Literally all the feels.
As an animation studio Pixar has become synonymous with movies that are guaranteed to make children and adults alike cry. Not just cry though, but WEEP. The toys believing they’ll fall into the fire in Toy Story 3 (2010), the death of Nemo’s mother in Finding Nemo (2003)…and don’t even get me started on the trauma that is the first 10 minutes of Up (2009). Pixar has built a name for themselves on the idea of giving complex emotions to the most unlikely of protagonists: Toys, bugs, monsters, fish, etc…It was only a matter of time before they explored the emotional complexity of emotions themselves. Inside Out (2015) is modern day Pixar at its best. It explores an aspect of human development and presents it in a cute colourful way that also deeply resonates with anyone who watches it. I remember this being one of the few Pixar movies to legit make me cry. And get very emotional. Which, for a movie about emotions, makes a lot of sense.
Inside Out tells the story of Riley, an 11-year-old girl who is suddenly uprooted from her life in Minnesota and moves to California with her family. Like everything else in her life, Riley can rely on her emotions (Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger) to navigate her way through it. But when they accidentally lose her core memories – those that make Riley who she is – Joy and Sadness set out to retrieve them.
The stunning and inventive artistry, the perfect casting, and the brilliant writing that leaves viewers with a timeless and necessary message are what make Inside Out one of Pixar’s absolute best. It really is an incredible movie that changed the game when it came to the kind of content you could see in a movie targeted towards children. To have an animated movie talk about how sadness is not only an inevitable but necessary and healthy part of life is groundbreaking. So much so that even just having an accessible visual representation of these different emotions has done wonders for little kids when it comes to understanding what they’re feeling. It’s amazing.
Part of why I think the movie’s complex themes are so easy for young audiences to understand is because of the truly exceptional world-building. Inside Out is wildly creative in how it visualizes what goes on inside our heads. The world it creates is like something out of a science-fiction movie. I love the imaginative way the inner workings of the mind are interpreted as a high-tech factory. It’s a super cool metaphor for the intricate way our mind works and it’s made only all the more cool by the vibrant artwork. I would love to see what the original inspirations for the design of the world of Inside Out were and how they arrived at the final product. The world is so amazing to look at that there’s something new to take in with each watch.
Speaking of fantastic designs, I absolutely adore the designs for the emotions. They’re perfect! I love how they not only are exactly what you would think of if you had to personify these five emotions, but they’re also super fun designs for cartoon characters PERIOD. There’s something about their embellished, vaguely humanoid shapes that for me make the ideal design for a cartoon character. The actors chosen to voice these characters are just as ideal. Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Bill Hader as Fear, Lewis Black as Anger and Mindy Kaling as Disgust? Talk about FANTASTIC casting! The actors don’t even have to do anything specific in their performances to convince you that they are the only voices for these emotions. Poehler is the standout though. It’s absolutely amazing the way she’s able to give layers to Joy, endowing her with just a touch of doubt to ensure that her perpetual happiness doesn’t overstay it’s welcome.
Once upon a time Inside Out made me cry. While this time around I definitely teared up a little bit, I wasn’t nearly as emotional. I think it’s because now that I’m older (watching it originally at 19 versus now at 28) and I’ve been through therapy that I was able to immediately identify the red flags in letting one emotion dictate everything you do. This time around I more clearly understood the metaphor of how pushing down your sadness, not being able to live in it, and forcing yourself to be happy all the time just isn’t healthy. You need to be able to let all of your emotions drive so that you can have a healthy, well-rounded life. They’re all necessary and more often than not, go hand in hand together. Think of your emotions as toys in a toy box. Would you only want to play with one toy your whole life? Think of all the different things you can do and feel with your different emotions! Inside Out may not be one of my all-time favourite Pixar movies but this glorious message guarantees it an appreciative place in my heart.
Inside Out gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “listening to the voices in your head.” This movie is not necessarily a fun watch, probably because it’s the most “after school special-y” of Pixar movies. It can at times be a little precious or serious for its own good but that doesn’t take away from Inside Out being a beautiful, artistic movie with such an important story to tell. My greatest wish for anyone watching this movie is that they feel ALL the emotions!
Have you seen Inside Out?
Let me know in the comments or on social media!
Luke's Living Room 