I got my heroes secondhand, from television and movies, to a

Ah, the words of Brad Bird, whose reflection on heroes and inspiration speaks to a deeper truth about the nature of influence and the sources from which we draw our ideals: "I got my heroes secondhand, from television and movies, to a certain extent." In these words, Bird acknowledges a reality that is both personal and universal—that the heroes we admire, the figures who shape our view of the world and our aspirations, are not always original, but are often mediated through others, through the stories passed down to us by the mediums that surround us. These heroes, though secondhand in their transmission, can still have a profound impact on who we become, just as the great epic tales of old were passed down from generation to generation.

In the ancient world, the great heroes of myth—figures like Achilles, Odysseus, and Heracles—were not simply born from the earth or forged by the gods. They were shaped by the stories told around campfires, in theaters, and in oral traditions, passed down from one generation to the next. Homer’s epics were not just stories of heroism but were tools through which the values of ancient Greek society were conveyed: honor, bravery, sacrifice, and the quest for meaning. These stories were told and retold, filtered through the minds and hearts of those who came before, and it is this very act of transmission that shaped the heroes of the next generation. Bird’s heroes, like those of ancient myth, are not born in isolation, but are shaped by the stories and media they consume.

Consider the young warrior in ancient Greece who grew up listening to the stories of Heracles—a hero whose strength was only matched by his inner struggle. Through these stories, the young listener not only learned of physical feats, but also of the moral lessons woven into each trial. It is through these secondhand stories that the next generation comes to understand what it means to be brave, compassionate, and wise. In the same way, Brad Bird reflects on how the heroes of his youth—heroes not of his own making, but passed down through the lens of television and film—helped shape his view of the world. These characters were not original, but they embodied the values he needed to grow, to dream, and to aspire to something greater.

In the grand tradition of theater, Shakespeare’s plays gave birth to characters who were both larger than life and profoundly human—Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear—whose flaws and virtues mirrored the complexities of the human soul. These figures were not simply entertaining, but they offered a mirror for those who came after, allowing each generation to examine its own moral compass, to question its values, and to seek the truth in the face of conflict and adversity. Similarly, Bird’s heroes, filtered through film and television, serve the same purpose—not to give the perfect answer, but to help us see ourselves in reflection, to help us understand what it means to be human, to be flawed, and to rise to the challenges before us.

Bird’s recognition that his heroes were secondhand also touches on the idea of legacy—the wisdom passed down from one generation to the next through the stories we tell. Just as Socrates and Plato passed down their ideas through dialogue, so too do the heroes of the modern era pass down the values of their time through film and television. These heroes may not be born from our own lived experiences, but they are reflections of the society and culture that produced them. The values they embody—their struggles, their resilience, and their triumphs—become the foundation upon which the next generation builds its own sense of self and purpose.

The lesson that Bird’s reflection offers is that we are all part of a larger narrative, one that stretches back through time and is shaped by the stories and heroes that came before us. Whether we find inspiration in the ancient gods and heroes of myth or in the modern-day characters of film and television, we are all recipients of this legacy. Bird’s heroes may have been secondhand, but the values they represent are just as real, just as impactful, as those found in the ancient tales of Heracles or Achilles. It is not the origin of the hero that matters, but the message they carry and the lesson they impart.

Thus, the call to action is clear: embrace the heroes—whether old or new—that shape your understanding of the world. Recognize that the stories we hear, the characters we admire, and the lessons we learn from them are all part of the tapestry of human experience. Like Brad Bird, who found his heroes in the modern media, we too can find guidance and inspiration from those who came before us, even if their stories are secondhand. In doing so, we honor the legacy of storytelling and ensure that each new generation, like the one before it, will continue to draw strength and wisdom from the heroes of their time, helping them rise above their challenges and find their own path to greatness.