Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out tackles dense subjects while captivating audiences

From my initial trailer viewing, I knew I was going to enjoy Inside Out – I just didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy it. The story itself revolves around the five major emotions that supposedly play integral roles in personality development: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Rage, and Disgust. 

I was interested in seeing how the producers and director (and screenwriter) would take on this arduous task of simplifying personality development to the masses (AKA dumbing it down). They handled the subject material well, relying on the “inner brain” imagery to convey this. And the inner workings the put into play… It was awe-inspiring!

Relying on our understanding of mechanics and factories, they created a whole “assembly line” of memories and brain activity. In addition, the designers created worlds based on the various forms of thought, taking into consideration how people would be able to make sense of it all. For example, take abstract thought: there was a whole sequence dedicated to the characters turning into what we perceive as abstract art, then into two-dimensional objects, and finally one-dimensional objects. It’s clever moments like this that really made the film worth it. 

The film itself is about understanding in order to appreciate happiness one has to live through sadness. In other words, each emotion balances the other out. The main human (where all of the emotions “live”) was able to create a core memory (AKA a memory that helps her develop) after undergoing a traumatic experience. It shows how various emotions can be associated with certain memories but still have a profound effect on one’s own personality. Usually, the memories that incorporate various emotions are sustainable and confer a greater role in personality development. At least, this is what I gathered from Inside Out.

Overall, the film is definitely worth the 12 dollars, especially if you enjoy understanding the inner workings of thought.