Who would have thought I'd go nuts over an animated character? Who would have thought I'd even create a blog just for Baby Jack-Jack? I've really gone overboard. It's like when I see his face and the myriad changes of expressions, depending on complete attention, fascination, joy, amusement, or even anger, I'd break into endless laughter. And the voice that goes with it is simply perfect for me. It's so real, vibrant, and alive in my heart. The creators of Jack-Jack really know how to tickle my many funny bones. That's his face when he looked closer at the movie being shown while his tired Dad dozes off. He became fascinated by the masked robbers on-screen and when one of them says to "check the door", Jack-Jack looks at his glass door and finds a raccoon scavenging food in their trash bin. He connects the two hooded images in his baby's mind and bingo -- raccoon gets it. That's what makes me laugh so hard. All those little changes in his face and mien. It's like fickle weather that changes so fast. He's so pure and adorable and so perfect for my soul's mirth. If you wish to view that lovely, expressive face trying to "process" what he's watching on TV, go check this video right now.
Ever seen a one-year-old baby walk on the ramp, as if he was a model? Well, Jack-Jack did that for his Auntie Edna who fell in love with this tyke's personality so she created an outfit perfect for his many super powers. I thought it'd be fun to take shots (a bit blurred, sorry) of his legendary ramp walk starting with some hesitation as he is being coaxed to show the suit.
Followed by more confidence as she says, "The room is yours. We are lucky to be in your presence". So you see him lifting his head up a bit.
After which, she asks him to "turn" and this he does with the craziest and funniest aplomb, head and chin up high, shoulders back, raised eyebrows, half-lidded eyes, pursed lips -- pretty much in parody of those fashion models -- but with more heart and friendliness in his being.
And the little one struts a bit more...
Pleased, Auntie Edna declares, "You are a tiny god!" To which, his reaction's shown here:
After which, he hears a beeping sound and a red button appears on the panel on a wall. He forgets his "divinity" and becomes just a baby when he realizes his father has arrived and will pick him up.
Snobbish with others but tender with this adorable, gifted baby, Auntie Edna gives him a little gift which the little one excitedly accepted.
And they walk happily ever after.
Now you know I've lost my brain. But I've re-captured my heart. Jack-Jack is my heart. He makes me laugh a lot. Reminding me of the child within me. P.S. You can watch the whole segment here:
I have always loved babies. A new-born baby has such lovely, tiny hands -- so delicate and sacred -- same with his feet. It makes my heart tender when I see babies, I almost don't want to carry them because they're so fragile. But carry I did, almost all my nephews, nieces, godchildren, and my special, special sis. And when I commute to town alongside other passengers, I'm constantly fascinated by those hands and feet that would sometimes tap my arm or leg as I sit beside them. To be touched by a baby is a God-given gift for me. Watch how he taps his Dad's hand affectionately in glee at the end of this short trailer:
Another tap of that tiny hand sends a different message in this video:
I mean, look, such tiny hands but such power! Could be lethal, too, and he's just getting to know his many powers. He almost incinerated mistaken-thief raccoon here:
One day, I suppose he can tell others to "talk to the hand" if they're being mean or rowdy. For now, what he cannot say in words, he says with his hands, a look, or his delicious baby talk. Jack-Jack is LIFE. He is pure expression. I pray he remains one-year-old and no older for he's at his cutest, purest, and most magnificent.
Jack-Jack representsall these in my life: 1. He represents LIFE. He makes me laugh my head off with his many antics and use of powers, especially at how he laughs at his Dad who couldn't believe his powers. 2. He represents LOVE. He adores his parents and siblings. He especially loves his Dad who amuses him a lot. He is so lovable even stern Auntie Edna warmed up to him -- only to him. 3. He represents HAPPINESS. I love the way he taps his Dad's hand several times as he laughs at the momentary confusion of his Dad when exposed to his powers. 4. He represents PURITY. Even as Auntie Edna called him a "tiny god" after making that suit and he laughs heartily, he becomes a baby again when he learns his father is around to pick him up. 5. He represents INNOCENCE. He has such a lovely, wide-eyed look when faced with something new and even mistakes a raccoon for a robber because both have stripes around their eyes. 6. He represents CHARM. By mimicking Auntie Edna's face and showing off some of his powers, he melted her heart and she shooed his Dad from the house so she can focus on Jack-Jack. 7. He represents POTENTIAL. We know he has many powers, 17 of them it's been said, but maybe it's more. He's just playing with the energy he has, pleased with what he can do, too. It was fun walking alongside him as he discovers his powers. It was all so perfectly-depicted, timing and all. Here's a link wherein director Brad Bird and producer John Walker thought it would be fun to add more powers to the little one each time.
And, perhaps, I have. Going ga-ga about Jack-Jack and even creating a blog solely devoted oh him. Thing is, I have a very strong sense of hearing. I don't watch movies much or listen to music much but when I hear a "certain" voice with a "certain" tone or timbre, boy, I have to investigate it, for it speaks directly to my soul. Just like when I heard "God's Own Magical Song" many moons ago. Of course, I had to document that moment, even if it took me more moons to reveal it. So when I saw a trailer on cable showing Jack-Jack spouting those laser eyes as he is being held by his Dad, I was understandably intrigued by this baby. But, of course, I'm a random watcher on cable. I only watch when I need to rest my brain from blogging. Then one day on 25 June 2019, I finally got to watch parts of "Incredibles 2" and was forever in the service of the fascinating little Jack-Jack. Because I'm a perpetual journalist, I dug out more info about the little one and wrote it here. And, of course, me being me, that article spawned on its own steam, until finally I decided to create "Baby Jack-Jack" blog and the articles for other blogs just kept coming. You know that saying you couldn't stop even if you wanted to? I had the heart material for such a personal project -- feeding my soul with Jack-Jack's lovely, quirky personality and lovely laughter using Eli Fucile's 10-month-old baby voice, recorded by his Pixar animator dad, Tony Fucile, and given to director Brad Bird for use in the film. When you withhold a cookie from hungry Jack-Jack or when he mistakenly thinks a raccoon is a thief and sets out to "get" him, you're hearing the war-crazy voice of Nicholas Bird, one of the sons of Brad Bird. All these things I'm enjoying about this robust baby only materialized because I'm sure God inspired all these super-talented and patient artists to create something I'll go ga-ga over for the rest of my life, so I thank them all from my bottomless heart. It's also fun to know how the Jack-Jack voice came about, as Tony Fucile spoke to Brad Bird about his 10-month-old baby boy, Eli:
"You know, Eli's been doing wacky sounds. It's this sort of pre-verbal jag he goes on. He'll wake up and he just goes. It's laughter and sort of all over the place."
It's too bad we all grew up. If only we could have remained gurgling, giggling, happy, innocent, and playful, maybe this world would be better, yes? All babies come from God. We were all babies once. Thus, we all came from God. Thank you, Jack-Jack for reminding me of who I once was. A curious, delighted baby loved by God.
How can such a tiny thing have soooo many powers? That I find fascinating, to the point even his back side is worth a look. I'm just fascinated by his form -- the large head, the ears jutting out, the spike of baby hair on top of his head, the large, round, expressive eyes, the brows knitting together when he starts getting mad, the delightful smile, the glorious laughter, the lovable way he walks, baby talks, and sucks on that lollipop, the innocence, the tiny, diapered body, the tapping hand, the many ways he morphs into other forms, the effortless way his powers flow through him, the way he charmed his way into stern Auntie Edna's heart, and the way he laughs at his Dad's surprise and confusion. This child makes me laugh like crazy. Even a back view is fascinating. Then I chance upon another as he is with his Dad and Auntie Edna while she shows off the suit she created for Jack-Jack.
I suppose I'm not too weird. The director wouldn't have shown that famous baby back side if we audiences weren't meant to see it for a purpose. Just as I was about to wrap up this article, I see his face near his Auntie Edna's foot -- a reflection. He's in a fire-proof glass enclosure, after all. Here's the video of the famous Jack-Jack back side where everyone discusses whether he's a normal baby or not. Well, he shows them.
In the video below, you will find many uses of those tiny Jack-Jack hands. You will find him going through a sliding glass door, crisply slapping a mistaken raccoon thief, slugging it out with him, clapping his hands at his laser eyes discovery as he runs after the raccoon, throwing lounging chairs that he put aflame, and going into a wrestling match with same raccoon with many versions of him Best of all, almost undetectable -- except not with me for I'm nuts about this tiny fireball -- you will find in the last 3:04 minutes of it his cute tapping on his confused Dad's hand. This tiny creation of God and Brad Bird really laughs a lot at the expense of his Dad, only because the latter's amazed at the little one's super powers which keep multiplying -- something he can barely keep up with. Catch that amused tap on his Dad's hand on the last 3:04 minutes of the video below. Photo above shows that scene and Jack-Jack's tickled laughter.
