character’s struggle makes “happily ever after” really mean something. Here are some of Pixar’s best fist-bumping moments, as well as the backstory that makes those triumphs so meaningful.
Carl’s House Lifts Off (Up)
Carl and Ellie’s backstory in Up could be a complete film in its own right. It covers an entire lifetime: friendship, love, fertility struggles, aging, and Ellie’s death. Carl’s grief after Ellie dies is almost physically palpable, and it’s easy to imagine his story ending tragically. This is why the scene where Carl’s house literally sprouts balloons and launches into the air is so triumphant. Carl is not only defying the evil construction company trying to shutter him away, he is also making a decision to keep living when the person he loved the most has died.
Boo Beats Up Randall (Monsters, Inc.)
For much of Monsters, Inc., Boo is adorable but helpless. She doesn’t choose to enter the monsters’ dimension, and she relies on Sulley to protect her. She is also terrified of monsters, which culminates in the scene where she runs away from Sulley.
Understanding Boo’s backstory makes the moment where she beats up Randall even more satisfying. Randall gets his comeuppance while turning all sorts of psychedelic colors, and Boo shows that she has overcome her fears.
“This isn’t flying. It’s falling with style.” (Toy Story)
The scene when Buzz Lightyear and Woody plummet together through the sky brilliantly resolves all of Toy Story’s central conflicts. First, this scene shows Woody and Buzz truly working together instead of competing for Andy’s affections. Second, Buzz’s now-famous quote demonstrates that he has fully accepted his identity as a toy.
For much of Toy Story, Buzz believes he is a real-life space hero (this makes for some pretty funny moments). When he initially realizes that he is a toy, Buzz slides into a deep depression. In many ways, this struggle illustrates what we all experience when we come up against our own limitations. Thus, Buzz’s response to Woody saying, “Buzz, you’re flying!” isn’t just hilarious. It demonstrates that even if we realize that we can’t fly, we can still make the choice to soar.
Nemo and Dory Lead the Tuna Fish to Rescue (Finding Nemo)
The scene in Finding Nemo where Nemo and Dory rescue the tuna never fails to make me hold my breath. This is a moment when Nemo proves he can be a hero; however, it is also a major triumph for Marlin.
Much of Finding Nemo is about Marlin’s journey as the parent of an increasingly independent child. Like other parents, Marlin is faced with the challenge of letting his baby go free into a dangerous world. This is doubly complicated for him because he has already lost his wife and other children. So, while the lives of Nemo, Dory, and the tunas are at stake, Marlin is risking everything he loves, and letting Nemo swim into that net is a huge act of courage.
The Incredibles Fight the Omnidroid (The Incredibles)
When the entire Incredibles family (sans Jack-Jack) fights the Omnidroid, it makes for an incredible action scene. It’s also the culmination of the Incredibles accepting both their identities and their need for each other as a family. One of the core conflicts in the film stems from the fact that “supers” are all supposed to be retired. When the Incredibles fight together, they get to proudly demonstrate their abilities to the entire world.
However, the film has perhaps an even more important conflict. During much of the film, Mr. Incredible feels like he needs to solve his problems alone. This leads him to keep secrets from his family and almost get himself killed. During the Omnidroid fight scene, every family member works together to defeat the bad guy. This not only allows the Incredibles to beat Syndrome, it allows them to conquer their relational demons as well.
