Inside Out – The Emotional Journey Through Memories
Pixar’s latest animated film, Inside Out, is a masterpiece that will make you laugh out loud, only to catch yourself wiping away tears moments later. Founded in 1986, Pixar has continuously revolutionized the film industry with groundbreaking works. Films like Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Up, and Toy Story have made cinematic history, praised for their innovative storytelling and impressive technology, alongside numerous well-deserved awards. Every year, movie lovers eagerly await Pixar’s next “wonder,” curious to see what new creativity they’ll bring to the screen.
This summer, Pixar released Inside Out, a project five years in the making by director Pete Docter, the genius behind Monsters Inc. and Up, along with his collaborator, filmmaker Ronnie del Carmen. The story revolves around 11-year-old Riley, who moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. This major life change forces her to leave behind her familiar home and close friends, leading to a series of emotional challenges. Riley’s psyche is controlled by five emotions: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear. These emotions are personified as vibrant characters who manage the “headquarters” of Riley’s brain.
Under Joy’s leadership, these emotions work together to create Riley’s daily memories. However, upon moving to a new city, the pressures and difficulties that arise cause chaos among the emotions. One day, Joy and Sadness are swept into the labyrinth of long-term memory. Here, they encounter various characters within Riley’s mind, including Bing Bong, her childhood imaginary friend. Together, they embark on a journey back to headquarters to ensure Riley’s happiness.
“Have you ever looked at someone and wondered what’s going on inside their head?” This is a common question we all ponder at some point. In 2009, when Pete Docter’s daughter Elie turned 11, he noticed she became quieter and more withdrawn. This change made him wonder what was going on in her mind and why she had changed. The idea of exploring a world inside the human brain was born from this curiosity. Docter, del Carmen, and their team initially identified 27 common human emotions, which they then narrowed down to five primary ones: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear.
The most unique and captivating aspect of Inside Out is Pixar’s brilliant storytelling. Everyday experiences, like a child’s psychological turmoil when adjusting to a new environment, teenage conflicts with family, or early life setbacks filled with tears, are vividly brought to life through five dominant colors. Yellow represents Joy, blue for Sadness, green for Disgust, red for Anger, and purple for Fear. In the past, Pixar successfully conveyed deep emotions through animals, robots, monsters, and even toys. Now, the emotions themselves become the main characters, full of soul and sensitivity.
Pixar’s animated films have never been mere entertainment. Beneath the vibrant, adorable visuals that captivate children lie powerful messages and intense emotions that resonate deeply with adults. Inside Out tells a story of growing up, of joy and sadness intertwined. The human brain can’t store all memories forever. Some moments fade with time, vanishing into the “memory dump” as if they never happened. But some memories, whether filled with tears or laughter, stay with us forever. Everyone must grow up, face life’s challenges, and embrace new memories, only to be flooded with nostalgia when old ones resurface. The journey to happiness is often paved with hardship, struggle, and tears. Only by truly experiencing our emotions can we find our brightest smiles.
In the film, the character Sadness, though unsure of her purpose, plays an essential role in Riley’s mental control center. Have you ever wondered why tears can flow during the happiest, most emotional moments? Or why they can ease sorrow? What if all our memories were only filled with joy? Each viewer will find a surprising answer in the film’s final moments.
Inside Out is like an adventure through a memory maze, where laughter and tears coexist in a single moment, brought to life by the relatable details of everyday life. With this film, Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen, and their team have touched the deepest corners of the audience’s emotions.
Inside Out is currently the most critically acclaimed animated film of the year. The film scores exceptionally high on various movie review platforms. Over 88,000 IMDb users have rated the film an average of 8.6/10. Metascore awards it a 94/100, while Rotten Tomatoes gives it a staggering 98%. With the emotions it has stirred in viewers, Inside Out is a strong contender for the “Best Animated Feature” at next year’s Oscars and could even be nominated for “Best Picture,” just as its predecessors Up and Toy Story 3 achieved in 2010 and 2011.