Tag: disney

“Good day to try.”

From: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Quasimodo

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1996 Disney animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Loosely based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name, the film follows the Notre Dame‘s hunchbacked bellringer, Quasimodo. Quasimodo is a kindhearted soul who stays in the belltower of Notre Dame, hidden from the general public due to his disfigurement. Even knowing he will be shunned because of how he looks, he yearns to be with the general populace.

The quote comes very early in the film. Quasimodo turns to a bird he had been taking care of in Notre Dame. The bird is afraid to try to fly because of its age. Quasimodo tells the bird that, because it’s the day of the Festival of Fools, this would be a lucky day to try, delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Stop postponing the things you want to try. Whether it be learning a new skill or trying out a new hobby, the best day and time to try something new is always now.

“There’s a platypus controlling me!”

From: Phineas and Ferb

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. The show revolves around Phineas and Ferb, two brothers who, thanks to their inventive minds as well as engineering skills, manage to create and build various fantastical object in order to enjoy themselves during their summer vacation. Their sister, Candace, always wants to “bust [her] brothers” by telling on them to their mom. However, Phineas and Ferb’s creations usually vanish before their mom arrives. This is usually due to some mishap, usually caused by their pet platypus, Perry, who also a secret agent, and his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

The quote comes from the episode Brain Drain. In the episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz puts a mind control helmet on his nemesis, Perry the Platypus, and he is able to control everything he does. Later, as they goes to pick up his daughter at a junk yard where a party is being held, a mishap happens and Phineas, Ferb and their friends are able to control Perry the Platypus with their gaming controllers. Thinking Dr. Doofenshmirtz is the final boss of the game they’re playing, they attack him while controlling Perry. While escaping, Dr. Doofenshmirtz falls down a hill, gets his hands covered with glue and gets records attached to his fingers. Perry then puts the mind control helmet on him and controls him to do rap called “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” in front of his daughter and his friends. He delivers the quote (in song) which the crowd believes is a metaphor instead of being literal.

Geek wisdom: Although Dr. Doofenshmirtz was using the quote literally, the metaphorical way of thinking of it is also true. We all have something that is telling us what to do, both literally and figuratively. It can be hard to find that balance between these outside forces and what we want to do but that’s just the way life is.

“In the end, my girlfriend became my archenemy, my archenemy became my best friend, and my best friend became my girlfriend. But hey, that’s high school!”

From: Sky High

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Will Stronghold

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2005 teen superhero movie, Sky High. One of Disney‘s lesser known superhero movies (way before they acquired Marvel), Sky High revolves around a teenager named Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angararo). Will isn’t your ordinary teen, however, as he is the son of the greatest superheroes of the world, The Commander/Steve Stronghold and Jetstream/Josie Stronghold. Unfortunately for Will, despite him coming of age, he still hasn’t developed any powers yet. As such, he is sent to the “sidekick” section of Sky High. While at Sky High, Will must navigate through regular high school life such as falling in love, making new friends, making the right friends, facing off against bullies as well as fighting off supervillains. Okay, maybe not that last one but you get the idea.

The quote comes from the very end of the film. After Will Stronghold and the “sidekicks” managed to save the day, he goes on to reminisce how the rest of his first year of high school was like. He then summarizes his current relationships with the people he ran into by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Your relationships with people will change over time. You may change. They may change. Whatever the reason, the people from your past you didn’t like before may turn out more appealing to you now. So, maybe it’s a good idea to give these people a second chance.

“I don’t want to survive. I want to live.”

From: WALL-E

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Captain McCrea

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar and Disney computer animated film, WALL-E. Set years in the future, mankind has polluted the planet to the point where Earth cannot sustain life. The entire population of Earth are launched into space and a group of robots are left behind in the hopes of making the planet habitable again. More years pass and only one robot, the titular WALL-E, is still dutifully doing his duty. However, it has also developed its own personality. One day, a recon droid known as EVE is sent back to Earth to check on its habitability and the two strike a relationship.

The quote comes near the end of the film. EVE, thanks to WALL-E, has found a living plant, proving the Earth can sustain life again. The captain of the ship, Captain McCrea (voiced by Jeff Garlin) wants to go back to earth but is stopped by the ship’s AI computer, AUTO, denies the order, saying they have to stay in space in order to stay alive. In a bout of frustration, Captain McCrea delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is a difference between being alive and actual living life. Being alive is going through life without passion and happiness and just gritting your teeth no matter how bad things are. Living life is to actually make an effort to make things better for yourself. We should all strive for the latter.

“This morning was good. But then I got up.”

From: Freaky Friday (2003)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Evan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2003 comedy, Freaky Friday. Produced by Disney, the film stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan as Tess and Anna Coleman, respectively. Tess is a hardworking psychologist and Anna mother while Anna is a rebellious teen. One Friday, they accidentally taunt each other about how hard their lives are. They then wake up the next morning in each other’s bodies.

The quote comes near the start of the film. Tess arrives at her office to find her most neurotic patient, Evan (played by the late Willie Garcon), waiting for her. After the regular pleasantries, Tess asks Evan how he’s doing and he replies with the quote.

Geek Wisdom: Not everyday is going to be the best day of your life. There are always going to be good days and there are always going to be bad days. We just have to take them as we get them.

“…When it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.”

From: Mulan

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Ron Swanson

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote from 1998 Disney animated film Mulan. Based on the stories of the Chinese folk hero, Hua Mulan, this has Mulan disguise herself as a man in order to save her elderly father from being conscripted into the army.

The quote comes near the start of the movie. Mulan feels ashamed after throwing her meeting with a matchmaker into disarray. Her father, Fa Zhao (voiced by Soon-Tek Oh) tries to comfort her inadvertently by commenting on the blooming flowers. He then points out one that has not opened up yet and this is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People have to go at their own pace. We cannot rush things nor can we intentionally slow things down to wait for others.

“Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less Joy.”

From: Inside Out 2

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Joy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2024, the movie is a sequel to the first Inside Out. With Riley hitting puberty, she gains a bunch of new emotions, including Anxiety. Anxiety kicks the original emotions out of the control room as well as throw out Riley’s old Sense of Self. They now have to find a way back to regain control of Riley and try to give her back her original Sense of Self.

The quote comes near the end of the film, Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) is dismayed as, while they did retrieve the Sense of Self, they have no way of returning to Riley’s control center. Unsure of what to do next and knowing that Anxiety may be destroying Riley’s life, Joy delivers the quote.

Geek Wisdom: Growing up can be painful. It’s when you have to realize life can be hard and you do have to shed some of your childish ways of thinking in order to make room for learning how to be responsible in life.

“I made an educated wish!”

From: Deadpool and Wolverine

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Deadpool

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, technically, the third Deadpool film, Deadpool and Wolverine. Featuring the Marvel superheroes, the aforementioned Deadpool and Wolverine, played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, respectively, the movie has the Merc with a Mouth partnering with the former Weapon X in a quest to save his universe.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Deadpool and Wolverine are travelling when the former lets it slip that he doesn’t really know if the Time Variance Authority can fix the latter’s universe. Wolverine confronts Deadpool about this and, to defend himself, Deadpool delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom:  The world can be unfair at times and all you can do is try your best and hope all that hard work will bear fruit. Sometimes it will but sometimes it won’t. All we can do is make the “educated wish” things will work out.

“Somehow, Palpatine returned.”

From: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Poe Dameron

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote initially comes from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Produced by Disney via Lucasfilm, this was the last entry of the new trilogy.

The quote comes from the start of the film. The First Order begins to rally after it is discovered that the Empire‘s previous leader, Emperor Palpatine, is still alive. The Rebels manage to retrieve this bit of information, which Poe Dameron (played by Oscar Isaac) relays to the group in one of the most unnatural sounding lines ever.

Geek wisdom: If there’s a fire in your house, you concentrate on putting out the fire and not what caused the fire in the first place. Sometimes, it’s more important to recognize what problem is happening in the present and solving that. Only after it’s done should you try to figure out the cause.

“Congratulations, San Francisco! You’ve ruined pizza! First the Hawaiians and now you!”

From: Inside Out

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anger

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2015, the film revolves around the inner emotions of Riley, a pre-teen who had to move to San Francisco with her family. 

The quote comes early in the film when Riley and her mom go to a pizza place and they realize the people in San Francisco put broccoli on their pizza. This prompts Anger (voiced by Lewis Black) to deliver the quote.

Geek wisdom: Different locations and different cultures will take one thing and adapt it for their own. While it may “ruin” it for some, some others may actually like it. Trying something different that may be terrible might not be so bad after all.