Character Analysis
Kevin, with her love of chocolate and flamboyant feathers, may be what Empire’s Ian Freer calls “a space cadet version of Road Runner,” but there’s more to this gal than just comic relief. She isn’t just part of Carl’s motley jungle crew for laughs; she’s there to teach him a lesson.
For Love or Chocolate
Just like Dug, Kevin is all about unconditional love. When Carl tries to get rid of her by chucking Russell’s chocolate into the jungle, she’s not having it. Well, technically, she is: she hunts down that candy—because candy—but then she brings it right back to Carl’s side.
More importantly, she’s a mother who’s fiercely protective of her fuzzy little kids. Nothing will stop her in her pursuit to bring food back to her brood—not even a nasty bite to the leg from one of Muntz’s dogs. In that respect, her love isn’t just unconditional; it’s self-sacrificing and tenacious. Kind of reminds you Carl’s protection of Russell in the film’s final act, no? He’ll stop at nothing to save his surrogate son from maniacal Muntz, battling him onboard—and on top of—Muntz’s treacherous, high-flying headquarters.
Bird Brains
But the similarities between Kevin and Carl don’t end there. Her colorful plumage also reflects the vibrant hues of Carl’s balloons—those same balloons that echo Ellie’s influence on Carl.
Balloons are Carl and Ellie’s jam. When they’re kids, she propels a blue balloon into Carl’s bedroom after he breaks his arm; then they solidify their status as BFFs forever—as well as their plan to travel to Paradise Falls together. When they work at the zoo, Carl sells balloons. And when Ellie gets sick, Carl scoots a callback blue balloon into Ellie’s hospital room to lift her spirits. Balloons are their calling card.
Which brings us back to Kevin: her bold, colorful look is an in-your-face reminder to Carl of what matters—or rather, what used to matter when Ellie was around, and what should matter to him still. Just like the balloons, Kevin represents Carl’s confident, constructive mindset when he was with Ellie, before he was Sir Grumps-A-Lot, when he believed that adventure was not only out there, but it was a heck of a lot more fun with friends.