Tools of Characterization

Characterization in The Incredibles

Family Life

We can learn everything we need to know about Mr. Incredible's growth in The Incredibles by looking at his family life.

Initially, he's a cruddy father. Obsessed with past glories and dissatisfied with life as a mild-mannered insurance adjuster, Bob is so stuck up his own rear end that he's oblivious to the struggles his children endure being unable to embrace their own powers. He even refuses to attend one of Dash's school events for no real reason. That's not very super, Bob.

Bob's growth over the course of the film is directly reflected in his relationship with his family. He comes clean with wife Helen after months of bald-faced lies. He finally shows his kids the respect and attention they deserve. And, yeah, they all team up to take down a supervillain. In fact, we can see this team-up as the ultimate evidence of the Parr family's growth. Eat your heart out, Justice League.

Actions

What's the difference between a superhero and a supervillain? It's all about the actions they take.

For all their faults, the film's main heroes do the right thing when things get tough. Whether we're talking about Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, or the icy cool Frozone, the film's good guys show a willingness to put themselves in jeopardy to protect others, most notably in the movie-closing battle with the Omnidroid in New York City. They're not perfect, but they certainly don't balk in the face of pressure.

Syndrome is another story. Broken-hearts by perceived slights from his former superhero idols, Syndrome channels his prodigious intellect into inventing horrible weapons and getting back at the good guys who spurned him. What if he had taken a different path? What if he had applied his brains to good instead of evil? That choice, ultimately, is what separates heroes like Elastigirl from villains like Syndrome.

Physical Appearances

Physical appearances are everything for costumed superheroes. After all, how intimidating would Batman be in a hot pink suit?

In The Incredibles, we learn a lot about the Parr children based on how they look. Son Dash, for instance, is the spitting image of his dad Bob, with a bright mop of blonde hair rustled atop his head. This reflects the similarities between the two characters, with each struggling to figure out their place in a world where they are not allowed to use their powers.

In contrast, Violet's changing appearance throughout the film reflects the internal changes she goes through. When we first meet her, she has a long mess of dark hair, often covering a good 95% of her face. This reflects her lack of confidence and feelings of insecurity. After she becomes a legit superhero and gains that confidence in spades, however, she wears her hair tighter back, revealing her face to the world. And you can bet that hunky Tony notices, too. Meow.