Since its inception, Pixar has received praise for its unique storytelling in its feature films. Critical to these stories are the characters that drive the movies. Pixar crafted a specific formula for how each plot should unfold, which typically revolves around a flawed protagonist whose everyday routine is changed in a dramatic way, leading to them changing for the better.

In spite of this formulaic strategy, the differences between Pixar protagonists result in some being better than others. The contrast between the characters at the beginning and end of their respective films, their motivations, and their consistency affect their strength as main characters. Some benefit from entire trilogies to explore them, while others only need one movie to display their qualities.

Lightning McQueen Evolves Into a Proper Mentor Cars

The road was certainly bumpy for the Cars franchise, but Lightning McQueen was able to emerge as a strong protagonist at the end of the trilogy.