WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Pixar's Luca, streaming now on Disney+.
Everyone has their favorite Pixar character. From Woody and Edna Mode, to Bing Bong and 22, the prolific animation studio has no shortage of creative, lovable characters. Each of Pixar's many iconic oddballs is charming in their own unique way. But as endearing as they all are, it's time for them to step aside, as a new contender has emerged. Enter Luca's Uncle Ugo.
Like most Pixar films, Luca is replete with fabulous and zany characters. Alberto, Grandma Paguro and and Massimo stand out as particular highlights. But it is the legitimately unsettling Uncle Ugo who takes the cake -- or torta, to conform to the Italian motif.
All families have a weird uncle, and Luca's is stranger than most. Uncle Ugo is a humanoid anglerfish who has taken up residence in the dark depths of the ocean. His toothy smile inspires nightmares. His translucent body horrifies with pulsating organs. Get to chatting with him too close to the surface and he might even ask you to punch his heart due to too much oxygen.
Played to perfection by the inimitable Sacha Baron Cohen, Uncle Ugo is eccentric and quite possibly deranged. A lifetime alone in the deepest parts of the ocean has clearly taken its toll, leading to an addled mind with antisocial tendencies. Combine all of that with a voice that sounds like Borat undercover, and you've got a new fan-favorite character.
When Luca is caught disobeying his parents by straying to the surface world, his punishment is to spend the rest of the season in the deep with Uncle Ugo. Luca can't bear the thought of spending time with his bizarre uncle in what is essentially a black void. He wants to go on adventures, ride a Vespa, eat pasta, make friends and go to school. Drifting aimlessly and hoping to find some edible whale carcass isn't exciting enough for Luca. But ultimately, it's his loss, as he doesn't even realize the fun he could have listening to Uncle Ugo talk non-stop for 12 straight hours.
Uncle Ugo's time in Luca is far too brief, but it's the post-credits scene where this anglerfish's bioluminescent lure truly shines. In the scene, audiences get to see Uncle Ugo in his natural, sunless element as he espouses his world views. "Some people think I'm mad to live in the deep. I think that they are the ones who are mad. Not me, the one who is mad, it's them," Ugo rants. His life is a simple one, away from the hustle and bustle. Having secured some poor, unfortunate goatfish to accompany him into the depths, Ugo articulates just how lucky his new friend is to hear him wax poetic. The frightened fish understandably swims away.
If there is one breakout character in Luca that needs deserves more attention, it's Ugo, as his appearance was tragically brief. Later in the movie, there is a movie poster visible in Portorosso entitled, "Attacco Del Mostro Marino," or Attack of the Sea Monster. Central to the poster is an anglerfish that looks exactly like Ugo, with Lorenzo even commenting on the fact. If Ugo fans make enough noise, that could make an excellent spinoff film for Disney+. Give the people what they want, Pixar.
Directed by Enrico Casarosa, Luca stars Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph, Marco Barricelli and Jim Gaffigan. The film is streaming on Disney+.