Iron Giant
"You are what you choose to be." This is what Dean, the scrap-metal artist, tells Hogarth Hughes as he rants about his classmates. Hogarth then teaches it to the Giant who relates it to himself. At the climax of the film, the Giant has transformed into a very large, defensive weapon when Hogarth reminds him that he doesn't have to be a weapon, "You are what you choose to be." The giant chooses to be a hero-like Superman. This theme is based on the need for meaning, security, and acceptance.
Mulan
Mulan
At the end of the movie Mulan, the Chinese Emperor admonishes Mulan: "I have heard a great deal about you, Fa Mulan. You stole your Father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived you commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese army, destroyed my palace! . . . and you have saved us all." As Mulan headed for home, the Emperor tells Shang (Mulan's commanding officer and love interest), "A flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." This communicates the needs of acceptance, love, and order.
The Triplets of Belleville
The Triplets of Belleville
On the surface, this almost seems cliché: Love will defeat all odds (even the French mafia). But this is actually too simplistic. Triplets is a complicated film that also comments on parenting, the world of sports, the world of arts and class systems, and more.
The Incredibles
A herd sticks together. No really . . . Mr. Incredible can't work alone . . . strengths, weaknesses make us whole. Mr. Incredible must learn that he needs help to be a successful superhero.