If you were born after 1990, chances are you have grown up on Pixar as much as any of us. From "Toy Story" to "Monsters Inc.," you have probably binged these films on VCR countless Friday nights as a kid. As such, the new generation has been shaped by Pixar, and these movies have instilled these three lessons.
1. Always keep an open mind and positive attitude
From Dory in "Finding Nemo" to Sully in "Monsters Inc.", every Pixar movie features, at least, one character that fully enjoys life and always brings up the spirits of others around them. Most epitomized by Joy in "Inside Out!", these upbeat characters always cheer up the mood in otherwise grim situations.
For instance, the aliens' cheery disposition in "Toy Story 3" eventually saved the day, the details of which we will not go into for spoilers’ sake. In "Monsters Inc," Mike eventually finds a sustainable source of energy in laughter rather than screams, which revitalizes Monstropolis' economy through spreading joy to all.
Dory's laughable amnesiac tendencies in "Finding Nemo" help to distract Marlin from his perilous quest across the sea to save his son and gives him the positive attitude to continue fighting the elements. Even WALL-E's innocent playfulness makes a post-apocalyptic Earth a joy-land of pleasure. The point is that regardless of circumstances, often the best way to move on is to take life as it comes and stay positive.
2. True friends come from unlikely places
Pixar knows its fair share of odd couples. From the original Pixar bros of Buzz and Woody, a cowboy has no business being best buds with an astronaut, yet through trials and tribulations, they soon become best buds and appreciate each other for their differences. Marlin and Dory are also completely random and are plucked together through unlikely circumstances, and at the end of the film, they are practically family.
Even "Up" pairs together a recluse old widow with a perky young Boy Scout, and through the adventure of a lifetime, the two become like father and son. This theme is shown throughout in most Pixar films and rings true for real life for sure. Often friends come from unlikely places. Who knows where the next best bud will come from!
3. Family is always there for you
The family is not necessarily who you are born with. It can be conditional or unconditional. I would certainly call Andy's toys a family. They mostly look out for each other and act selflessly, such as in "Toy Story 2" when all of the toys go on an adventure to retrieve abducted Woody, causing a multi-car pileup. Yet it is all for the love of the family.
"The Incredibles" are on the brink of domestic collapse, yet after being abducted to a remote island, they rediscover the essence of family and the love that binds them together as they fight aside each other for their lives.
Marlin, a clownfish, treks across an ocean and even comes to land to retrieve his son. When it comes down to it, we all have a family, whether it is our biological relatives, close-knit friends, or even pets. Humans are wired to feel compassion and role as a flock; as such it is very important that we keep ties of family close, as when we are there for them, they will be there for us when we need it.
