When it comes to Pixar's animated movies, a lot of their childlike charm and magical ingenuity comes from their ability to humanize animal characters. Some of the most compelling and interesting figures in their movies are animals, and a lot of them are much smarter than they may initially seem.
From Up, almost all of the studio's films use inventive and engaging animals to add another layer of entertainment and surface-level playfulness to their stories, even when the focus of the plot may be something much more serious and mature.
Rex
Despite not technically being an animal, Rex's design and appearance as a T-Rex is more than enough to warrant his appearance on this list. He might not be the most intelligent or inventive character that Pixar has ever created, but his undying loyalty to his friends means that he's always willing to make difficult decisions to help others.
His smarts might not come from common sense or academia, but rather an unwavering dedication to doing the right thing and protecting those he cares about. He's one of Pixar's friendliest characters, and he represents everything that it means to be generous and loyal.
Kevin
Although Up is one of Pixar's movies that focuses more on human characters, there are still plenty of animals and creatures that leave a lasting impression on the story. One of these is Kevin, a giant South-American bird that Carl and Russell encounter on their journey to Paradise Falls.
Kevin might not display great intelligence during her journey with her human friends, but she understands the jungle environment in a way that Carl and Russell struggle to do. She helps them navigate the terrain, and eventually assists with their escape from Charles Muntz.
Bruce
Bruce is yet another one of Pixar's characters whose personality goes strongly against his physical appearance. Despite being a huge Great White shark, Bruce could not possibly be more of a welcoming and friendly ally to Marlin and Dory on their adventure. He may sometimes struggle with his carnivorous urges, but he knows better than to let them control him.
In Finding Nemo, Bruce is the leader of the Fish-Friendly Sharks group, promoting the cause of healthy relationships between fish and sharks. This proves that his intelligence is more rooted in his social awareness, as he strives for harmony between species in his part of the sea - a message which the film heavily promotes to its audience.
Arlo
The relationship between Arlo and his friend Spot is one of the central dynamics of The Good Dinosaur, and clearly shows how agreeable and friendly they both are as characters. What makes Arlo's intelligence stand out, however, is how he's able to work effectively with Spot to reunite with his family and survive on his own.
After being torn apart from his parents and two siblings in the wake of a heavy rainstorm, Arlo is left completely alone and without any help. He manages to use his intelligence to keep himself alive long enough to enlist the help of Spot, who assists as he manages to figure out his way home. As far as dinosaurs go, that's about as intelligent as they come.
Dug
When it comes to the main animals in Pixar films, they usually come in two forms. The main character, or the handy and loyal sidekick. In Up, Dug cleanly fits into the latter description. Although Up is a movie that often deals with serious issues, Dug is an unwaveringly loyal source of entertainment and company to his friends Carl and Russell.
His voice modifier also allows him to talk to his friends, which works wonders in displaying exactly how intelligent and helpful he actually can be. He's a huge help during the gang's escape from Muntz's airship, and he manages to use his wits and skills to evade the other dogs from which he's fled.
Nemo
Despite getting lost and separated from his family, Nemo is clearly an intelligent character that knows how to survive on his own and protect himself from outside threats. His biggest downfall is his own independence and brazenness, which is what leads to his disappearance in the first place.
Throughout the course of the film, however, Nemo learns that independence and freedom don't mean anything if you just use them to disappear from your loved ones. It's a smart lesson that's necessary for Nemo to learn in order to return home, and proves his intelligence when it comes to his relationship with his father Marlin.
Flik
In Life, Flik's journey begins when he starts to question his purpose in life. With everybody around him forcing him into compliance to be a good worker ant, all he wants to do is gain his freedom and excel in other aspects of life.
He's incredibly intelligent and inventive, and often uses his initiative to take control of the situation and conceive creative solutions to life's many problems and setbacks. He doesn't want to abandon his post as a worker ant, but he knows that there's more to life and stops at nothing to find it.
Queen Elinor
Although Elinor isn't actually an animal, her journey throughout the course of Brave sees her transformed several times into a humanoid bear. As a result of her daughter Merida's interactions with a supernatural witch, Elinor is turned into an animal and has to help her daughter transform her back before it's too late.
In both her human and animal forms, Elinor is an extremely intelligent character that always puts her daughter's life first. She quickly understands the stakes at play, and immediately formulates a plan to help protect her family and defeat the supernatural threat.
Marlin
Marlin may not have been able to prevent Nemo from getting lost in the ocean, but that certainly doesn't mean that he isn't an extremely intelligent character that thinks well under pressure and will go to any lengths to get what he wants - particularly for his son.
The way that Marlin is able to clearly and effectively communicate with others along his journey, most notably with Dory, proves that he's a quick-thinker and is able to spontaneously think through the best course of action, even when his son's life is on the line. It's this dedication to the cause that makes Marlin and Nemo one of the best families in all of Pixar's movies.
Remy
Whether you're a fan of Ratatouille or not, it's hard to deny that Remy is the only animal on this list who could even come close to running a restaurant under the high pressure and high stakes seen in the film. He works both independently and in cooperation with others to make food that even the most skilled humans couldn't cook, proving just how advanced his abilities are and just how intelligent he can be.
Although Remy's intelligence may not come in the same forms of social awareness or protective instincts as some of this list's other animals, the fact that he's able to compete with trained human professionals just proves how incredible he is at the skill that he has mastered. He's become one of Pixar's fan-favorite characters thanks to his interesting backstory and hilarious antics.
