Once again, Pixar created the best American animated film of the year. The movie is The Incredibles, and while it’s not quite as good as earlier Pixar triumphs like Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc., it’s still miles ahead of most of its competition.

Director and writer Brad Bird loosely based all the lead characters in The Incredibles on Silver and Golden Age comic book heroes. Thus, Mister Incredible (the name is a tip of the hat to Marvel Comics’ Mister Fantastic), is a Captain Marvel-style hero. Elastagirl, his wife, has powers similar to Plastic Man, and his son Dash is exceptionally fast, just like the Flash. They would have been right at home in the world of comic books a generation ago. Unfortunately, in the real world, modern comic book audiences no longer welcome such optimism, and formerly positive heroes like Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Captain Marvel have been either darkened or discontinued altogether. Bird alludes to an entire genre of graphic novels (such as The Dark Knight Returns and Kingdom Come) in presenting a world where heroes are driven into hiding by a largely envious, ungrateful population. Bird takes this even further, with heady themes that American animation rarely addresses. He shows us a world where the truly gifted and talented are forbidden to display their gifts while mediocrity, conformity, and insipidness rules the rest of us. Anyone who has ever suffered through the gushing industry airheads on Entertainment Tonight or watched the interchangeable pop star clones of American Idol can vouch for Bird’s truth. Lest anyone fear an Ayn Rand-style diatribe, The Incredibles boasts an action-packed and emotional story.

The Incredibles features many ironies. Despite the film’s serious Objectivism-like philosophy, this is a film bathed in comedy and color. It’s a maturely themed superhero film that appears to be lightweight, unlike most recent superhero films (which appear to be grim, gritty and adult but are actually childish). Bird’s characters dismiss the movie as being "only a cartoon" in promotional materials, but The Incredibles boasts enough clever action sequences and staged violence to put most Hollywood action films to shame. The multiple levels of irony provide much of the film’s appeal, and make repeated viewings of The Incredibles rewarding experiences.

There’s only one flaw in The Incredibles, and it’s a relative flaw. All previous Pixar films take their audiences into a world barely imagined before. Toy Story is imaginative and funny in a way that previous "Toyland"-scenarios never were, for example, just as Finding Nemo took us into a submarine world that was equal parts hyper-realistic and cartoony. The Incredibles, by comparison, takes us into a world not that different from what we’ve already seen in Sam Raimi’s excellent Spiderman movies or Warner Brothers’ classic animated treatments of both Batman and Superman. This familiarity not only with source material but also with directorial decisions regarding camera movements, editing, and music prevents The Incredibles from being as unique as its title suggests.

At the same time, it feels unfair to belabor this point. The majority of contemporary animated films are cut from the same mold. They feature rubbery computer animation, ample product placement, and A-list Hollywood actors stealing work from more talented voice actors who could desperately use the extra pay. They use pseudo-hip banter to mask the lack of original ideas, and their always-pleasing graphic design scarcely compensates for the contempt they have for a family audience. Pixar stands above its rivals the way the Statue of Liberty looms over lower Manhattan.

The Incredibles may lack the visual surprises of Finding Nemo and A Bug’s Life, but it’s still essential viewing for anyone in love with the art of animation.

Other NonAnime Reviews The Batman Review Shrek 2 Review Island of Misfit Toys Review Kangaroo Jack Review Finding Nemo Review*

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