Ultimate Preview to The Incredibles 2
“It’s time to get back to being incredible”. It’s been 14 years since our world has last been protected by The Incredibles, and according to what is shaping up to be their new catchphrase, it’s time to finally get back into the super swing of things with Disney/Pixar’s most loveable super family! The Incredibles 2 hits theatres June 15th; leave your capes at home, superheroes, and read on to learn what we’re expecting from this sequel that has been 14 years in the making!
A Decade’s Worth of Hype
The hype surrounding the release of The Incredibles 2 has been nothing short of, well, incredible, and in true Disney fashion, the last thing anyone can say is that they were unaware of the new release! Secrecy and delays surrounded the various waves of merchandise release, succeeding in agitating and exciting children and toy collectors in the most genius of ways. Walt Disney World Resort has even themed their summer season to the release, causing waves of excitement in the theme park community when they dubbed summer 2018 and its subsequent offerings “Incredible Summer.” Arguably, Disney and Pixar had 14 years to come up with a marketing plan that would make the sequel THE animated feature film of the summer, and they’ve done it!
The strategic release of teaser to preview to trailer(s) far surpassed the lead up to the original; but without that original’s success, this sequel wouldn’t been happening. Toy and merchandise sales leading up to the release banked on the fact that the characters created for the original are still relevant- and judging from the amount of collectibles and apparel on the market, they are! The team behind the film’s PR has done an outstanding job of getting the word out there, but my theory for its imminent success is not related to T shirt sales or cute stuffed animals; it’s the characters.
Elastigirl’s Timely Return
In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, George W. Bush was the President, MGM Studios featured a big Sorcerer’s Hat- and for the Disney buffs- Epcot’s Spaceship Earth sported that weird Mickey hand holding a wand (good riddance). Things are a bit different now. Social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram rule the internet and Hollywood Studios has replaced MGM for good- so does this mean we should expect a change in our favorite super family?
From the looks of the previews and trailers, The Incredibles 2, the film’s animation design will fit with the original’s 1960’s-era vibe and the characters we know will all be back, but for me, that’s where the similarities end. In the trailer for the new film, Mrs. Incredible is called upon to take up her original superhero identity and costume to help put Supers back on the map. Much to Mr. Incredibles chagrin, Elastigirl is re-born. The first film followed Mr. Incredible on his ill-fated trip to Syndrome’s wickedly cool yet wickedly dangerous island; the story followed him. In an unexpected reveal, The Incredibles 2 will follow Elastigirl. 2004 is ancient history now and in 2018, our society has rightfully shifted focus to spotlight the inequality women face daily.
Super Role Models
Not only will Elastigirl take the brunt of the fight on her shoulders, we’ll get a glimpse into the Incredible’s home life without Mrs. Incredible. In the trailers, Mr. Incredible hilariously struggles with keeping the peace among his 3 super children when Elastigirl is off fighting evil; but the message behind the comedy is loud and clear: without Mrs. Incredible, the family falls apart. Not only is she called upon to save the day, it becomes apparent that she is the glue that holds everything together at home, too. Plus, she’s a woman who can mount a motorcycle and speed off into the night in a super suit. What little girl wouldn’t want to grow up to be as kick-butt as Elastigirl? So, will Elastigirl’s step into the limelight in The Incredibles 2 help bring to light some of the issues women are faced with everyday? I think Disney/Pixar is hoping so.
Speaking of women, something tells me we’re going to be seeing a lot more from a female character who, despite her less than 10 minutes of screen time in the original, has become arguably the most highly revered character of the franchise. I’m talking about Edna Mode! If you look to the film’s trailers, you might not get that sense, but a quick scroll through the merchandise offerings will show lots of Edna-slanted must haves. Her confidence in herself, quick tongue, and insistence on doing things her way make her another fantastic role model for girls- I for one can’t wait for more of her hysterical one-liners!
Variation on a Theme
There are going to be surprises in the film. There are going to be nods to the original. We’re in for a whole new and totally nostalgic film. Wait…can both of those words really be used to describe the coming sequel? Well, we’ll find out in a few days, but my prediction is that Disney/Pixar realizes that the success of The Incredibles and its staying power (refer to paragraph one if you’ve forgotten that it’s been 14 years since the original!) has everything to do with the characters, music, animation, and tone created for the original. I think we can expect the overall feel and theme to be the same ones we know and have come to expect, but a whole new plotline and exploration of new characters will give it the freshness it needs to make it a repeat blockbuster! What are your predictions for the film? Do you think the film will be a success? Let us know in the comments below!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!
