Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is a safety lecture staged as a fashion verdict. The joke is how seriously Edna treats cape-snagging as the main hazard of superhero life, and the answer is final: no cape, whatever Bob thinks. Fans quote it as an all-purpose ban on a bad idea, and the line gave Edna her reputation as the film's scene-stealer.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The IncrediblesShow the scene
In The Incredibles (2004, directed by Brad Bird), Edna Mode has just agreed to make Bob Parr a new supersuit. When he asks for something classic like Dynaguy, with the cape and boots, she cuts him off with a shouted 'No capes!' and throws a paper ball at him. She then lists dead heroes in a flashback montage: Thunderhead, Stratogale, Meta-Man, Dynaguy and Splashdown, each undone by a cape, a turbine, an elevator or a vortex. 'No capes!' is her verdict, and she sends Bob off with the promise that his suit will be ready before his next assignment.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The IncrediblesTranscript, Edna's cape speechReference checked
- Wikipedia: Edna ModeDevelopment sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
