The Philosophy of Pixar: The Incredibles

Last Sunday I watched the Incredibles with a close group of friends. While watching the movie I noticed that many of the themes dealt heavily with individualism. In the movie, the villain, Syndrome, tells the Par family that "If everyone's super, then no one will be". Which brings into question a modern tradition of celebrating mediocrity. When Dash moves from the 4th to the 5th grade, Mr. Incredible is upset at the thought of going to the "graduation" because he does not view it as an accomplishment worth meriting. Mr. Incredible is fixated on the idea that he should not be punished for rising above the mediocre. However, his society has become afraid of what is different from the masses. Thus, forcing him to downplay his abilities so that he can conform in society. At the end of the movie, Dash is racing in a track meet, and the family comically tells him to hold himself back and come in second place, so that he will fit in with the other kids. 

Mr. Incredible constantly looks back on his exploits as a superhero as the glory days. In fact, in one of the scenes, a newspaper is brazenly called "The Glory Days". After the masses decide that they no longer need or want the help of the supers, he is thrown into an existential crisis. He is no longer being celebrated for his uniqueness but is being punished by having to go into hiding. He changes his family's last name to Par, which could be seen as a play on the phrase "on par" which means to make equal to. This is his family's plummet into mediocrity. 

Ann Rand's philosophy on individualism fits in perfectly with the Incredibles. Her novel, Atlas Shrugged, holds similar themes to the Incredibles. It shows the fall of the elite (Superheroes), forcing them to integrate into society and the consequences of holding truly gifted people back. The Incredibles is a warning against conformity and the consequences of fearing those who excel.