With Pixar’s latest hit Brave landing in stores this week, we thought it was a great chance to revisit some of our favorite characters in the Pixar canon. Here are our top five faves, in no particular order.
Rex the green plastic dinosaur
Seen in: the Toy Story franchise
Voiced by: Wallace Shawn (he was the “That’s inconceivable!” guy from Princess Bride)
Why we love him: Rex is the big, scary looking kid on the playground who just wants to be loved, and is afraid of his own shadow. The paradox of his fearsome façade and friendly demeanor make for some great gags throughout all the Toy Story installments. He’s got a giant head and tiny little arms. He hates confrontation. What’s not to love?
Favorite Quote: “And I’m from Mattel. Well, I’m not really from Mattel, I’m actually from a smaller company that was purchased by Mattel in a leveraged buyout.”
Mike Wazowski
Seen in: Monsters Inc.
Voiced by: Billy Crystal
Why we love him: Every great comedy duo needs a good comic, especially when the straight man is a 7-foot tall, furry blue monster. Enter Mike, the little green Cyclops. He’s pretty much non-stop funny and has around 95 percent of the money lines in the flick.
Favorite Quote: “That’s it, I’m out of ideas. We’re closed. Hot air balloon? Too expensive. Giant slingshot? Too conspicuous. Enormous wooden horse? Too Greek.”
Fro-Zone
Seen in: The Incredibles
Voiced by: Samuel Jackson
Why we love him: First off, Fro-Zone has wicked awesome ice-powers. So, he’s cool. Then, there’s the fact that he’s voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. Which means every line sounds like someone is about to be completely annihilated. Seriously, if you absolutely, positively have to make every line sound like someone’s about to get killed, accept no substitutes.
Favorite Quote: “Super ladies? They’re always trying to tell you their secret identity… they think it’ll strengthen the relationship or something like that. I say, ‘Girl, I don’t wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that. I mean, you tell me you’re, uh… S-Super, Mega, Ultra Lightning Babe, that’s alright with me. I’m good… I’m good.“
Bruce the Great White Shark
Seen in: Finding Nemo
Voiced by: Barry Humphries
Why we love him: There’s a Bruce in all of us; a fallible being who’s trying to be a better person, but temptations can get the better of him. It’s like, you know you don’t want that slice of pizza. You stuck to the salad bar. Don’t wreck it now. Oh crap. I did it. Man, that’s tasty. Only, in this case, you’re a great white shark, and instead of pizza, you’re trying to eat the protagonist.
Favorite Quote: “I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food.”
WALL-E
Seen in: WALL-E
Voiced by: Ben Burtt (kind of)
Why we love him: WALL-E had next to no lines in his feature film, but he managed to provide more heartbreakingly beautiful emotion than most humans you’d find on prime time TV these days. Sure, he looked suspiciously similar to Johnny 5, but we’re comfortable just calling that an homage, rather than purloining. Either way, WALL-E is our favorite character made out of metal (next to their Luxo lamp mascot).
Favorite Quote: “Eeee-VA?”
