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30 pieces of wisdom from Pixar characters

By Danielle de Wolfe

04 February 2016

They taught us the importance of friendship with Toy Story, schooled us in the art of perseverance with Finding Nemo, made us all melt inside with Wall-E and had us sobbing like babies with Up. Above all, they made it totally OK for grown men to watch cartoons again.

Pixar, the animated movie powerhouse, blows thirty candles out on their birthday cake this week. As well as settling down to view all three Toy Story films back-to-back tonight, celebrate the milestone by reliving 30 of the most life-affirming, problem-solving and day-improving nuggets of advice they've given us over the years.

It's amazing what a knee-high furry green eyeball with legs can do for your moral compass.

(Images: All Star, YouTube)

Sergeant

Film:Toy Story (1995)

"A good soldier never leaves a man behind!"

Bruce The Shark

Film:Finding Nemo (2003)

''Fish are friends, not food."

Mater

Film: Inside Out (2015)

"All right! We did not die today, I call that an unqualified success."

Stinky Pete The Prospector

Film:Toy Story 2 (1999)

"It's a dangerous world out there for a toy."

Yeti

Film:Monsters Inc. (2001)

"Okay, rule number one out here: Always... no, never go out in a blizzard."

Django

Film:Ratatouille (2007)

"Food is fuel. You get picky about what you put in the tank, your engine is gonna die."

Uncle Topolino

Film:Cars 2 (2011)

"Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro."

("Whoever finds a friend, finds a treasure.")

Queen Elinor

Film:Brave (2012)

"A lady does not place her weapon on the table."

Mike Wazowski

Film:Monsters University (2013)

"Squishy. We're not gonna lose, because we have everything we need to win right here [points to his chest]."

Dory

Film:Finding Nemo (2003)

"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

Barbie

Film:Toy Story 3 (2010)

"Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from threat of force!"

Hopper

Film:A Bug's Life (1998)

"First rule of leadership: Everything is your fault."

Colette

Film:Ratatouille (2007)

"Cooks move fast, sharp utensils, hot metal, keep your arms in, you will minimize cuts and burns and keep your sleeves clean. Mark of a chef: messy apron, clean sleeves."

Henry J. Waternoose

Film:Monsters Inc. (2001)

"There's nothing more toxic or deadly than a human child. A single touch could kill you."

Doc Hudson

Film:Cars (2006)

"I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right."

Slim

Film:A Bug's Life (1998)

"Say, how many roaches does it take to screw in a light bulb? Can't tell. Soon as the light goes on, they scatter."

Syndrome

Film:The Incredibles (2004)

"I learned an important lesson. You can't count on anyone, especially your heroes."

Anger

Film: Inside Out (2015)

"I say we lock ourselves in our room and use that one swear word we know. It's a good one!"

Nigel

Film:Finding Nemo (2003)

"Fish gotta swim, birds gotta eat."

Gusteau

Film:Ratatouille (2007)

"If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead. Now go up and look around!"

Anton Ego

Film:Ratatouille (2007)

"Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."

Edina Mode

Film:The Incredibles (1998)

“I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.”

Flik

Film:A Bug's Life (1998)

"Now, it may seem that you can’t do anything, but that’s just because you’re not a tree yet. You just have to give yourself more time. You’re still a seed."