Inside Out 2: Why is Pixar’s emotional adventure a treat for both kids and adults?
Poster of Inside Out 2
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has broken Hollywood’s curse. The Kelsey Mann directorial opened to massive success, raking in $295 million on the opening weekend globally.
This much-awaited sequel to the 2015 movie has enthralled fans, with people flocking to theatres to meet their friends- Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger all over again. Only this time, more complex emotions like Ennui, Envy, Embarrassment and all-too-familiar Anxiety are invited to the party.
The reactions to Inside Out 2 on social media have been fantastic, with people saying that the movie ‘healed their inner child’ and wishing that they had grown up watching movies like this one.
So, why are fans going gaga over the Inside Out franchise? Can it truly help us quell our demons? Is emotions having emotions the thing that we were all missing? Let’s dive in!
Visual metaphors and symbolism
Inside Out 2 is visually stunning. Each emotion has a colour. Joy is a glowing yellow, sadness is blue, fear is purple, disgust is green, and anger is red! They were all there in the first instalment, too. But the newer characters and emotions introduced in the second part have deeper, more complex looks.
Anxiety is shown as a raggedy, all-over-the-place, doomsayer orange being. Embarrassment and ennui are portrayed as being rosy red and stylish purple, respectively.
When seen in high-definition, the colours truly pop out of the screen, making the movie a feast for the eyes.
Intense symbolism and metaphors are back in Inside Out 2, with Riley (the protagonist) going through teenage and puberty.
Be it her brain chemistry and structure being literally altered by a construction crew or her emotions wondering why the days are longer, signalling erratic sleep schedules and overthinking.
There is even an actual flowing 'stream of consciousness’ that has all sorts of assorted objects lolling in it.
Big focus on mental health
Inside Out 2 continues to put all of its oomph behind mental health, primarily because we are all actually inside a young mind. But this time, even adults could relate to the storyline.
Joy, the bubbly driver of Riley’s mind, sometimes feels hopeless and even sheds tears. Anxiety feels happiness, Disgust feels empathy, and Embarrassment is brave!
This was Pixar’s nod to mature feelings and emotions, rather than the sharp ones we felt in our childhoods. Our happy moments sometimes become sad and sad ones may be happy. This movie understood that very well.
But the truly imaginative part is the 'sense of self’ and its depiction, something that differentiates us from others and makes a human 'human.'
What’s different?
Inside Out 2 feels somewhat more real and grounded than before. The first movie introduced us to the idea of our emotions and feelings having faces with stuff like ‘personality islands’ and ‘imagination land’ being in the forefront.
This time around, Pixar really takes this premise and flies with it. No formal introductions into the world are given, and it's a head-first dive into complex emotions and feelings.
Some critics have pointed out that the movie was ‘less fun’ than the first, but maybe that’s just what growing up feels like. Adulting is hard, and this movie echoes that sentiment beautifully.
Will grownups like it?
While an animated movie with laughing, crying, and glowing ‘characters’ may seem like a kids’ movie, Inside Out 2 goes much beyond that.
Adults have equally appreciated the storylines and character arcs, relating to not just Riley but her mom and dad as well.
Many parents have even appreciated the fun take on mental health the movie provides. Imagine growing up while having a stuffed toy of ‘Joy’ we could hug or a ‘Sadness’ puppet to show to our folks when we are hurting!
Inside Out 3?
It is not confirmed if Inside Out will have a third part. But if it does, it will only be the third Pixar franchise to get a sequel, after Toy Story and Cars.
But if Pixar does indeed continue this emotionally enriching streak, its fans might just get their very own therapy sessions at the cinema hall.
Inside Out 2 is now in theatres
