Woody and Buzz are one of the most iconic friendships in Pixar's history. When fans think of definitive friendships in animated characters, Woody and Buzz are likely high on the list. They began as enemies, with Woody's jealousy preventing him from welcoming Buzz to the group like everyone else. But, when they must become unlikely allies, Buzz and Woody end up becoming the best of friends on their journey back to Andy. As well-known as Woody and Buzz may be, they are not Pixar's only set of great friends. Pixar's movies have developed several important friendships that have stood the test of time.
Although The Incredibles is mostly a family-oriented movie with the Parrs at its center, Mr. Incredible and Frozone still manage to have one of the best friendships in Pixar's history. The simple understanding of the other side of the tracks dynamic between Lightning McQueen and Mater gives Cars a more emotional substance at its core.
The unlikely adventure partners Carl and Russell deliver one of the sweetest relationships Pixar has offered. Joy and Sadness unknowingly rely on each other to grow. But once they do recognize that, it makes their relationship even more beautiful when they allow for Riley to feel everything.
10 Woody and Buzz - Toy Story (1995)
These enemies-turned-best friends are a staple of Pixar. Once they adapt into their friendship, these two will do nearly anything for each other. Buzz leads the team in searching for Woody after Woody is accidentally taken at a garage sale. Woody refuses to leave Buzz's side when Andy plans on bringing Woody with him to college.
Buzz accepts Woody's decision to start a new adventure with Bo Peep. They co-lead the other toys as a unit while supporting each other constantly. Their individual character growth, and development in their friendship, only makes them stronger.
9 Mike and Sully - Monsters, INC (2001)
In Monsters Inc, Mike and Sully are already a solid unit. They have known each other for years, know each other's quirks, and work perfectly as a team. They rely on each other to hide Boo from the rest of their world, and even when they fight, Mike and Sully will still be there for each other in the end. Monsters University shows that their friendship came to be through rivalry and conflict. Sometimes in Pixar movies, the best friendships can come out of conflicts.
8 Marlin and Dory - Finding Nemo (2003)
All Marlin wants is to find his son when he crashes into Dory. Lonely, Dory teams up with Marlin to find Nemo, going on a grand adventure across the sea. For as serious and single-minded as Marlin can be, Dory perfectly balances him out.
Although she has short-term memory loss, Dory is a breath of fresh air rather than a nuisance to the mission. Finding Dory expands on their found family dynamic, with Marlin and Nemo taking inspiration from Dory in their search to reunite with the third member of their small family.
7 Lightning McQueen and Mater - Cars (2006)
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Lightning McQueen comes from bright lights, fame, fortune, and success. Mater comes from a rundown small-town junkyard. They have almost nothing in common. But with Lightning McQueen stuck in this town for the foreseeable future and experiencing a different type of life, Mater ends up being a lifeline.
These two, as much as Lightning McQueen may not have anticipated it, end up becoming very close. Mater's upbeat personality wins over Lightning McQueen's cynical attitude, and the following two movies use their friendship to their advantage.
6 Remy and Linguini - Ratatouille (2007)
Remy and Linguini have a very unconventional friendship. It is not very common that the average person makes friends with a rat. Yet, Ratatouille creates an entire movie surrounding the concept. Linguini can not cook, but Remy can. Constantly surrounded by different smells and tastes, Remy has a distinct advantage as a rat.
His wish to be a chef is granted in a bizarre deal with the bumbling young man. Linguini goes to work every day, and Remy takes control of the kitchen by using the strands of the human's hair as if the master of a puppet.
5 Joy and Sadness - Inside Out (2015)
Joy and Sadness are not friends at the beginning. Joy's short-sightedness prevents her from understanding what Sadness brings to Riley's life other than misery. Only in the final act of the movie does Joy truly get it. Sadness is not just responsible for making Riley cry randomly for no reason. Sadness is important, perhaps the most important emotion. Sadness understands empathy and sympathy. Allowing Riley to feel sad means Riley is not keeping emotions locked in or ignoring them. Embracing what it means to cry allows Riley the full extent of human emotion, and Sadness taking the wheel also allows Joy to participate.
Riley's sadness allows her parents and friends to know something is wrong. Riley's parents being there to help her through it allows Joy to let Riley be happy about being comforted. The friendship Sadness and Joy build throughout Inside Out is one of the most important in Pixar movies, because the film does not just need them to be friends or stop fighting. The movie needs them to understand each other and know they need each other.
4 Luca and Alberto - Luca (2021)
Two boys desperate for friendship and adventure get both once they meet. Luca strives to see a world outside his home environment. Alberto wants a family he can depend on. During Luca and Alberto's adventures on land, they find their way to both. Alberto and Luca's friendship is the most important part of Luca, but the friendships they make along the way with other characters can not be ignored either.
Everyone in this movie helps Luca and Alberto come even more into themselves. But, these two supporting each other and relying on each other to experience a greater world is the heart of the story.
3 Carl and Russell - UP (2008)
The unexpectedly sweet friendship between Carl and Russell is one of the things that lets UP work. The movie's beginning is one of the most emotionally devastating in Pixar's history. However, Russell's upbeat and charismatic persona helps lift the movie into a more positive vision. Carl may still be angry and bitter, but even he can not help but try to protect young Russell during their adventure, even though he does not necessarily want Russell there originally.
Realizing that they are both missing important people in their lives, Russell and Carl end up relying on each other to help fill the void. They become their own little family, and it is everything they both needed.
2 Mei, Abby, Priya, and Miriam - Turning Red (2022)
Turning Red finds Mei at a very difficult point in her life. Rather than what Mei likely expected would happen when she hit puberty, life gets much more interesting when she transforms into a giant red panda instead. Mei's friends do not hate her, fear her, or become disgusted by her, though. Instead, they are excited and supportive.
The quartet happily uses Mei's red panda to make money for concert tickets. This quartet brings out the best in each other, and it is exciting to see female friendship so positively portrayed in this movie.
1 Mr. Incredible and Frozone - The Incredibles (2004)
Mr. Incredible and Frozone's friendship dates back to before the beginning of The Incredibles. As superheroes and regular people, Mr. Incredible and Frozone are best friends, helping each other at every turn. Even though Frozone does not love sneaking around with Mr. Incredible after hero work is outlawed, he still does it because his best friend insists.
But, Frozone is also close with the rest of the Parr family, watching out for the kids and having a close connection with Helen as well.