The Incredibles Character Possibly Based On A Real Person

Not only did Brad Bird direct "The Incredibles," but he is also the voice of Edna Mode. Bird has mentioned that the sleek and technological fashion-forward Edna Mode was inspired by the character Q from the "James Bond" movies (via Entertainment Weekly). Q, portrayed by numerous actors from 1962 to the present, provides Bond with all the necessary gadgets and gizmos he needs to have a successful mission. This is similar to the way Edna Mode designs the super suits with the hero's specific powers in mind and reinforces them to withstand not only the powers of the person wearing it but also anything that a devious villain might conjure up to take them out.

According to Bryn Imagire, the film's shading art director, Edna Mode's style, meanwhile, is based on that of fashion icon Edith Head (via New York Post). Head, a costume designer, spent her life pouring her heart and soul into creating beautiful wardrobes that can be seen in just about every Hollywood movie from that time. She worked on hundreds of films and won multiple Academy Awards for her designs (via IMDb). Mode's talents and capabilities when it comes to creating a flawless super suit that is as stunning as it is functional can be attributed to Head's impact on the design world.