Michael Giacchino (b. 1967) is known for his many film scores, including most of the Pixar films since 2004’s The Incredibles, the new Star Trek franchise, Rogue One, Jurassic World, and many others (see his IMDB page for the full list). Born in New Jersey, he was a film buff as a kid, bringing tape recorders into theaters so he could listen to the soundtracks later. After study at the School of Visual Arts and the Juilliard School in New York City, he began his career at Disney. He started in the publicity office, then worked to become a producer, knowing that producers hired the composers and thus looking to essentially hire himself. He started in video games (notably the Medal of Honor series) before moving to television thanks to J. J. Abrams, who hired him for his shows Alias and Lost. The Incredibles was his first film, and set the stage for many more that followed. See his website and Wikipedia for more.
The Incredibles (2004) tells the story of Bob Parr, whose super strength has earned him the alias Mr. Incredible, and the family he builds with his wife Helen, aka Elastigirl. The main story begins 15 years after all superheroes have been forced to abandon their hero work due to lawsuits and popular resentment. Bob thus has a thankless and anonymous job in insurance. A mysterious invitation gives him an opportunity to use his super powers again, but it is a trap that puts him, Helen, and their 3 children at risk. See more at Wikipedia, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie has a strong retro-futurist aesthetic, with mid-century modern design paired with high technology. Giacchino’s music takes a similar approach, borrowing big band and 60s tv sounds within a sophisticated full orchestra score. In particular, he uses high trumpet shakes, bongo rolls, and the xylophone as the signature timbres of the score. Jay Bocook’s band arrangement has become the standard for advanced bands:
This borrows from two of the more distinctive cues from the film. First is The Glory Days:
And The Incredits: