Violet Parr
Shy teenage superheroine who learns confidence through invisibility and force fields.
Violet Parr is a fictional superheroine appearing in Pixar's animated films *The Incredibles* (2004) and *Incredibles 2* (2018). She is the oldest child and only daughter of Bob and Helen Parr, also known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. Her superhuman abilities include turning invisible and creating force fields. Voiced by Sarah Vowell, Violet is a shy middle school student who wants to fit in with her peers, something she feels her powers make harder. Over the course of the movies, she grows up and becomes more self-assured in both her identity and her abilities.
Writer and director Brad Bird created Violet, choosing invisibility as her power because he thought it reflected the insecurity and defensiveness common among teenage girls. He cast Vowell after hearing her tell a story about her father on the radio program *This American Life*; this was Vowell’s first voice-acting role. Vowell saw herself in Violet’s shy, insecure personality and noticed similarities between Violet’s relationship with Bob and her own relationship with her father. To animate Violet’s hair, Pixar developed new computer technology, as animators found it the most challenging element of the film—no previous computer-animated movie had featured that much hair. Her hair also plays a role in her character development, showing her growing confidence as she stops hiding behind it.
Critics responded positively to Violet, praising her character growth, relatability, and Vowell’s performance. Many compared her to the comic book superheroine the Invisible Woman, who has similar powers. Violet’s likeness has appeared in various tie-in products, including toys, books, and video game adaptations.
**Development**
**Creation and casting** Brad Bird initially imagined Violet as “a 14-year-old teenage girl who just wants to be invisible.” In early versions of the script, she was an infant, because Bob and Helen were originally introduced as retired superheroes much earlier. Sarah Vowell, an American author and radio contributor, got the role unexpectedly. While casting, Bird listened to *This American Life*, where Vowell often appeared. He heard her describe helping her gunsmith father build a cannon and decided she was perfect for Violet, offering her the role immediately. Vowell had turned down many voice-acting jobs before, and her agent warned Bird not to waste his time. She avoided such rol
- field
- Fictional superheroine
- known_for
- Invisibility and force field generation; character development in The Incredibles and Incredibles 2
- voiced_by
- Sarah Vowell
- creator
- Brad Bird
- first_appearance
- The Incredibles (2004)
Quick Facts
- Series
- The Incredibles
- First
- The Incredibles (2004)
- Creator
- Brad Bird
- Voice
- Sarah Vowell
- Full Name
- Violet Parr
- Nickname
- Vi
- Species
- Human
- Occupation
- Middle school student / Superhero
- Lbl22
- Abilities
- Data22
- Invisibility / Force field generation and manipulation
- Family
- Bob Parr (father) / Helen Parr (mother) / Dash Parr (younger brother) / Jack-Jack Parr (youngest brother)
- Significant Other
- Tony Rydinger
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Violet Parr was conceived by screenwriter and director Brad Bird as a 14-year-old teenage girl who just wants to be invisible. In early drafts of the screenplay, Violet was depicted as an infant rather than a teenager. Bird decided to give her invisibility because he felt that this specific superpower represents some of the challenges teenage girls experience growing up, namely insecurity and defensiveness. Violet is voiced by American author and actress Sarah Vowell, who was offered the role unexpectedly after Bird heard her contribute a real-life story about her father to the radio program This American Life. Vowell identified with the character's shy, insecure nature and observed parallels between Violet's relationship with Bob and her relationship with her own father.
New computer technology was developed to animate Violet's hair, which animators described as the most difficult part of The Incredibles since that much hair had never been featured in a computer-animated film before. The character's hair serves as an important aspect of Violet's character development, demonstrating her growing self-confidence as she gradually ceases to hide behind it. Vowell found the recording process somewhat similar to working in radio, though it required more standing, gesturing, and working closely with a director. For the scene in which Violet's family plane crashes into the ocean, Vowell drank from a water bottle while gurgling and gulping to simulate drowning. She recorded her character's screams closer toward the end of filming to preserve her voice.
Reader's Guide
Violet Parr is significant as a nuanced portrayal of a teenage superheroine whose powers directly mirror her emotional struggles. Critics have commended her character development and relatability, as well as Sarah Vowell's vocal performance. Critics have also heavily compared Violet to the comic book superheroine the Invisible Woman, whose superpowers she shares. The character's likeness has since been used in several tie-in media and merchandise associated with the films, including toys, books, and video game adaptations. Vowell's casting was considered unexpected by some, and she has stated that she shares Violet's 'inability to stop pushing people's buttons.' The character's hair animation required new computer technology and was described as the most difficult part of the film. Violet's journey from hiding behind her hair to confidently using her powers has been seen as a metaphor for adolescent self-acceptance, and her voice actress's own identification with the role added authenticity to the performance.
Did You Know?
- Violet's invisibility power was chosen by Brad Bird to represent insecurity and defensiveness in teenage girls.
- Sarah Vowell was cast after Brad Bird heard her tell a story about her father on the radio program This American Life.
- New computer technology was developed to animate Violet's hair, which was the most difficult part of The Incredibles.
- Vowell drank water while gurgling and gulping to simulate drowning sounds for the plane crash scene.
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