Top 10 Pixar Characters Who Deserve an Origin Story
#10: The Witch “Brave” (2012)
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You’ve probably heard the theory that The Witch is Boo from “Monsters, Inc.” According to that idea, Boo became obsessed with harnessing a time-traveling door magic that would reunite her with her “Kitty.” Even after all these years, she supposedly still keeps a wood carving of her childhood bestie. If true, this would certainly make for an interesting origin story. But even if it’s not, we’d still like to learn more about this mysterious magical being. Was she always a witch? Why is she so into woodwork? What went down between her and Mor’du? A prequel could answer plenty of questions, Pixar just needs to be “Brave” enough to pull it off.
#9: Héctor Rivera “Coco” (2017)
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Héctor’s life as a musician and family man would definitely be interesting to witness. But we think a more fascinating prequel would explore how he adjusts to life in the Land of the Dead. After all, he was hardly expecting to be there so soon. Also, the Héctor we see seems vastly different from the one in flashbacks. A fleshed out origin story would explain how he became the stealthy trickster we meet in “Coco.” Maybe it helped him cope with his untimely death? Perhaps flashbacks to his former life in The Land of the Living could help us better understand his motives. And maybe the film could dramatically end with Ernesto’s arrival. Hey, we’re just saying!
#8: The Circus Bugs “A Bug's Life” (1998)
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In a case of mistaken identity, Flik teams up with a troupe of Circus Bugs to take down the grasshoppers. Although they’re supporting characters, we can’t help but think this mismatched group of oddballs must have plenty of exciting and crazy tales of their own. What were they all doing before joining the circus? What’s Manny’s story? What’s behind Slim’s insecurities? And how did P.T. Flea form his troupe? These are just some of the questions we’d like addressed. Each member could probably get their own movie, but we’ll be happy with a big ensemble flick too! We envision drama, adventure, some romance, and above all, a whole lot of comedy.
#7: Charles F. Muntz “Up” (2009)
Once an esteemed adventurer and idol for young Carl, Charles Muntz was expelled from the National Explorers Society for allegedly faking his findings. We’d love a movie that explored his heydays— especially his search for the elusive tropical bird. For one thing, it would clarify whether he actually found the bones or whether he really is just a fraud. Perhaps we could see him try and clear his name and maybe get some backstory into those talking dogs as well. Plus, seeing how his obsession and humiliation take their toll over time would make him a more well-rounded and fleshed-out character. We’re not saying he deserves our sympathy, but it might help us understand him more.
#6: The Tank Gang “Finding Nemo” (2003)
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In their journey to be reunited, Nemo and Marlin each meet some rather intriguing characters. For instance, you just know there's a whole story waiting to be uncovered behind those vegetarian sharks. We'd also love a movie that shows how the Tank Gang in the dentist's office came to be. While they briefly mention where they came from, we're curious to learn more about their former lives and dynamic before Nemo's arrival. We imagine Gill’s ocean life would make for a particularly captivating story. We'd surely be in for an unforgettable tale of twists, turns, shenanigans, and excitement. We hope Pixar dives right in and makes this movie.
#5: Fred Frederickson “Big Hero 6” (2014)
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Our first impression of Fred is that he’s a zany, laid-back guy with little ambition and a tremendous love of comic books. However, there’s far more to him than meets the eye. His typically nerdy interests and entertaining eccentricities make him an asset to the “Big Hero 6” team. Also, his parents are super-wealthy, and his dad used to be a superhero. If that doesn’t practically beg for an action-adventure superhero movie, we don’t know what does. We’d love to see how Fred’s wild imagination gets him into all sorts of crazy situations. And perhaps it could even delve into some of his more formative years. Plus, we could never get enough of his hilarious quips.
#4: Ming Lee “Turning Red” (2022)
While Mei learns to embrace her red panda, we know that her mom Ming had a harder time accepting hers. We’re briefly told about Ming’s past, and we even get to see her angry red panda unleashed. However, there’s definitely a bigger story to be told there. It could explore Ming’s first experience with her animal alter-ego, giving us a more detailed view of how it ultimately affected her relationship with her mother. We could also see the wild story Mei’s dad recounts about the time he saw Ming’s panda play out. A prequel would be the ideal setting to delve into the character, and understand the nature of her red panda.
#3: Edna Mode “The Incredibles” franchise (2004-)
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Fashion icon, fierce entrepreneur, and total scene-stealer, we’d never say no to giving Edna more screen time. We’d truly love to see how she became a sought-after superhero costume designer. Had it always been her dream, or was there some monumental event that steered her down that career path? Also, is there more to her no capes rule than she lets on? We know it’s for safety reasons, but perhaps there’s a more personal connection? Most importantly, was she always that sassy? We hope so! Speaking of powerful women, we’d also be curious to learn more about Elastigirl’s thrilling, action-packed life before she added mom and wife to her impressive resume. We imagine there are more than a couple of “incredible” stories to be unmasked.
#2: Jessie “Toy Story” franchise (1995-)
The “When She Loved Me” flashback is one of the saddest scenes in Pixar history. We learn that Jessie was once the beloved toy of a kid called Emily. Many speculate that the latter character could’ve been Andy’s mom. It would be amazing to have this theory confirmed and see what wild adventures the pair had together. Perhaps Emily and Andy’s dad bonded over this shared interest, but while she outgrew hers, he simply couldn’t give his up? What if he passed his beloved Woody along to his son? Okay, this may be wishful thinking, but we’d love to delve more into Jessie’s background either way. While we’re at it, we also need a film that explains Bo Peep’s total transformation in “Toy Story 4.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Mamá Imelda Rivera, “Coco” (2017) There’s Definitely More to This Character Than Just Her Witty Lines The Jerries, “Soul” (2020) How Did the Counselors Come To Be & How Did They Decide on Their Ethos? Riley's Parents, “Inside Out” (2015) We’d Be In for an Emotional Rollercoaster Hank, “Finding Dory” (2016) We Want to Know More About How This Octopus Became a Septopus Anton Ego, “Ratatouille” (2007) How Did That Little Boy From the Flashback Become This Poker-Faced Food Critic?
#1: Frozone “The Incredibles” franchise (2004-)
Besides his cool powers and iconic off-screen wife, Honey, what do we really know about Frozone? He deserves a movie that focuses on his journey to Super life, and the adventures he had before they were outlawed. Was Honey ever interested in that world? Did it help ignite the first sparks of romance between them? The couple is undoubtedly responsible for some of the funniest quotes in the movies. So just imagine the hilarity that would ensue if they were the protagonists of their very own feature film. We could even delve more into their friendship with Bob and Helen. There are endless opportunities to explore Frozone’s story, and we hope Pixar doesn’t let them slip away.