The heartbeat of Pixar is the concept of family. From characters related by blood to those who have found each other along life's journey and bonded together, each story centers around some form of tight-knit community. Though none are perfect and are some are dysfunctional, it is their connection that ultimately allows them to succeed at their goal — whatever that may be — by the end of the movie.
rPixar is full of families of all shapes, sizes, superpowers, and species, but no matter where they come from or how they are connected to each other, they all teach audiences lessons unique to their own special stories. These are the top Pixar families.
The Lightfoot Family (Onward)
Pixar's Onward centers around young Ian Lightfoot, an elf who has come of age and longs for the father he lost before he was even born. His social awkwardness and hesitance are set in sharp contrast to his brother Barley's sense of adventure and impulsivity. When the two receive a magical staff on Ian's birthday, the brothers set off on a quest to get one more moment with their father.
Their journey reveals the strength of their family. The legacy Mr. Lightfoot left behind instilled in Barley the kind of character that would naturally mentor his younger brother. When Ian is finally able to see how his father loved him through Barley, he is able to sacrifice his own desire for the sake of others. All the while, Mrs. Lightfoot lets nothing stand in the way of finding and helping her sons. Their unique family deserves their position in the ranks of fantastic Pixar families.
Woody And The Other Toys (Toy Story)
Though aside from a few exceptions, none of Andy's toys are related to one another, they have formed a found family of sorts. In a way, they even share a common surname, as each receives Andy's name written in permanent marker when they arrive in his room.
Essentially a father to the other toys, Woody takes care of anyone brought into the family. Mostly. Woody learns a valuable lesson about jealousy when Buzz enters the picture in the first Toy Story. Though sometimes families change and grow, there is always room for one more, even if it involves some adjustments.
Marlin, Nemo, And Dory (Finding Nemo)
One of the most beloved Pixar movies, Finding Nemo, focuses on the limitations fear can cause. At the beginning of the story, Marlin the clownfish has lost everyone in his family apart from his son, Nemo. He lives in such deep terror of losing the last of his loved ones that he restricts everything Nemo does.
When this leads to his worst fear coming to life as Nemo is taken from him, Marlin is forced to conquer his fear of everything and crosses the sea to find him. Along the way, he grows their family by joining forces with Dory, while Nemo himself overcomes the effects of Marlin's limiting beliefs by freeing the captive fish he meets in the Doctor's office.
Princess Atta, Her Grandmother, And Princess Dot (A Bug's Life)
Terrified of her new position as the queen of her colony, Princess Atta found an advocate in her grandmother, the Queen. in A Bug's Life. This family might be small, but their love for each other is large. As Princess Atta worries about how she will lead the other ants and deal with the grasshoppers, the former Queen assures her that she will be just fine.
Full of sarcasm and years of experience, she is supportive and strong, a much-needed support when things go wrong during their first offering to the grasshoppers. Though Dot and Princess Atta fight, they also make it clear that they will always be there for one another, particularly when it counts the most.
Riley's Family (Inside Out)
Inside Out focuses on a transition many viewers can relate to. As Riley and her family move away from everything they love, they deal with their complicated emotions in unique ways, some more healthy than others. Tension builds as a simple miscommunication leads Riley to believe that it's not okay for her to voice her sadness about everything she has lost.
By ignoring this less-than-pleasant emotion, Riley also loses Joy. In the absence of these two important feelings, Disgust, Fear, and Anger take over, eventually leading her to go completely numb. It is only when Riley learns how to give voice to her sadness that she is able to open up to her parents. In this beautiful moment, the entire family draws close to comfort each other. This is one of the most powerful lessons presented by Pixar, one that is important for adults and children alike.
Joe And Libba (Soul)
Soul's Joe and Libba are a slightly different family than what Pixar has presented in the past. The conflict between Joe and his mother centers around Joe's passion for, and pursuit of, music. Practical and serious, Libba's concern with this is whether or not he will be able to provide for himself. After years of financially supporting Joe's father, her fear is that because Joe isn't married, he won't have anyone to lean on if a career in music fails.
When Joe is finally brave enough to communicate the importance of this dream, however, his mother finally gives him her full support. Though she may not fully understand, and likely will always worry about her son, Libba is willing to listen to Joe and help him achieve his goals.
Miguel's Family (Coco)
Reminiscent of a much older Disney movie, The Little Mermaid, the family in Coco — both living and dead — struggle against the members who don't quite fall in line. After suffering the traumatic loss of Hector in their past, Miguel's family bans music from their household. This restriction, however, does nothing to suppress Miguel's love of music and his deep desire to perform.
When the pain of the past drives him to find a way of fulfilling his dreams and taking the stage, Miguel forces his family to confront their shared grief. Miguel's journey allows his entire family to heal from their past and teaches him the dangers of choosing his dream over everything else.
Ellie And Carl Fredrickson (And Russell) (Up)
In a beautifully animated musical montage, Pixar's Up tells the story of Ellie and Carl's romance from their first meeting to their final goodbye. From the moment Carl hears Ellie's enthusiastic narration of her own imaginary adventure, he is inspired and entranced. Throughout their relationship, Ellie aims Carl upward into the clouds while he grounds her.
And after she dies, Ellie continues to inspire Carl. It is because of her influence that Carl is ultimately able to move on, discovering a not-so-traditional grandson in Russell, and even going so far as to save an entire species from his former hero.
The Parrs (The Incredibles)
Pixar's super-family, The Parrs top the list in large part due to their reliability. While Robert Parr's struggle functions as the central internal conflict of The Incredibles, each member of the family fights their own battles for purpose, confidence, and attempting to juggle normal life in the middle of abnormal circumstances.
Every battle the Parrs fight is for the benefit of their family, even when they are fighting each other. In the end, Robert Parr's struggle to fulfill his calling both as a father and a super allows his entire family, along with others like them, to fulfill their callings as well. The Parrs grow both separately and together, and by the end of the movie, they are stronger for their struggle.