Why we can’t wait to get back to 'The Incredibles' universe

There are a few different worlds within the universe of Pixar films that we have gotten the opportunity to revisit (and that's even if you don't buy into the theory that ever Pixar film takes place in the same universe). Unsurprisingly, there have been three "Toy Story" movies, with a fourth scheduled for 2019. They have made a trio of "Cars" films, even though "Cars" is far from critically revered, unlike most Pixar outings. It still rakes in cash, and show business is still, you know, a business. Sequels have become more common for the animation studio the past few years. In 2016, they released "Finding Dory," 13 years after "Finding Nemo." "Cars 3" came out in 2017. Now, here in 2018, we are finally getting a sequel to 2004's "The Incredibles." "Incredibles 2" is nearly here, and we couldn't be more excited.

Back in 2004, Pixar wasn't the animation overlord it is today, as "The Incredibles" was only the sixth film released by the company. This was also a time when original ideas not based on pre-existing intellectual property could actually be turned into blockbuster films. The Parr family at the center of "The Incredibles" were fresh and new, even if the movie played with the tropes of superhero stories that were familiar then, and are basically the only kind of film they make now.

Brad Bird, who had previously worked on "The Simpsons" and wrote and directed "The Iron Giant," brought us this story of Bob and Helen Parr, voiced by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter. Once upon a time, they were superheroes, but then it is decided that superheroes caused too much collateral damage, so every single one of them, including Mr. Incredible (Bob) and Helen (Elastigirl), gets relocated and is forced to stick to their secret identity. Bob and Helen have a family. They live in the suburbs, and Bob lives a relatively normal — and to him, tedious — life.

Of course, that’s not what the whole movie is. That would be weird for an animated film. A villain named Syndrome appears, and Bob goes after him, and he's soon followed by his wife and their three kids Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, all of whom have superpowers of their own. The Parrs come together to defeat the villain, they all become superheroes in a brave new world, and the final scene is effectively a teaser for a sequel.

Like the best Pixar films, "The Incredibles" brings something to the table for everybody. Kids (and also adults) can enjoy the bright colors, cool superpowers and not-terribly-violent fight scenes. Dash is really fast, and kids can be like "I wish I was that fast," and sometimes it's just that simple. Beyond that, though, there is a story about middle-aged malaise, identity crises and the importance of family. On the surface it's bright and shiny, but at its core the movie is so much more. That's part of why it makes sense that they are making a sequel. Another reason why it makes sense is that the movie made $633 million against a $92 million budget. One more reason is that it won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Fourteen years is a long time to make us wait, though. However, this could be a case of better late than never. Bird had repeatedly said that he would only return for a sequel if he had an idea that improved upon the story of the original. If he adhered to that claim, then "Incredibles 2" could be the first Pixar movie to grab audiences with gusto since "Inside Out" in 2015 (no offense, "Coco").

We know that the new movie is going to focus more on Helen, as opposed to the Bob-centric original "Incredibles." In this modern media landscape, that feels like a clear reflection of the time that has passed. Hollywood is trying, or perhaps it is more apt to say is being forced by sheer will, to become a safer, more accepting place for women. "Ghostbusters" came back with four ladies picking up the proton packs. The "Star Wars" films center on a young woman now. "Incredibles 2" may take place in the same universe, but it is not being released into the same world.

Although, in some other ways it is. There are those who consider "The Incredibles" to be very much a post-9/11 movie. That was a time of confusion, fear and desperation for heroes to step up to make sense of things. It was also a time of scapegoating and an ugly political landscape. The world was cruel, and in 2018, a little more than a year after a certain inauguration took place, it is cruel in many of the same ways. We can still use heroes, especially if they are flawed, and even if they are animated. Though we had to wait 14 years for "Incredibles 2," something tells us that when we see the Parrs again, it will be like they barely were ever gone.