Mr. Incredible and Pals

Last updated
Mr. Incredible and Pals
Mr incredible and pals.png
A scene from the film
Directed byRoger L. Gould
Written byRoger Gould
Brad Bird (commentary)
Produced byAnn Brilz
Starring Craig T. Nelson
Samuel L. Jackson
Pete Docter
Michael Asberry
Celia Schuman
Narrated by Roger L. Jackson
Edited bySteve Bloom
Music byAlex Mandel
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release date
Running time
4 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mr. Incredible and Pals (also known as The Adventures of Mr. Incredible) is a 2005 American animated short film produced by Pixar which was included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of its 2004 feature film The Incredibles . [1] It features the characters of Mr. Incredible and Frozone from the feature, plus a "cute animal" rabbit sidekick named Mr. Skipperdoo, chasing and capturing the supervillain Lady Lightbug.

Contents

Plot

The episode begins with Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and Mr. Skipperdoo looking over the site of the West River Bridge, which has been stolen, leaving cars stuck on both sides of the river. When Mr. Skipperdoo finds a rivet from the missing bridge, Mr. Incredible discovers it is radioactive and denounces the culprit to be the villainess Lady Lightbug (described by Mr. Incredible as "sinister, yet lovely"). Vowing to amend the situation, Frozone builds a temporary bridge of ice to keep the traffic going, and the three skate away to find their nemesis.

Arriving at an abandoned fairground, Mr. Incredible searches for Lady Lightbug by lifting up various buildings but cannot find her under any of them. Mr. Skipperdoo hops to point out that the missing bridge is above him. Suddenly, Lady Lightbug flies out and informs them all of her evil plan to steal the free world's bridges, creating massive traffic jams and thus destroying their economies. She then proceeds to shoot a line of radioactive silk out of her abdomen, ensnaring Frozone. Mr. Incredible throws a Ferris wheel at her, to which she dodges. He then hops in a roller coaster, which takes off flying toward Lady Lightbug. Mr. Incredible then knocks her out of the air, defeating her.

The missing bridge is restored and everything returns to normal thanks to Mr. Incredible, Frozone, and Mr. Skipperdoo; Mr. Incredible adds, "and democracy." Meanwhile, on top of the bridge, Lady Lightbug is trapped in a large jar and imprecates the heroes for her imprisonment. The end of the episode features a brief teaser of the next episode which features a gigantic anthropomorphic ear of corn yelling, “I’ll crush you, Mr. Incredible!” before laughing evilly as the two prepare to fight.

Commentary

In addition to the many in-jokes and animation references included in this film, Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson provided a DVD commentary for the fictional show, acting in character as Mr. Incredible and Frozone as if sitting down and watching the cartoon for the first time. The in-universe background behind Mr. Incredible and Pals stated that many years before the Supers were banned, Mr. Incredible and Frozone licensed their names and images to a television animation company, and this was the pilot episode for an animated television series that never aired due to the Super ban. The two supers are watching this pilot for the first time several years after it was produced.

The commentary of the two characters provides additional entertainment for the DVD's viewers, as they react with shock and disbelief to the poor quality of the film. While Mr. Incredible tries to remain optimistic for the show and makes excuses for its terrible quality, Frozone is aghast and disgusted at its campiness and supposed racism (the show's version of himself appears to be white, or "tan" as Mr Incredible claims). He is also annoyed by Mr. Skipperdoo (an opinion shared by Mr. Incredible) and Lady Lightbug. By the end of the short, Frozone is so annoyed that he walks out of the commentary at the end, demanding the episode never be aired.

Cast

Commentary

Background and production

The film is animated in the style of limited animation that intentionally parodies the low budget and low-quality television Saturday-morning cartoons that aired regularly during the 1950s and 1960s. During this time, television animation studios were contracted to turn out high quantities of product on low budgets, which resulted in many television cartoons that have been derided and mocked by television critics, film, and animation historians, and audiences in general. Mr. Incredible and Pals uses a number of the cost-saving techniques and tropes found in these shows, such as:

Mr. Incredible and Pals is the first of three short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios, which were animated in traditional 2D hand-drawn animation rather than computer animation. The second film, Your Friend the Rat, was produced in 2007, and included as part of the DVD release of Ratatouille. The third, Day & Night , produced in 2010, was theatrically released with Toy Story 3 . The latter two films feature a combination of hand-drawn and CGI animation.

References in other media

The novel Incredibles 2: A Real Stretch: An Elastigirl Prequel Story mentions the film several times, referring to it as Mr. Incredible and Friends. In the novel, the film is something Mr. Incredible and Frozone are initially excited for. But after getting to watch it, Frozone immediately lambasts it for how it portrays him and the fact that the film makes them fight alongside a bunny. Mr. Incredible then speaks to Rick Dicker, who agrees to shelve the film.

On a level of Lego The Incredibles , during a burning building Frozone creates an ice bridge to make the tenants come across, one of them then told him and Mr. Incredible that she once saw him on TV where he made the exact same bridge, but due to their vigilante disguises she couldn't recognize him and said he looked nothing like Frozone (referencing his "tan" appearance).

In a 2020 Pixar Animation Internship Reel, a couple of animators created clips to recreate Mr. Incredible and Frozone's commentary about the film while they are watching it within the new Parr household. The ones who animated the clips are Grace Villaroman, Jamie Ryan, Li Wen Toh, Mark Rivera, Sean Muriithi, Seora Hong and Trilina Mai.[ citation needed ]

On the live service Disney kart racer video game, Disney SpeedStorm, Mr. Skipperdoo and Lady Lightbug were added as non-playable crew members that boost players' stats in the December 2024 "Save the World" update themed after The Incredibles movies.

Related Research Articles

Modern animation in the United States from the late 1980s to 2004 is frequently referred to as the renaissance age of American animation. During this period, many large American entertainment companies reformed and reinvigorated their animation departments, following the dark age, and the United States had an influence on global and worldwide animation.

<i>The Incredibles</i> 2004 film by Brad Bird

The Incredibles is a 2004 American animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Elizabeth Peña. Set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1960s, the film follows Bob and Helen Parr, a couple of superheroes, known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, respectively, who hide their powers in accordance with a government mandate, and attempt to live a quiet suburban life with their three children. However, Bob's desire to help people draws the entire family into a confrontation with a vengeful fan-turned-foe.

<i>The Itchy & Scratchy Show</i> Fictional animated series on The Simpsons

The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a fictional animated series featured on The Simpsons. The cartoon depicts a sadistic mouse named Itchy who repeatedly maims or murders a black cat named Scratchy. It is typically presented as 15- to 60-second sketches that are a part of The Krusty the Clown Show. Itchy & Scratchy is filled with graphic violence, unsuitable for children, that almost invariably prompts laughter from The Simpsons characters, especially Bart and Lisa.

<i>La Linea</i> (TV series) Italian cartoon (1971-86)

La Linea is an Italian animated series created by the Italian cartoonist Osvaldo Cavandoli. The series consists of 90 episodes, which were originally broadcast on the Italian channel RAI between 1971 and 1986. The background tune for the series was created by Franco Godi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Bird</span> American filmmaker (born 1957)

Philip Bradley Bird is an American filmmaker, animator, and voice actor. He has had a career spanning over four decades in both animation and live-action.

<i>Clerks: The Animated Series</i> American animated sitcom

Clerks is an American adult animated sitcom created by Kevin Smith for ABC. Based on Smith's 1994 comedy film of the same name, it was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver, known for character designs in Disney Channel's Kim Possible and Nickelodeon's Danny Phantom. It is the first television show to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse. It is Disney’s second adult animated television series after The PJs.

William Everett "Bud" Luckey was an American artist, cartoonist, illustrator, musician, singer and voice actor. He worked at the animation studio Pixar, where he worked as a character designer on a number of films, including Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars and Ratatouille. Luckey was also the voice of Rick Dicker in The Incredibles, Chuckles the Clown in Toy Story 3 and as Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh (2011).

<i>Earthworm Jim</i> (TV series) American animated television series

Earthworm Jim is an American animated television series based on the video game series of the same name that aired on The WB 's Kids' WB block for two seasons from September 9, 1995, to December 13, 1996. A co-production between Universal Cartoon Studios and Flextech Plc and based on the video game series of the same name from Playmates and Shiny Entertainment with characters created by Doug TenNapel, the series follows the adventures of the titular character who battles the forces of evil through using a robotic suit.

<i>Class of 3000</i> 2006-2008 American animated musical television series for children

Class of 3000 is an American animated children's musical television series created by André 3000 and Thomas W. Lynch for Cartoon Network. Produced by Tom Lynch Company and Moxie Turtle for Cartoon Network Studios, the series follows superstar and music teacher Sunny Bridges, who teaches a group of students at Atlanta, Georgia's Westley School of Performing Arts. Bridges is a jazz and blues artist who occasionally lectures in Atlanta's Little Five Points residential area. Twenty-eight episodes were produced. The show debuted shortly after the hip-hop duo's breakup.

<i>El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera</i> Mexican American animated television series

El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera is an American animated television series created by Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua that premiered on Nickelodeon on February 19, 2007. The series centers on a 13-year-old boy named Manny Rivera who is trying his best to choose between being good or evil while dealing with bizarre enemies, aiming to gain his belt's buckle to become a tiger-themed superhero known as "El Tigre". There are two paths Manny must choose between in the show, either to become the son of a legendary hero known as "White Pantera" and the grandson of an evil super villain known as "Puma Loco". The show is set in Miracle City, a fictional city based on and located at Tijuana, where Jorge grew up. The series was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and was animated using Adobe Flash. A total of 26 episodes were produced before it was cancelled.

Ralph Eggleston was an American animator, art director, storyboard artist, and production designer at Pixar Animation Studios. He won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for For the Birds.

<i>WordGirl</i> American animated superhero childrens television series

WordGirl is an American animated superhero children's television series produced by the Soup2Nuts animation unit of Scholastic Entertainment for PBS Kids. The series began as a series of shorts entitled The Amazing Colossal Adventures of WordGirl that premiered on PBS Kids Go! on November 10, 2006, usually shown at the end of Maya & Miguel; the segment was then spun off into a new thirty-minute episodic series that premiered on September 3, 2007 to August 7, 2015 on most PBS member stations. The series of shorts consisted of thirty episodes, with 128 episodes in the full half-hour series and a film. WordGirl creator Dorothea Gillim felt that most children's animation "underestimated [children's] sense of humor" and hoped to create a more intellectual show for young audiences.

<i>The Freedom Force</i> (TV series) 1978 TV series or program

The Freedom Force is a 1978 animated television series produced by Filmation and aired on CBS as a segment of Tarzan and the Super 7. It showcased a superhero team gathered from around the world by the heroine Isis to help fight evil. While the heroine had previously appeared in the live-action television series The Secrets of Isis, actress Joanna Cameron did not reprise her role for the animated series.

Osnat Shurer is an Israel-born film producer, best known for the Walt Disney Animation Studios films Moana (2016) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Shurer first joined Disney in 2012, working with filmmakers to move features and shorts through the creative process.

<i>Fanboy & Chum Chum</i> American animated television series

Fanboy & Chum Chum is an American animated comedy television series created by Eric Robles for Nickelodeon. It is based on Fanboy, an animated short created by Robles for Nickelodeon Animation Studio and Frederator Studios, that was broadcast on Random! Cartoons. The series was first broadcast on October 12, 2009, on Nickelodeon as a preview, then officially premiered on November 6, 2009, after SpongeBob's Truth or Square. In the show, two slow-witted would-be superheroes attempt to rid their town of Galaxy Hills of evil, while annoying everyone around them.

<i>Incredibles 2</i> 2018 film by Brad Bird

Incredibles 2 is a 2018 American animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it is the sequel to The Incredibles (2004) and the second full-length installment of the franchise. The story follows the Incredibles as they try to restore the public's trust in superheroes while balancing family life. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles from the first film. Newcomers to the cast include Huckleberry Milner, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener, and Jonathan Banks. Michael Giacchino returned to compose the score.

<i>The Incredibles</i> (franchise) American media franchise

The Incredibles is an American media franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios. Brad Bird wrote and directed both films, and Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, and Samuel L. Jackson are part of the franchise's main cast. The first film, The Incredibles, was released on November 5, 2004 and received acclaim from critics, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The second film, Incredibles 2, was released on June 15, 2018, received mostly positive reviews and set the record for best opening weekend for an animated film with $183 million. The series has grossed a combined $1.8 billion worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Incredible</span> Fictional character from The Incredibles franchise

Robert "Bob" Parr, also known as Mr. Incredible, is a fictional superhero who appears in Pixar's animated superhero film The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018). He is a superhero who possesses superhuman strength, durability, and stamina. He is married to Helen Parr, also known as Elastigirl, and has three children named Dash, Violet, and Jack-Jack. He is voiced by Craig T. Nelson in the films, while in Mr. Incredible and Pals and the video games, he is voiced by Pete Docter, Richard McGonagle and Jeff Bergman. He was created by writer/director, Brad Bird, and is partly based on Bird's father, with Bird stating, "He's a little bit like my dad, because my dad was a great guy, really funny and smart, and I love him dearly".

References

  1. Pixar Animation Studios (January 21, 2005). "Smash Box-Office Success Comes Home March 15!". PR Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.