5 lessons from The Incredibles
Almost 15-years on from the original movie, the 2018 sequel of The Incredibles enlivened theatre screens across the world. Wife, mother, and superhero Helen Parr (Elastigirl) steals the spotlight from her incredibly strong superhero husband Bob and proves to her family that she can save the world herself.
1. Females are equally equipped as males to save the world
After major feminist campaigns including Times Up and Me Too, the 2018 release of The Incredibles 2 is a fitting storyline for today’s society and values. The sequel follows the journey of Elastigirl, who is contracted to restore the world by putting an end to a diabolical plan that is bound to end in global catastrophe. While Elastigirl reaps fame and glory along the way, Bob is emotionally torn. The former Mr Incredible wants to be happy for his wife’s success but cannot stomach the idea of him being a ‘normal’ full-time dad. There is an unveiling of stereotypes where the protagonist is not only female, but she is a mother and a wife saving the world single-handedly.
2. Superhero strengths stem from within
The creative team at Pixar, who produced The Incredibles, said the superheroes’ strengths derived from their personality. Bob Parr has super strength because he is the father figure who needs to be strong and uplifting to his children. Helen Parr is super flexible because as a mother-of-three, it requires being pulled in all sorts of directions to ensure needs are met. Violet is an insecure teenager venturing into young womanhood. She has a fear of speaking to a boy she really likes, and so her power of turning invisible and placing protective force fields helps to shield her from any physical and emotional trauma. Dash, on the other hand, is a hyperactive young boy who is unable to sit still, thus his strength is to run at lightning speed.
3. If you have a superpower, why hide it?
The original The Incredibles movie focused on the social irregularities of being ‘super’. The super-family were bound by law to bury their talents and remain hidden from the public. The underlying message as voiced by Dash, said, “Why would they have [powers] if they weren’t supposed to use them?” Helen is trying to fit into normal life but deep down knows there is truth to Dash’s words. “Everyone is special, Dash,” she says. Dash responds, “That's just another way of saying no one is.” If you are passionate about something or consider yourself to be talented in an area, then why hide it? If you wholeheartedly believe in your ability to chase your passion, then be bold, be brave and embrace your strengths by showing the world what you are capable of achieving.
4. Power in the wrong hands has consequences
Do you believe in karma? Perhaps you have heard the saying, ‘what goes around comes around?’ The Incredibles is all about who has the power. 9 times out of 10, the antagonist holds all the cards. If you have the desire and power to create change in the world, you should always go for it and follow your heart. Just so long as your heart is fueled with positive intentions to help make the world a better place. Syndrome's motivation to change the world was born out of jealousy and rage, which are two negatives that, in this case, do not equal a positive.
5. You are stronger when you work together
As we watch The Incredibles, it is clear to see the superheroes can only conquer the world if they do it together and combine all their strengths. The same applies in many instances both in work and life. Working in collaboration with other team members enables you to develop team-oriented skills such as leadership, employing an equal opportunity mindset and communication because you all are working towards a common goal. This is particularly important, not just in school but when you get into the workforce too. Do not be afraid to ask questions and request a helping-hand, because as the saying goes, ‘two heads are better than one.’
With these valuable life lessons from The Incredibles, the next step is to identify what your superpower is and find out how you are going to embrace it. No matter who you are, where you come from or what you do, everyone has a special superpower!