Edna Mode
Edna "E" Mode[1][2][3] is a fictional character in Pixar's animated superhero film The Incredibles (2004) and its sequel Incredibles 2 (2018). She is an eccentric fashion designer renowned for creating the costumes of several famous superheroes, having worked particularly closely with Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl (Bob and Helen Parr), with whom she has remained friends. When the couple resumes their superhero careers after a fifteen-year hiatus, Edna is summoned out of retirement to help both characters – now parents – with their costumes, personal lives, and family matters.
Edna Mode
Edna was created by writer and director Brad Bird to explain how The Incredibles' superheroes obtain their costumes, a topic he believes is rarely explored in superhero films convincingly. Bird also decided to voice the character himself after several actresses originally considered for the role failed to replicate Edna's unique accent. The director understood that, in addition to fashion expertise, the character would need to demonstrate proficiency in science, engineering and technology in order to create costumes capable of withstanding the trials of superheroic activities, and ultimately conceived her as a short, confident character of both German and Japanese descent based on these countries' reputations as small yet powerful nations. Inspired by Q from the James Bond franchise, Edna is widely believed to have been based primarily on costume designer Edith Head, although there continues to be constant speculation as to which celebrities inspired Edna, particularly Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Iris Apfel and actress Linda Hunt.
Despite having only supporting roles in both films, Edna has since established herself as The Incredibles' breakout character due to her popularity among fans. Film critics agree that Edna is a scene-stealer, particularly praising her humor and dialogue; Bird has also been lauded for his voice acting, earning an Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production for his performance as the character. Edna has been recognized as one of Pixar's greatest characters by several prominent media publications.
Appearances[edit]
Edna first appears in The Incredibles as a fashion designer to superheroes and close friend of the titular characters.[21] During the "golden age of superheroes",[11] Edna is one of a few elite guests who attend the private wedding ceremony of Bob and Helen Parr, then better-known to the public as the superheroes Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. After all superheroes have been outlawed and forced to retire following a series of lawsuits,[25] forcing Edna to retire from superhero work due to government restrictions,[11] Edna does not appear again until approximately midway through the film when she is unexpectedly visited by Bob who has resumed superhero work undercover, a secret he keeps from his family. Bob initially asks Edna to simply repair his original super suit, but she ultimately convinces him to allow her to design an entirely new outfit on the condition that capes not be incorporated whatsoever due to safety concerns, ultimately ending her 15 years-long retirement from superhero work.[52] Helen soon discovers that Bob's original super suit had received a patch job, determining that the only person capable of repairing a super suit would be Edna and growing more suspicious of Bob's actions.[23] Later in the film, Helen visits Edna in the hopes of finding out more information about Bob's whereabouts, discovering that she had taken the liberty of designing a complete matching set of super suits for his family.[42] Although their reunion is brief, Edna provides an initially distraught Helen with the encouragement she needs to resume her identity as Elastigirl in order to save her husband (and their marriage), in addition to introducing the character to the homing device she had implanted in her husband's suit, intentionally revealing his exact location to her.[42]
Edna appears in the film's sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018). When Helen is recruited by a pair of entrepreneurs to change the public's perception of superheroes and thus returns to work to fight crime as Elastigirl,[27] Edna is upset to learn that Elastigirl's costume has been designed by a rival designer. Bob soon becomes overwhelmed by Jack-Jack's emerging superpowers, and recruits Edna for assistance with controlling him. Although Edna is initially reluctant to babysit Jack-Jack,[27] she soon develops a strong liking for the baby and she is willing to babysit him that leads to a newborn’s unexpected range of superpowers.[27] She gives the enhanced suit to Bob in a custom shopping bag, which bears a logo for her services that incorporates her signature eyeglasses into its lettering.[27] Edna also appears in Disney on Ice's adaptation of the film: The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure.[53] The time that Edna spends looking after Jack-Jack is the focus of the animated short Auntie Edna.
Critical reception[edit]
The public was immediately captivated by Edna upon her debut, expressing fascination with the character's irreverence and sulkiness.[21] Edna instantly established herself as a fan favorite in 2004,[54] which Racked's Carlye Wisel attributed to the character's combination of wit and style.[27] Several critics have described Edna as a scene-stealer.[13][30][31][32][55] Dubbing Edna "One of the great scene-stealing characters in The Incredibles", HowStuffWorks contributor Vicki Arkoff called her "deliciously deadpan".[7] Ken Hanke, writing for the Mountain Xpress, considers Edna to be among the film's most delightful gags, particularly highlighting the character's anti-cape monologue while deeming her "worth the price of admission".[56] Film critic Peter Bradshaw, contributing to The Irish Times, described Edna as "a joy with her wonderful and appropriate maxim: 'I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.'"[57] Dorothy Woodend, writing for The Tyee, found Edna "more interesting ... than all the Incredibles put together".[45] Referred to as one of the film's "high point[s]", Kevin Lally of Film Journal International described the character's anti-cape montage as "pricelessly funny",[58] a sentiment with which Matt Brunson of Creative Loafing agreed.[38] The National Post described Edna as "exactly the kind of person you want at your dinner party".[41] Notable Biographies identified Edna as "one of the audience's favorite characters".[59]
Bird has also received critical acclaim for his voice acting. Nell Minow of Common Sense Media said Bird "plays the funniest character in the film",[60] while AllMovie's Perry Seibert described his performance as "screamingly funny".[61] Pete Vonder Haar of Film Threat said Bird deliver's the film's best voice acting and dialogue, calling the character's rant about the "idiocy" of capes "priceless".[62] Scott Chitwood, writing for ComingSoon.net, agreed that Bird is "absolutely hilarious as Edna".[63] Empire's Colin Kennedy dubbed Bird's voice work "an unmistakable highlight".[64] BBC's Stella Papamichael agreed that the director "steals the show" as Edna.[65] Carla Meyer, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, said Bird's performance as Edna demonstrates his versatility.[42] In 2005, Bird won an Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production at the 32nd Annie Awards for his performance as Edna,[66] in addition to being rewarded for writing and directing the film.[67] Bird was rewarded over actor Samuel L. Jackson, who had been nominated in the same category for his role as Frozone.[68] Wisel appreciated Edna's cameo in the sequel, describing it as "perfect in its restraint".[27]
Vulture ranked Bird's Edna the fourth-greatest performance in an animated film, calling it "a scene- and movie-stealing performance".[17] Similarly, Entertainment Weekly placed Edna fourth on their ranking of "The 10 greatest Pixar voice performances", with author Marc Snetiker calling it "an all-too-short but memorably delicious appearance" in which Bird "left an indelible mark on his own universe".[69] Snetiker called the character "overwhelmingly funny thanks to Bird's unrestrained efforts on even the simplest lines".[69] IndieWire ranked Bird's performance as Edna the 14th "30 Best Voice Performances In Pixar Movies".[20] Kiko Martinez of the San Antonio Current found Bird's performance to be worthy of an Academy Award.[70] Bird revealed that fans tend to be more impressed by the fact that he provides Edna's voice than his success as a director and writer,[71] explaining, "If I say a line in Edna's voice, that's far more delightful than the fact that I spent four years wrestling something into being."[72]