8 most heroic Pixar movie moments ever [guest post]

Sabienna Bowman has been covering entertainment news since 2010. She currently writes for Bustle, Reelgood, PopSugar, and The Stacker.

Pixar is known for many things: making viewers sob, stunning animation, indelible characters, and then making viewers sob some more. The studio has another gift as well — Pixar has dreamed up some of the best heroic moments in recent movie history. From Buzz’s last-ditch effort to fall with style, to Bing-Bong’s sacrifice, Pixar knows how to put the ‘hero’ in heroic.

With the premiere of Incredibles 2, now is the perfect time to take a look back at the studio’s most memorable heroic moments. As a side note, all of the animated movies mentioned below are available to stream on your Roku player or Roku TV.

Helen’s Rescue Mission (The Incredibles)

Just because she hung up her hero suit, that doesn’t mean Helen doesn’t still have some serious skills. After discovering her husband has found his way into a supervillain’s plot, she wastes no time in launching a rescue mission with her kids to save Bob’s life. In the process, she proves that moms are super in more ways than one.

Bing Bong’s Sacrifice (Inside Out)

In a moment designed to make viewers ugly cry, Bing Bong makes the ultimate sacrifice so that Joy can save Riley. After multiple attempts at getting their “rocket” to carry them out of Riley’s forgotten memories, Bing Bong realizes Joy will only be able to escape without him onboard. And sorry, you’re definitely sobbing at your desk now.

Carl Realizes What’s Most Important (Up)

At first, Carl values the home he built with Ellie above all else. However, when he sees Russell put himself in danger in order to save Kevin, Carl realizes that what Ellie wanted most was for him to live. And so he does just that by ditching his sentimental items and ultimately letting go of his home entirely to ensure the safety of his young friend.

Buzz Lightyear Falls With Style (Toy Story)

Thanks to Woody, Buzz is forced to face the truth that he’s a toy, and not a real Space Ranger in the first Toy Story movie. This crisis of confidence leads to Buzz having a manic tea session with Mrs. Nesbitt, but he pulls himself together at the end of the film and embraces his identity as a toy. In doing so, he finds the courage to strap a rocket to his back and “fall with style” back into Andy’s arms with Woody in tow.

Nemo Saves Dory (Finding Nemo)

Little Nemo shows that he’s courageous the moment he “touches the butt” — a.k.a, the boat, but his fearlessness is on full display when he swims into a net to save Dory. The little fish had just been through a seriously harrowing journey, but in that moment his only thought is that he has to save Dory, who is responsible for reuniting him with his dad.

Elinor Battles Mor’du (Brave)

Even as her last sense of humanity slips away, bear Elinor recognizes that her daughter is in grave danger when the fabled bear Mor’du attacks. She intercedes, and battles the giant bear with all of her might in a scene of breathtaking heroism that reiterates the strength of a parent’s love for their child.

Boo Overcomes Her Fear (Monsters, Inc.)

Sweet Boo changes Sulley for the better, but her time at Monsters, Inc. also allows her to grow as well. Just when it seems like Randall might win, Boo overcomes her fear of the monster in order to attack Randall and save Sulley, the big kitty who has become her best friend.

Flik Stands Up To Hopper (A Bug’s Life)

Sometimes, being a hero simply means having the courage to stand up to bullies. Hopper uses his size and the element of fear to intimidate and physically hurt Flik. What he doesn’t count on is Flik refusing to cower in fear, and instead he calls out Hopper for the fraud is, empowering the rest of the colony to fight back in the process.  

The Parr family may be the superheroes of the Pixar universe, but The Incredibles are definitely in good company.

Happy Streaming!