History WesternAnimation / Up

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The pack of dogs seems to work on this. Given that packs of wild canines usually do work this way, it's also TruthInTelevision.

* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Unusually realistic. Some dirigibles actually ''[[AluminumChristmasTrees were]]'' used to carry observation biplanes.

For the unrelated Granada/BBC documentary series, see ''Series/{{Up}}''. Also not to be confused with the 1976 Russ Meyer film of the same name, which is... not for children to say the least.

* BloodierAndGorier: While not as extreme of as some examples of this trope, the fact that this film actually depicts blood no less than twice qualifies it for this trope in comparison to other movies from Disney and Pixar. The first instance of blood occurs towards the beginning of the movie when Carl accidentally hits Steve with his cane, causing a rather large splotch of blood to appear on his forehead. The second happens after Carl, Russell, Dug and Kevin escape from [[spoiler:Muntz's dogs]]; blood can be seen soaking through the bandage that Russell applies to Kevin's injured leg.

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Even if Charles Muntz was an [[AxCrazy murderous]] narcissist, all he wanted was to restore his reputation by proving he was right about the bird all along, and Carl still saw him as an inspiration in his life even when he became a laughingstock. Thus, when Muntz falls to his death, Carl takes absolutely no pleasure from it.]]

* EarnYourHappyEnding: For just about all the protagonists.
** [[spoiler:Even ''the house'' earns its happy ending, as the ending shows that it landed exactly over the cliff at Paradise Falls.]]

''Up'' (2009) is an animated film from [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Animation Studios]]. It is directed by Creator/PeteDocter (''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc''), with the screenplay by Docter and Bob Peterson, and the story by Docter, Peterson and Tom [=McCarthy=].

''Up'' (2009) is an animated film from [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Animation Studios]], directed by Creator/PeteDocter (''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'').

!!''Up'' provides examples of''SQUIRREL!'':

!!''Up'' provides example'''SQUIRREL!!''' of:

-->--'''Charles Muntz''', later [[BorrowedCatchphrase borrowed]] by '''Ellie'''

''Up'' tells the story of a septuagenarian named Carl Fredricksen (Creator/EdwardAsner) who had promised his wife, Ellie, that they would one day have an adventure and move to Paradise Falls in Venezuela like their childhood hero, Charles Muntz (Creator/ChristopherPlummer). However, life got in the way of them doing it -- repeatedly -- and she passed away before they could. Carl, guilt-ridden, shuts himself off from society in the house they built together. When land developers threaten and scheme to destroy their home, Carl decides to take action and fulfill his promise to his wife. Being a retired balloon man, he ties thousands of helium balloons -- the leftovers of his old trade -- to his house and sets off for Paradise Falls. He has an accidental stowaway in the person of Wilderness Explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai), who has been trying to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge by helping Carl.

''Up'' (2009) is an animated film from [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Animation Studios]]. Directed by Creator/PeteDocter (''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc''), it is the story of a septuagenarian named Carl Fredricksen (Creator/EdwardAsner) who had promised his wife, Ellie, that they would one day have an adventure and move to Paradise Falls in Venezuela like their childhood hero, Charles Muntz (Creator/ChristopherPlummer). However, life got in the way of them doing it -- repeatedly -- and she passed away before they could. Carl, guilt-ridden, shuts himself off from society in the house they built together. When land developers threaten and scheme to destroy their home, Carl decides to take action and fulfill his promise to his wife. Being a retired balloon man, he ties thousands of helium balloons -- the leftovers of his old trade -- to his house and sets off for Paradise Falls. He has an accidental stowaway in the person of Wilderness Explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai), who has been trying to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge by helping Carl.

* BilingualAnimal: The dogs wear collars that enable them to talk, but it doesn't stop them from being able to bark.
-->'''Carl Fredricksen''': "And on your way, learn how to bark like a real dog!"
-->'''Doug''': "I can bark. *woof woof* And here's howling. *Awoo*!"

* BerserkButton:
** For Carl, messing with any of his Ellie-related treasures. [[spoiler:When he realizes he had already fulfilled the adventure he had promised Ellie, he overcomes this and throws the vast majority of the treasures out of the house so it's light enough for him to go after Russell.]]
*** His house, too.
** [[spoiler:For Muntz, Kevin. Because he's been trying for well over sixty years to capture her, you'd do well to try and steer clear of both of them, if you know what's good for you...]]

* TheyCalledMeMad: [[spoiler:Muntz]] once his BerserkButton, [[spoiler:capturing Kevin]], gets pushed.

* YourTomcatIsPregnant: [[spoiler:Kevin the "snipe" is really a mama. But [[TomboyishName her name remains Kevin even after the discovery]]]].

* MeaningfulName:
** The movie title itself. It's literally what the plot is about, going up in the air in a house raised by balloons, and it's where Ellie wanted her house to be above the falls, but it's also Carl's character arc (coming up out of depression and realizing life is still worth living). Also consider the fact Carl seemed ready to die before Russell appeared, so that his whole trip was "going to join Ellie", and the symbolism of going up into the heavens...
** Ellie means "shining light". When Carl is alone in bed and later by the table, the sun is shining where Ellie used to be, literally symbolizing how the "light" of his life is gone.

* BridalCarry: Carl carries Ellie to their house in the opening montage.

* BerserkButton

* BloodierAndGorier: While not as extreme of as some examples of this trope, the fact that this film actually depicts blood no less than twice qualifies it for this trope in comparison to other movies from Disney and Pixar. The first instance of blood occurs towards the beginning of the movie when Carl accidentally hits Steve with his cane, causing a rather large splotch of blood to appear on his forehead. The second happens after Carl, Russell, Dug and Kevin escape from [[spoiler:Muntz's]] dogs; blood can be seen soaking through the bandage that Russell applies to Kevin's injured leg.

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Even if Charles Muntz was a [[AxCrazy murderous]] narcissist, all he wanted was to restore his reputation by proving he was right about the bird all along, and Carl still saw him as a inspiration in his life even when he became a laughingstock. Thus, when Muntz falls to his death, Carl takes absolutely no pleasure from it.]]

* AnAesop: It is all right to grieve your loved ones and the dreams they never got to fulfill. But life is full of adventures, both the mundane and the exciting. After grieving a reasonable amount of time, it's okay to go on a new one and find new dreams. Carl shuts down emotionally after Ellie dies and is plagued with guilt that he never took her to Paradise Falls as he promised. This means he doesn't have any friends in the neighborhood and shoos away one boy who asks for help with a merit badge. It takes [[spoiler:Carl reading Ellie's scrapbook and learning she considered their marriage the greatest adventure to let go of his guilt for not fulfilling the promise, and to pursue a new one with Russell]].

* ArtisticLicenseEngineering: The strength of a structure like a house is dependent on the foundation it is built on. When the house is lifted off the foundation with no reinforcement of the foundation it would fall apart. Furthermore, since the balloons were anchored to the chimney, the rest of the house around it should have been sagging. All excusable thanks to RuleOfCool.

** The idea of a steerable sailing balloon, indeed any balloon at all, being able to do anything at all bar run directly before the wind... that most certainly breaks the laws of physics. The only reason a ''ship'' can do it is because part of it is immersed in a dense medium that the wind has a velocity vector relative to.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: The pack of dogs seems to work on this. Given that packs of wild canines usually do work this way, it is also TruthInTelevision.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Carl tries to stop Steve, a construction worker, from touching his mailbox and accidentally bashes him over the head with his cane hard enough to draw blood. Carl has this reaction and retreats inside, knowing [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the real estate boss]] will use this as an excuse to take his land from him.

* RuleOfSymbolism: The main reason that the balloon-carried house works so well is because it is tied in to some very effective and heart-wrenching thematic elements of the movie.

%%* StumblingUponTheLostWizard: Charles Muntz.

* AdultFear:
** The whole opening really. Carl and Ellie explore a ramshackle house when they were kids, and Carl breaks his arm trying to get his balloon. Who knows what his parents thought. As adults, they try to start a family, only for Ellie to find out she can't have children or miscarried. He then tries to honor her wish to take her to Paradise Falls, only she dies ''just'' as he was going to surprise her with the tickets. Then his house is going to be demolished by corporate interests, and he's going to be sent to a nursing home to wither away. [[spoiler:Ellie's scrapbook mitigates some of those fears when she reassures him that living with him was the greatest adventure of her life]].
** Russell goes missing for several days, unable to contact his mother, his father, or [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Phyllis]]. His mother at the end looks very relieved when he stands for his badge ceremony, if bedraggled.

%% not a trope to be listed here * [[UsefulNotes/{{Airships}} Airships]]: ''The Spirit of Adventure'' is very realistic. Carl's house is... Well, not. It's used like an airship in the film, but technically it's a balloon. The sails would make no difference, except to orient the direction of the house. To steer, balloons must change altitude and catch different wind currents. To go against the wind -- or to catch up with a powered airship -- would require an engine.

''Up'' (2009) is an animated film from [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Animation Studios]]. It is directed by Creator/PeteDocter (''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'') is the story of a septuagenarian named Carl Fredricksen (Creator/EdwardAsner) who had promised his wife, Ellie, that they would one day have an adventure and move to Paradise Falls in Venezuela like their childhood hero, Charles Muntz (Creator/ChristopherPlummer). However, life got in the way of them doing it -- repeatedly -- and she passed away before they could. Carl, guilt-ridden, shuts himself off from society in the house they built together. When land developers threaten and scheme to destroy their home, Carl decides to take action and fulfill his promise to his wife. Being a retired balloon man, he ties thousands of helium balloons -- the leftovers of his old trade -- to his house and sets off for Paradise Falls. He has an accidental stowaway in the person of Wilderness Explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai), who has been trying to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge by helping Carl.