All of us are familiar with “Emotion,” but how many of us can give a concise definition of the term? The simplest answer to the question is that emotions are what make us unique from other entities. It makes us human. Emotions shape our thoughts, actions and interactions with our surroundings over time. We have to deal with emotions almost every day in our life. Therefore, we must be aware of how important role emotion plays in shaping our lives. And this topic is beautifully depicted in Pixar’s animated movie “Inside Out.” This movie has 2 series named “Inside Out 1” (2015) and “Inside Out 2” (2024). It gained worldwide attention at its first release from viewers for its deep exploration of emotions.
The story starts with Riley, an 11 years old girl, and her family relocating from Minnesota to San Francisco. We were shown five emotions inside Riley’s mind which were- Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. These emotions were portrayed as real life characters that controlled her emotions and memories from the “Headquarters.” As Riley had to adapt to a new environment, the emotions were seen messing things up, maintaining her emotional balance. In “Inside out 2” the story begins two years later when Riley turns 13 years old and enters into high school. This time, viewers are introduced to 4 new emotions- Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui. The addition of these new emotions lead to challenges in Riley’s life, especially anxiety is seen to take a dominant role. Season 1 emphasizes the importance of all emotions, while season 2 portrays how Riley and her emotions adapt to the multifaceted nature of teenage life.
Emotions at the core
Now let’s dive into the primary concept regarding emotions of the movie. “Inside Out 1” conveys a powerful message.to its viewers which is- all emotions are essential. In the beginning, Joy thinks sadness to be a problem which needs to be fixed. As the story unfolds, she learns that sadness cannot be ignored, but it’s vital for emotional growth and connection. In the last moment, Riley’s sadness is seen to seek comfort from her parents that lead the scene to heartfelt family reunion. It demonstrates how even a negative emotion can foster deeper relationships and healing.
“Inside Out 2” is all about adolescents’ emotions. In this movie we are shown that The 4 newcomer emotions often clash with the existing emotions. As a result, a lot of chaos and confusion tends to occur. The most major conflict arises when it starts influencing Riley’s decisions more than the others. This leads Riley to act out of fear and self-doubt and it causes strain in her friendships and family relationships. In the end, when Riley faces an embarrassing moment at school, her emotions eventually come together to help her see the situation in a balanced way. At that moment, Joy learns that growing up isn’t about always being happy, it’s about embracing the full range of emotions. Subsequently, Riley discovers new strength and maturity which helps her to find a more harmonious way of working together. The film ends with a hopeful message about the importance of accepting change and the role that emotions play in shaping who we are.
Lastly, it needs to be said that Inside Out isn’t just a movie for us to understand and embrace our emotional landscape. Along with being an effective cinematic movie for children, it serves as a poignant reminder to reconnect with the inner world and approach emotions with compassion.
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Writer
Kazi Mirana Mainuddin
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE