Updated on December 10, 2021
This week’s minorities in cartoons entry is Frozone, a character from the 2004 Pixar movie “The Incredibles.”
Background
Frozone (real name: Lucius Best) is a superhero with ice-themed powers, similar to those of his corporate cousins Elsa (of Disney’s “Frozen”) or Iceman (of Marvel’s X-Men). As such, Frozone used his abilities to fight crime, until a ban on superheroes functioning forced him into retirement. During Lucius’ retirement, he married an unknown woman (only heard as an off-screen voice) who’s aware of his former superheroic life. It’s not known if she was a superheroine herself.
Frozone’s also the best friend of Mr. Incredible (real name: Robert “Bob” Parr), as well as a friend of Bob’s family. Bob’s speedster son Dash particularly likes Lucius’ ice tricks.
The ice powers of Frozone carry one weakness: he’s unable to use them in environments with a lack of moisture in the air, or when he’s dehydrated. This comes into play in one scene in the film, when Bob and Lucius are engaged in secretive heroics, defying the ban on superheroes/their wives’ wishes.
The DVD for “The Incredibles” carries an extra, a retro 1960s-style animated short done with purposefully poor animation, similar to “Clutch Cargo.” The cartoon’s pesented as an in-universe pilot for a cartoon based on Mr. Incredible and Frozone’s adventures. The best part is that it comes with a commentary track by the two starring heroes ripping its flaws apart. Frozone points out with disgust that (reflecting a 1960s TV mindset) the cartoon’s producers made his animated counterpart Caucasian.
Voice actors
Samuel L. Jackson voiced Frozone. Jackson later went on to appear in another superhero-related role for Disney, playing Nick Fury in Marvel Studios’ films.
(Updated 11/23/16)
