Disney's Pixar has created 17 feature films, each of which teaches us a variety of life lessons. Everything from trust to friendship, love to forgiveness, and bravery to confidence is exemplified through these animated Pixar masterpieces. As kids, we loved these movies for their adorable characters and enthralling storylines. However, in looking back, we can see that these movies taught us what life is all about. Here are 17 lessons we learned from the 17 Pixar feature films.
1. Toy Story 1 : Stay true to what you believe.
Buzz stays true to his belief that he is a space commander sent to save the planet, the Pizza Planet aliens believe in the all-mighty power of the claw, and all the toys believe that they belong with Andy, no matter what. Believing in yourself – believing in others – makes you that much stronger.
2. A Bug’s Life : Creativity is a good thing.
Flik knows that, when it came down to it, the ant colony needed to stray from their typical methods in order to survive. Although he had to stand alone and fight for his ideas, Flik was unwavering in his determination to show his colony the light. It takes great courage to stand up for what you believe, but creativity and innovation is essential, and one must have the confidence to stand alone for the better.
3. Toy Story 2 : Go the extra mile for your friends.
When Woody is taken by the toy collector, they toys set out to save Woody before it is too late. This rescue mission takes them on the adventure of a lifetime, and it’s not easy. This determination to rescue Woody is a prime example of how important it is to do everything for your friends – no matter what it takes. Friends are special, they deserve that extra effort when they are in need of help.
4. Monsters Inc. : Laughter is stronger than fear.
Monsters can be scary – and so is life, sometimes. But the power of laughter is much greater than that of screams. Mike and Sully championed this effort to make the world a more enjoyable place, not a scarier one. It may have required taking risks, but they were successful in bringing an end to screams and replacing them with laughter.
5. Finding Nemo : Just keep swimming.
Sometimes fear prevents us from living life fully. When life is tough, we have to make the decisions whether to stop or keep moving. Dory reminds us that, when life gets you down, just keep swimming. Eventually, things will get better, you just have to keep swimming until they do.
6. The Incredibles : Your family will always be there.
Even when Mr. Incredible thought he could tackle something on his own, his family was there to help him along the way. Don’t be afraid to admit you need help, and know that your family will always be there, in the good times and the bad. Also, in the words of Edna Mode, “I never look back, darling, it distracts from the now.” Live in the moment, don’t dwell on the past.
7. Cars : The journey is more important than the destination.
Life isn’t all about racing to the finish line. Sometimes you need to slow down, look around, and take everything in. The faster you move, the more you miss. Life isn’t only about where you are going – it’s what happens to you along the way that matters. And don’t be afraid if there are a few speed bumps.
8. Ratatouille : Friends are found in the most unexpected ways.
Linguini never expected to become friends with the rat he was order to destroy. But, when Remy, the rat, realizes that Linguini needs to learn how to cook, and Linguini discovers that Remy is a great chef, the friendship is inevitable. It’s not always easy to accept things that are different or unexpected. However, sometimes the greatest things come from the unexpected.
9. Wall-E : Interaction is essential.
The people on the ship, while the earth is uninhabitable due to the plethora of garbage, do nothing but sit around all day, eating junk food and staring at screens. This is no way to live life. The lack of face-to-face interaction divides the population severely. Being active, putting away technology, and talking to one another is what life is about – living enraptured by screens is a waste of life.
10. UP : Know when to hold on… and when to let go.
Carl Fredrickson dreamt of taking his true love, Ellie, on the greatest adventure of all. But, when Ellie passes away before they have the chance, Carl tries to bring the house there – by tying balloons to his roof and flying away. However, the journey forces him to make tough choices about what to hold on to, and what to let go of. Holding on to those you love, and cherishing all the times you spent with them, is a beautiful thing. But sometimes you need to move on, thank that person for being such a significant part of your life, and live life in the moment. “Adventure is out there.”
11. Toy Story 3 : Surround yourself with the people you love most.
Even when it looked like the end was near for the toys, their bond of friendship was not broken. The toys linked arms knowing that, no matter what fate they faced, they wanted to face it together. This carried through to when Andy left for school, and gave his toys away. He knew that the memories of the times he spent playing with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang would live on forever in his heart. However, he knew that the love and attention Bonnie could give the toys now was greater than that of his capability. Love lasts forever – hold on to it until the end.
12. Cars 2 : Don’t be ashamed of your dents.
When someone was trying to repair Mater’s dents, he responded like this “I come by each one of 'em with my best friend Lightning McQueen. I don't fix these. I wanna remember these dents forever.” Mater teaches us that, while we all have scars, we should not be ashamed of them or try to cover them up. They are a part of us and we should be proud of them – because having dents means we survived.
13. Brave : Apologize profusely, forgive completely.
Merida accidentally turns her mother, and three brothers, into bears. In a struggle to change them back, Merida realizes how sorry she is for treating her mother so poorly. Apologies are powerful – use them often. Don’t be afraid to forgive those who have wronged you. Anger is unnecessary – do things out of love, not spite.
14. Monsters University : Be yourself – being different is good.
Oozma Kappa, the fraternity that Sully and Mike join, is a band of misfits. However, their individuality is what makes them special. Being different – being yourself – is a good thing. You are unique. Don’t hide your true self from others, your true friends will love you for who you are.
15. Inside Out : Sadness and Joy go hand-in-hand.
Emotions are tricky. While Joy wants Riley to be happy every second of every day, Sadness can’t help but impact Riley’s life, too. It is okay not to be happy all the time. To feel truly happy, we must also know what it feels like to feel truly sad. Emotions are complicated, and often come in pairs. Don’t be ashamed of sadness – no one is happy all the time. But, work to see the joy in the sadness – because it is this optimism that makes the tough times a little more survivable.
16. The Good Dinosaur : Life isn’t life without a little bravery.
Arlo has a lot of fears. However, when his dad is swept away by the river and he is forced to find his way home alone, Arlo must overcome these fears – with a little help from his new friend. It is important to step out of your comfort zone and be brave. Life is scary, especially when you’re away from the safety of normalcy. However, with a little bravery, you might find that life isn’t that scary at all, and you can do so much more than you ever imagined possible.
17. Finding Dory : Have a little trust.
Dory wants to find her parents. To do this, however, Dory braves the confines of the Marine Life Institute. She, Marlin, and Nemo are each forced to put their trust in someone or something – even when it seems crazy. But, without this trust, they would not have been successful. Sometimes we need to learn to loosen up the reigns and place our trust in another. You might be surprised at how far trust can take you.
