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- Pixar's Elemental will premiere on June 16, introducing audiences to Ember Lumen, another surely unforgettable female character for Pixar's already incredible canon. The acclaimed studio has already delivered some incredible female figures, and it shows no signs of stopping, adding new, inspiring, and dynamic characters with each new film they produce. And while some are more memorable and likable than others, they all contribute to Pixar's reputation as a groundbreaking animation studio.
Disney movies are full of strong male leads and princes; however, when it comes to Pixar, the girls more than hold up their own. Sure, most of the studio's films star male duos like Woody and Buzz and Mike and Sully, but there's always a spunky female character - or several - to balance out the boys.
From a headstrong princess to a literal superhero to a few badass youngsters, Pixar has been offering strong female role models to little girls for decades.
Updated on June 12, 2023, by David Caballero:
Pixar's Elemental will premiere on June 16, introducing audiences to Ember Lumen, another surely unforgettable female character for Pixar's already incredible canon. The acclaimed studio has already delivered some incredible female figures, and it shows no signs of stopping, adding new, inspiring, and dynamic characters with each new film they produce. And while some are more memorable and likable than others, they all contribute to Pixar's reputation as a groundbreaking animation studio.
15 Mrs. Davis - 'Toy Story' (1994)
While she may not be seen much on-screen throughout the first three Toy Story films, Andy's mom Mrs. Davis is a major inspiration to women everywhere.
Mrs. Davis is a single parent who seems to give Andy and Molly a great life despite the mystery behind their father and the big move they have in the first film. She supports Andy's love of toys, allowing him to redecorate his entire room during his Buzz Lightyear phase, and later convinces him to keep his precious friends when he goes off to college.
14 Giulia Marcovaldo - 'Luca' (2021)
Luca is another movie centered around a male friendship wound up by a spirited girl. Giulia Marcovaldo is an outcast in her small Italian town, outgoing and curious about the world around her and using books and fantasies to escape her harsh reality.
Being her father's daughter, Giulia is a strong and tenacious teenage girl who not only convinces her town of Portorosso to accept her sea monster friends but also leads their triathlon team and refuses to give up despite losing to Ercole every year.
13 Dot - 'A Bug's Life' (1998)
A Bug's Life is among the best and most underrated films from Disney or Pixar. The film has many great characters, including the young Dot. She may be the youngest in the colony but also the fiercest. Purple and sweet on the outside, Dot holds a spunky personality and an attitude to match. She is as fearless as any other ant in the colony, although she still has much growing up to do.
Despite her constant and significant struggles with learning to use her wings, Dot achieves great things with her Blueberry Scouts group. She is one of Flick's most loyal and staunch allies, helping him in the climactic battle against the evil grasshopper Hopper.
12 Bo Peep - 'Toy Story 4' (2019)
Bo Peep is a spunky porcelain doll and one of the few female toys in Andy's room. She acts as Woody's romantic interest, with the two sharing a flirtatious relationship in Toy Story. After a smaller role in Toy Story 2, Bo disappears in Toy Story 3, with only a few throwaway lines about her disappearance.
Toy Story 4 sees Bo returning in an expanded role, with a makeover and a new, more adventurous take on life. Her relationship with Woody remains charming and unabashedly sweet, even if Bo is no longer the same innocent doll. Toy Story 4 was an unnecessary movie that almost ruined a great trilogy, but at least Bo was a much better character than ever before.
11 Riley Andersen - 'Inside Out' (2015)
With head emotion Joy leading her through life, it's no wonder Riley Andersen from Inside Out is considered a role model to tween girls. She's incredibly relatable and her experience reminds more mature audiences of their younger days, too.
Riley first appears as an optimistic young girl, going with the flow when her parents throw new changes at her, like moving to a new city and going to a new school. But Riley appeared just as strong when she let her emotions get the best of her and finally allowed herself to react to the changes in her life.
10 Mamá Imelda - 'Coco' (2017)
Coco explored the intricacies of grief, legacy, and generational trauma through a heartwarming and colorful story that pays homage to Mexican culture. The film also features one of Pixar's strongest and most compelling female characters, Mamá Imelda.
Stern and determined but never stubborn, Mamá Imelda is a typical Mexican mom. She knows what's better for her family, or at least she thinks the does. However, she isn't unwilling to face her mistakes, admitting she was wrong and allowing Miguel and her family to welcome music back into their hearts.
9 Colette Tatou - 'Ratatouille' (2006)
Colette Tatou is one of those Pixar females who is far too cool and mature for the boys in her life. The 2006 culinary classic Ratatouille sees her dealing with the wild but well-meaning adventures of immature would-be cook Linguini and his rat friend and chef-in-the-making Remy.
Colette holds a powerful female presence as the only female chef in the kitchen. She allows the dorky and clumsy Linguini to win her heart, but not before keeping him at arm's length to enforce her boundaries and remain independent.
8 Ellie Fredrickson - 'Up' (2009)
Ellie is introduced in Up as an adventurer from a young age. She is crucial in bringing little Carl out of his shell and eventually into her heart in Pixar's most memorable love story. Up is quite tragic, and even though Ellie has a brief role in the film, her presence is felt throughout the plot.
During her life with Carl from childhood into old age, despite Ellie not getting everything she wanted in life - children and an adventure to Paradise Falls - during her short time in the film, she doesn't seem to complain once, only appreciating what she had with her husband.
7 Edna Mode - 'The Incredibles' (2004)
Supersuit designer to superheroes Edna Mode is a small but fierce woman in the workplace. Although her presence in The Incredibles and Incredibles 2 is limited to only a few scenes, Edna dominates every minute she is on-screen, becoming one of the series' best and most unforgettable characters.
Edna not only designed the super suits for the entire Parr family but often knew how to put ungrateful supers like Bob in his place. Despite her aloof and highly independent demeanor, Edna is also a beloved aunt-like figure to Jack-Jack, proving that she is as warm as she is talented in the competitive fashion field.
6 Mei Lee - 'Turning Red' (2022)
Turning Red is among Pixar's most daring and wildly creative efforts. The film follows Mei Lee, a thirteen-year-old girl who shares a contentious relationship with her mother while dealing with the changes of adolescence, including turning into a giant red panda whenever she's angry.
Mei Lee is a spirited, quirky, and courageous young girl. Forced to mature after receiving her ability, Mei Lee becomes more controlled and self-aware, a classic aspect of letting childhood go and entering adolescence. At its core, Turning Red is a movie about mothers and daughters, with Mei Lee and her mom, Ming Lee, sharing a unique and chaotic but loving bond.
5 Dory - 'Finding Dory' (2016)
The forgetful fish Dory was the breakout star of the 2003 Pixar film Finding Nemo. Her popularity was such that she became the star of the film's inevitable sequel, the 2016 animated adventure Finding Dory. The plot sees her venturing alone to find her long-lost parents, aided by Marlin, Nemo, and a group of ragtag friends she makes along the way.
Dory is a hilarious and endlessly charming character. Funny, energetic, and optimistic, Dory will always look on the bright side of life. Despite her short-term memory, Dory remains enthusiastic about almost everything, venturing into the unknown and dealing with life's many difficulties with enviable wit and drive.
4 Jessie - 'Toy Story 2' (1999)
When she debuted in 1999's Toy Story 2, Jessie was among the most tragic characters in any animated movie. Abandoned by her previous owner, who became a teenager and had no more need for toys, Jessie became depressed, longing for a family and thinking going to a museum was the perfect way to avoid getting hurt again.
Once Jessie becomes friends with Woody and the others, she returns to her free and outgoing self. Jessie also forms a romantic bond with Buzz Lightyear, becoming the toys' de-facto leader after the cowboy and the astronaut. Jessie is a brilliant creation, a bright and complex character who shows life can start over if people allow themselves the chance to believe again.
3 EVE - 'Wall-E' (2008)
It might not be an overstatement to call Wall-E the all-time best Pixar movie. The film follows the titular character, a waste-disposal robot living on a post-apocalyptic Earth who falls for Eve, a highly-advanced robot sent to look for any signs of life form.
Eve has only a few lines, but she doesn't need them. She is full of spirit and drive, initially showing no interest in Wall-E or anything outside her mission. However, Eve evolves, learning there are many things more important than blindly obeying orders. Wall-E is a remarkable look at love and nostalgia through the eyes of two unlikely characters, ranking as Pixar's most thematically-complex and rewarding achievement.
2 Helen Parr - 'Incredibles 2' (2018)
The boys outnumber the girls in The Incredibles, but incredible mom Helen Parr - known to supers as Elastigirl - proves that mothers truly are superheroes. Helen is Bob's equal and one of Metroville's most famous and beloved superheroes - even Syndrome is impressed by the fact Bob married her.
When she isn't leaving saving the world to the men, this stay-at-home mom of three is keeping her household afloat by keeping teenage Violet in line, getting Dash out of trouble, and raising baby Jack-Jack, all while balancing her husband's undercover mission as Mr. Incredible.
1 Merida - 'Brave' (2012)
Brave stars Pixar's first and seemingly only princess, Merida of DunBroch. The impetuous and impulsive redhead learns the true meaning of royalty and family when she, in a rebellious rage, accidentally turns her mother into a bear.
While Merida learns to appreciate her mother during the film, her teenage angst doesn't take away from her strong and independent personality. She refuses to let conventions dictate her future, challenging outdated ideas about feminity to forge her path. Merida is among the best and most complex animated princesses, a role model for girls looking to break the mold.