Things I've Learned from Pixar Movies - Part II

Written by Shae Rufe

There were just too many movies to not have a sequel to this blog. Pixar has been a staple in many of our childhoods, and it has grown with us in ways we didn't see coming. It's amazing to me how many adults love these movies as much as kids. As an adult myself I can say that these movies are beyond epic and life changing. Maybe not that far, but maybe for some it is! There's so many themes we can learn from, lessons to take away, and from the very first time we see one of these films to the most recent, we can take something new away.

Toy Story is the film series that grew up with us. The animation was ground breaking, at the time, and the story warmed our hearts and made us think, what if our toys really came to life when we weren't around? If you were a kid who saw this movie and you subsequently freaked out about that being a possibility, you're not alone! Toy Story was fantastic for so many reasons...like emotionally scarring us all. Seriously, that one scene with the toys in Sid's room? That's easily the creepiest thing I've ever seen. Still, Toy Story is about friendship, team work, acceptance, and above all, growing up and change. By Toy Story 3, we aren't with Andy anymore, and that's okay. Andy grew up, like we all do. Change doesn't always have to be bad, but it is scary, and that's okay. If Woody and Buzz can do it, so can we.
 
Brave had a lot of messages. A mother and daughter who don't see eye to eye. A princess fighting her conventional role. And bears being bears and eating all the things. Brave wasn't about changing fate, not to me. Brave was about love, communication, and understanding. The fight between Merida and her mother was so arbitrary because neither of them were willing to listen to the other. Listening is just as big a part as talking, if not bigger. To me, that's what this movie was really about. Taking the time to communicate with one another and listen, instead of stubbornly fighting and not seeing the other side. Plus, Angus, Merida's horse, was fantastically epic. Brave remains one of my favorite movies because it also shows a happy family dynamic. You have both parents, three younger siblings, and everyone loves each other.
 
Ratatouille is the last Pixar movie I'm going to cover today. This film about a rat in Paris who loves to cook is adorable on a lot of levels. But Remy the Rat is more than just a common rodent. The whole point of this movie is to follow your dreams. Yes, there will always be set backs. People are going to be against you; tell you how you cannot do something. Circumstances will not always be the best either, but at the end of it all, you have to keep trying. Dreams are worth fighting for, and if you truly want to do something then do it! Remy fought his family on his dreams, until he finally proved to himself that he had achieved what he wanted. This tiny rat from Paris became a master chef, and while that's also a little weird, it's pretty inspirational. If a rat can achieve his dreams, why can't you?

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