Over the years,Pixarhas brought many memorable characters to life, ever since its conception in 1995, withToy Story’s Woody among others. Almost every Pixar movie protagonist has won the hearts of millions of fans around the world, but some of its side characters became just as popular. Some of these beloved supporting characters are recurring or minor, but they made impressions that have kept them in the conversation over the years.
As theDream ProductionsTV showandBuzz Lightyear of Star Commandprove, the studio can create compelling spinoff TV shows around secondary characters. However,all of Pixar’s moviesare either original films or sequels, and barringFinding Dory, never really explore spinoff potential for specific characters who aren’t the protagonists.Some of these iconic Pixar side characters deserve spinoffs,even major feature films, because they win the audience over with their limited screen time.
Every character inWALL-Eshould have their own spin-off to tell their story until they meet the titular character. The movie’s well-developed post-apocalyptic world feels lived-in, filled with weary characters, most of whom are defunct appliances. They all must have fascinating backstories, but most of them aren’t explored.
The Axiom’s computer was voiced by Sigourney Weaver, who is similar to the Mother computer from her famousAlienfranchise.
Most of them, however, were already aboard the Axiom ship as rejected prototypes,so their story would possibly explore Axiom’s construction, takeoff, and subsequent status as being a place where humans are under robot control. However, the most fascinating of these characters is the ship’s computer system, seemingly operating everything. However, the Axiom’s autopilot gradually took over and led the other appliances on a mission to ease the humans out of all autonomy.
Essentially robotic, all appliances would provide humans with such leisure that they never realized that they were becoming slaves to the robots. WhileWALL-E 2never happened, the backstory of the robot takeover, and how the computer and AUTO were born would make for a fascinating storyline.
9Gusteau
Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouilleintroduced the world to a fascinating imaginary culinary industry where, eventually, a rat with strange abilities helps a human to cook world-class dishes. It is occupied by interesting characters all around – every cook in the kitchen has their own gimmick, and every rat that the protagonist Remy knows has some unique human equivalent skill. From the untrusting head chef to the sous-chef, who has apparently killed a man with his thumb, they all would make for compelling spinoff stories.
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However, the most interesting untold story is that of Gusteau, after whom the famous restaurant is named, and whose illicit son Remy befriends.The broad strokes of Gusteau’s narrative are covered in a small segment in the movie,following his rise to the culinary heights of fame, his encounters with equally interesting critic Anton Ego, and his eventual death. However, a detailed movie that explores his youth, and also his relationship with criticism, and with Anton specifically, would be a good premise for a feature film.
8Boo
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Pixar’s fourth studio feature film is one of their most imaginative, expanding on the common concept of the monster hiding in the closet that children are afraid of. The association between screams and energy is a unique premise, and the world is remarkably expansive, with lore about how this was discovered and then harnessed.A host of interesting characters inhabit this world ofMonsters, Inc.,and the prequel went backward into the backstories of quite a few of them.
However, the character that remains less explored is perhaps the most important in theMonsters, Inc.franchise. Boo, the little girl who showed the monsters how kids aren’t dangerous to them and how their laughs generate more energy than their screams, changed everything about how the world of monsters works. So, a spinoff movie about how the experience felt from Boo’s perspective and how her memories of crossing over impacted her in her adulthood would be particularly interesting. Moreover,Monsters Inc. 2should feature a Boo and Sulley reunion, if ever made.
7Grandma Paguro
Luca (2021)
Luca, although pulling its punches in its commitment to queer representation, did a fascinating job of introducing people to the world of shapeshifting sea monsters who can take human forms and live on the surface world. The movie itself follows the messy and heartening relationship between three children, who learn to reconcile their different goals and experiences while continuing to lean on each other.
While a spinoff short film focuses on the character of Alberto and his bond with Marco, the fisherman, there hasn’t been one exploring any other characters and their fates afterLuca’s events. Of them,the most interesting character by far is the titular Luca’s grandma,who claims to have visited the surface world in her youth. A movie that delves into her experiences when she was younger, could maybe even do better in an exploration of queerness, paying homage to queer cultures from the ’50s that are largely forgotten today.
6Crush
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemois perhaps Pixar’s only IP that has a canonical spinoff movie based on it.Finding Dory, the sequel, focuses on the beloved side character of Dory,the amnesiac blue tang, following her on her quest to find her parents. However,Finding Nemofeatures many interesting secondary characters that should get to their own stories. From the scarred fish Gill to the starfish Peach, every resident of the aquarium where Nemo is trapped for a while in the second act of the film would make for an engrossing spinoff feature film.
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However, the most standout secondary character is the giant sea turtle Crush, who teaches Marlin and Dory how to swim in the current. Voiced by director Andrew Stanton, Crush is a cool comic relief character who saves the two fish from getting lost and asks them to join his troupe as they swim through the current and travel quickly across the ocean. His calm and worldly demeanor makes him an ideal spin-off protagonist. Even if that doesn’t happen, one can at least hope he’ll return inPixar’s rumoredFinding Nemo 3.
5Ming Lee
Turning Red (2022)
An allegory for adolescence,Turning Redfeatures a child-friendly metaphor for the experience of one’s body changing. It’s possibly an allegory for menstruation, as it is revealed that the transformation into a giant red panda is only experienced by the women in Mei’s family. An obvious choice for a new movie would be the pop group 4 Town, a clear nod to noughties boy bands like NSYNC, who even got aTurning Redspinoff in the4Town 4Realmanga.
However,a more lore-focused spinoff could be centered around Mei’s mother, Ming Lee.She apparently destroyed half the temple as a giant panda who is much larger than Mei’s panda form. A spinoff dedicated to her could explain why her panda form is so much bigger. It could explore the strained relationship between Ming and her mother, and look at how Ming tries to break the cycle when it’s her turn to be a mother, right from Mei’s infancy.
4Frozone
The Incredibles Franchise
One of Pixar’s coolest movies is their foray into the superhero genre. One of thebest animated superhero movies of all time, it follows a family of superheroes and a superpowered close family friend, Lucius Best a.k.a. Frozone. While Frozone has exactly as much screen time as necessary to make him a fantastic supporting character that people want more of, he deserves his own spinoff movie. One of his most iconic moments, where he is looking for his super suit as the city is under siege, is a largely revisited scene, and one of the funniest Disney Pixar moments.
Disney announced a thirdThe Incrediblesmovie at D23 earlier last year, but the plot details are still largely unknown; Frozone will presumably make an appearance.
Frozone is a literally cool character who has some of the best one-liners in the movies. He always makes an impressive entry and never fails to show up when absolutely necessary. However, not much is known about him. Such an iconic character is primed for his own movie that explores his origins, family, and relationship with superpowers. Such a spinoff, since it would possibly be a prequel, could also explore how he became close friends with Mr. Incredible.
3The Witch
Brave (2012)
While it isn’t one of the canonical Disney princess movies,Bravetells the story of Merida, a princess who accepts the help of a witch to escape her mother’s wish to marry her off to a rich prince. While the story focuses on the strained relationship between Merida and her mother, and how they bond over Merida’s misguided deal with the witch,Bravefeatures a host of hilarious comedic characters. From Merida’s three mischievous younger brothers to her father, about whom there is a lot of lore, they all would be good spinoff protagonists.
But by far, the most interesting side character isBrave’s witch. She remains unnamed, but is a typical fairy tale witch, with a hut full of fascinating potions, magical supplies, and brilliant woodcarving skills. She has a funny demeanor, making jokes about her work, and having a pet crow who makes ominous announcements. Her story would be fascinating, especially because it could also tie into Merida’s father’s backstory through the tale of the other prince who turned into a bear. A spinoff could also acknowledge thePixar movie theory.
2Doc Hudson
The Cars Franchise
One of the most iconic characters from the firstCarsmovie, which began Pixar’s most underappreciated franchise, Doc Hudson unfortunately died before the events ofCars 2. While he does appear in a couple of short films that were made based on the original movie, he didn’t get as much screen time as a character with his impact merits.Doc’s philosophy transforms how Lightning McQueen sees racingand life itself,so Doc would be the ideal spinoff protagonist.
A movie about Doc Hudson could trace his origins. It could cover in greater depth how he became a Piston Cup champion, how he was shunned after his accident, how he found peace later on, and then became the Radiator Springs judge. As a legacy prequel, such a movie would win viewers over with ease, exploring the world of the talking cars and the history of their famed championship further, while also delving into how the mentor became a mentor.
1Edna Mode
Of all the interesting side characters in theIncrediblesfranchise, Edna is perhaps the most distinct. The larger-than-life costume designer has a serious demeanor and worldly vibes. Her sense of style and her ability to scold literal superheroes makes her presence particularly impressive. She has a funny way of showing her affection, but she’s a favorite of every superhero, anda spinoff about Edna could explore the world of these superheroes in much more depth.
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The backstory of how the superheroes rose to popularity and were then rejected by society is exposited in a small segment in the first movie, but an Edna movie could go into it in more detail. Maybe there’s a design school she went to for costumes, or perhaps she worked closely with a few superheroes because she knew them and slowly her brand grew. OnlyPixarknows, and viewers would also love to know.
