| “ | Don't act surprised, Incredible. I mean... "Mr Smith". You really think getting a new life would absolve you from the last one, did ya? You had to know I'd be back to settle accounts. And the best part is... They don't even know I've escaped yet. | „ |
| ~ Syndrome taunting Mr. Incredible |
| “ | Oh no... Elastigirl? [laughs] You married Elastigirl? And had a kid?! It's a whole family of supers! Looks like I've hit the jackpot! And you... You are breaking the law Mr. Incredible. You know supers aren't supposed to breed! | „ |
| ~ Syndrome's reaction upon finding out Mr. Incredible's wife was actually Elastigirl. A dialogue that would be adapted and used in the final cut as well. |
Syndrome is the opening antagonist of the early version of the 2004 animated film The Incredibles. In a deleted opening sequence for the movie, he was originally just a minor antagonist who was an old foe of Mr. Incredible. He breaks into his house and tries to kill him, Elastigirl and a baby Violet, but is subsequently killed off. Due to the character's popularity within the crew, Syndrome ended up being given the role of the main antagonist in the final version of the film, replacing Xerek.
He's voiced by the movie's director, Brad Bird, in the deleted scenes for the DVD.
Biography[]
Unlike his final counterpart, this version of Syndrome was never a superfan of Mr. Incredible, but instead, a supervillain who was an old foe of the superhero during the Glory Years. After the abolishment of supers by the government, Syndrome was arrested, but still held a grudge against Mr. Incredible and kept trying to find his whereabouts in order to get his revenge.
In the deleted opening sequence, set around 10 years before the events of the movie, Mr. Incredible, now under the civilian alias of Bob Smith, accidentally revealed his powers during a barbecue party held by his neighbour, Dick Schaffer, after hitting his fingers with a knife, leaving an indentation on it. Unbeknownst to him, Dick was actually working for Syndrome in order to uncover his secret identity. With the dented knife as evidence, Dick calls Syndrome and tells him that he had found his old foe.
That night, Bob and Helen hear someone break into their house. Bob goes to check who it is and finds masked burglar stealing some of their belongings. Sneaking up on him, Bob tells the burglar to not move as he asks him about the the silver belongings he was stealing. As he reaches for his bag, Bob gets eletrecuted and the burglar unmasks himself, revealing he's actually Syndrome. The supervillain begins taunting Bob, saying that even if tries getting a new life, he could never erase his past, which is why he seeked revenge for putting him in prison. Bob tries to attack him, but is quickly zapped by Syndrome's zero point energy laser gloves, getting frozen in place. He then proceeds to slam his body against the walls and ceiling like a battering ram and shouts to Helen from her bedroom that calling 911 would be no use as he had cut all the wires.
After Helen shows up in the living room, Syndrome tells her to leave the scene, threatening to kill her if she tries to help him out. Helen then stretches her arms and trips Syndrome by pulling his legs, making him lose control of Bob. With Bob freed from the villain's grasp, the couple tries to jump Syndrome, but he's quick to stop them once again with his laser gloves. Syndrome then recognizes Helen as Elastigirl and starts teasing Bob for having married another super before being interrupted by Violet's cries coming from the other room. Realizing that Bob and Helen had a child together, Syndrome starts teasing them once again, stating that supers aren't supposed to breed. Syndrome starts heading towards the Violet's room while carrying her parents on his beams. Upon peeking at the crib, he finds it completely empty, as Violet had activated her invisibility powers, much to his surprise. The invisible baby then barfs on his face, causing him to drop Bob and Helen, who sees the opportunity to jump and pick up her daughter. This alerts Syndrome who freezes her in place, but Bob then throw a mirror in front of him, which reflects his laser, causing him to freeze himself instead. Bob then points the mirror upward, ramming the supervillain in the ceiling. As Helen tries to call the authorities, much to no avail as the wires had been cut, she starts smelling gas coming from a pipe which was heading towards the fireplace. She grabs onto Bob as he rams through the wall and the three escape from a gas explosion that blows up the house, killing Syndrome in the process.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This version of Syndrome looks almost identical to his final version, except he does not use a cape, which was likely added to his final design so it could lead to his ironic demise seen in the end of the film.
- Much like Mr. Incredible, Syndrome was modeled after the director, Brad Bird.
- His dialogue in the deleted scene upon finding out that Helen was actually Elastigirl was repurposed in the final film, during the scene where all the Parrs confront Syndrome together for the first time in his island. The mention of a law forbidding supers to reproduce was omitted, however.
- In the DVD commentary, director Brad Bird states that this deleted opening served as inspiration for the final act of the movie, that featured Syndrome breaking into the Parrs' home and kidnapping their baby Jack-Jack, subsequently destroying the house in the process.
- It is unknown whether or not Jason Lee would have still voiced Syndrome, had this original version of the film was produced instead of the final product.