rad Bird is best known perhaps as the writer and director of the wonderful film The Iron Giant. It is somewhat less well known that he also worked on the hit TV series The Simpsons, though it should be no surprise. And most recently Brad Bird has given the world the excellent Pixar film The Incredibles and did the voice work for the most dynamic and delightful character in the film, Edna Mode.
Edna Mode, known as "E," is the fashion designer for the superheroes. Or at least she was, until a worldwide movement to get rid of superheroes forced her to design clothing for regular people instead. The film The Incredibles is truly a remarkable work—exciting, action-packed, fun, wholly entertaining. But never more so than when Edna Mode is on screen. Her every movement, her every utterance is perfection. Looking and sounding like a diminutive Linda Hunt, Edna is quirky, obnoxious and completely delightful.
Thinkway Toys has created a 14-inch electronic replica of Edna that responds to voice cues and carries on conversations that, while short, can be sweet. In "play" mode, Edna responds to her name with "What is it?" or "Yes, dahling" and awaits further input. If you delay, she may say "Hellloooo ... are you still there, dahling?" If she gets no input after a while she goes to sleep, announcing it in various ways, including "Yawn ... genius needs sleep, dahling." All in the voice of Brad Bird, writer, director and now voice-over actor.
Edna's feet can be posed, though usefully, only in standing and sitting position. Her arms are fully articulated and can be posed in any position, with rotating shoulders, pivoting elbows and hands that bend and rotate very well. One hand is posed in an open position, the other in a thumbs-up fist. She has short black rooted hair and oversized glasses.
Edna says more than 60 sayings in the original voice.
Converse with genius, dahling!
When you start Edna up, she greets you with: "A guest. Hello, dahling, I'm Edna." Then you have several options for interacting with her. To get her attention, say "Edna," and she will reply in various ways to indicate she is listening. From there you can ask, "Do I look good?"—to which she may reply, "Hmmmmm. Those clothes make a statement, and that is 'Look at me, I have no taste!'" or "Hmmm, perhaps, if you are attending mud wrestling!"
You can ask her for "a makeover," to which she may reply: "Now? You can't! You push too hard, dahling. But I accept. Let me design something for you, OK dahling?" If you don't reply quickly enough, she will say, "Then go follow the lemmings, I cannot save you!" To her "OK, dahling," you may say "Yes" or "OK." If you do, she says, "Now, do you like red, or black?" Try "red": "Aha, red, passion and ambition. I have the perfect look for you! It'll be heroic!" Black may get you "Hmmm, black. Power, mystery! And slimming, yes. Your look will be spectacular!"
Sometimes when she asks, "OK, dahling?" and you reply "OK" or "Yes," she misinterprets it and treats it as a negative. The voice recognition is not, by any stretch of the imagination, perfect.
If you ask, "How are you?" Edna may say, "I am as you see, dahling. Nothing more, nothing less." or "Ah, weary from the struggle against mediocrity, dahling, but not beaten."
"What's up?" yields "What is up? Prices, dahling. Prices." or "The usual trouble, dahling. Read the paper."
"Fashion tips" gets the following responses: "Don't be a follower, dahling. Start a new trend!" or "If you must follow trends, dahling, have the taste to follow mine."
Edna also has a mode for just chatting. "Let's talk." This mode is rather open-ended, but not fulfilling. "No no no, I'm far too busy to chat. Later, dahling." or "You have my attention. Now speak before you lose it." In this mode you can say random things to her and she will simply acknowledge what you say with an "Uh-hmmm" or "Certainly, whatever, dahling." or "Yes, yes, mahvelous, superb!"
Finally, when you wish to end your session, you can say, "Goodbye." Edna responds: "You come see me again soon, OK, dahling? OK. Goodbye." And she goes to sleep. To reawaken her, press a button on her stomach.
The examples given are just a few of the many responses Edna has for various gambits. I wouldn't want to spoil it by revealing them all, or even some of the funniest ones. Needless to say, if you loved Edna as much as I did, you should go find this toy and hear for yourself.
