Both Joy and Sadness Take Lead in Disney Pixar Inside Out
I often tell Colby, and our kids, that others don’t control our emotions. We feel them and choose how to respond.
Well, then Disney•Pixar Inside Out just opened a whole new window into the world of emotions.
Inside Out
Growing up is hard. Puberty is a strange time to go through and, for Riley, her parents have thrown her a curve ball by moving her from the only home she has ever known.
Transplanting her from Minnesota to San Francisco at the delicate age of 11, Riley can’t help but be going through a myriad of emotions.
Whereas Joy has been leading Riley’s mind for most of her childhood, things begin to change when Sadness starts to become more involved.
Although the emotions, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear, work together to keep Riley safe, healthy, and happy, Joy is often driving.
They want to keep her happy but as she ages her circumstances begin affecting her emotions more.
Inside Riley’s mind, we find each of the emotions surrounded by memories. Her core memories are protected and help keep each of her personality islands running.
But one day that all changes. Sadness inadvertently touches one of the memories and turns it blue.
In an effort to keep her from touching any other memories, she and Joy end up getting sucked out of headquarters and into the maze of long-term memory.
Together they must find a way back to headquarters where Anger, Disgust, and Fear are left driving Riley’s emotions.
Based on plenty of research into the way the mind works, the team behind Inside Out creates a world unlike any we have seen before.
In addition to Riley’s physical world in San Francisco, we are brought into the tangled web of memories within her mind.
Joy and Sadness must find their way back in order to make sure Riley will once again feel both.
Along the way, we encounter Riley’s old imaginary friend, Bing Bong. A cross between cotton candy, an elephant, and a dolphin,
Bing Bong becomes such an intricate part of the story. A homage to all that Riley’s childhood once represented, he symbolizes that inevitable transition from being a child.
Even Joy begins to understand that Riley is growing up. In order for Riley to fully function, there may be times when she and Sadness will need to come together.
Joy simply begins to understand the value that Sadness lends to Riley’s memories. That they are partners rather than rivals.
That we need compassion and empathy to grow and love. To choose Joy, we sometimes need a little Sadness.
As a mother marrying her first child off in August, I can assure you Sadness was leading the way as I watched.
Be prepared to have both Joy and Sadness take the lead in your own mind as you take in each scene. It’s our inner mind and outer response that personifies each of us, choose to use it for good.
Head to the theaters starting today, June 19th, to see Disney•Pixar Inside Out.