Inside Out is a 2015 Disney/Pixar animated film that gives us a glimpse into the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The film illustrates how Riley’s emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear – influence her thoughts, memories and actions. By personifying Riley’s emotions, Inside Out provides unique insight into how our inner feelings shape who we are.
In this article, we will analyze which emotions dominate each of the main characters in Inside Out: Riley, her parents, and the emotions themselves. Looking at how different feelings take charge at different times will reveal deeper truths about the nature of emotion and the human experience.
Joy and Sadness in Riley
For most of Riley’s childhood, her emotion Joy is clearly in control. Joy is energetic, optimistic and determined to keep Riley happy. She is the ringleader of the other emotions and oversees Riley’s “core memories” – the most important and joyful moments of her life so far.
However, when Riley’s family moves to a new city, Sadness starts to play a bigger role. Small disappointments make Sadness turn some of Riley’s core memories sad. This alarms Joy, who doesn’t understand Sadness’s purpose. Their conflict comes to a head when Joy and Sadness get lost in Riley’s long-term memory.
With Joy gone, Sadness takes charge in Riley’s mind. This allows Riley to finally express her homesickness and grief over leaving her old life behind. By embracing sadness, Riley is able to adjust to her new situation. In the end, Joy realizes that all emotions have value, including sadness. She accepts that no one can be happy all the time.
The Dominant Emotions in Riley at Different Stages
| Childhood | Joy |
| Moving to a new city | Sadness |
| Lost in long-term memory | Fear, Anger, Disgust |
| After returning home | Balanced Joy and Sadness |
Anger and Fear in Riley’s Father
Inside Out also personifies the emotions driving Riley’s parents. Her father’s mind is dominated by Anger and Fear.
Anger takes charge of Riley’s father’s mind during frustrating situations like getting stuck in traffic. Anger pushes him to overreact with outbursts like yelling at other drivers. Meanwhile, Fear makes Riley’s father anxious and overprotective. Fear pressures him to react strongly to small dangers, like a spilled mug of coffee.
However, Anger also helps motivate Riley’s father to take action and stand up for his family when needed. And Fear helps keep him alert to potential problems. Inside Out shows how Anger and Fear have value, despite causing stress when they take over.
The Dominant Emotions in Riley’s Father
| Daily irritations | Anger |
| Protecting his family | Anger and Fear |
| Minor threats | Fear |
Sadness and Disgust in Riley’s Mother
Sadness and Disgust are the main influencers of Riley’s mother’s mind.
Sadness makes Riley’s mother get nostalgic and cry easily, like when remembering fun times from Riley’s childhood. Disgust makes her judgmental, critical of her husband’s sloppy habits and unwilling to try new foods.
However, Sadness helps Riley’s mother empathize with what Riley is going through with the move. Her tendency to tear up shows she cares deeply. And Disgust prods her to maintain high standards for her family. Inside Out reveals how Sadness and Disgust have value, despite causing frequent gloominess and negativity.
The Dominant Emotions in Riley’s Mother
| Remembering the past | Sadness |
| Seeing messy rooms or gross food | Disgust |
| Connecting with Riley’s feelings | Sadness |
The Roles of Each Emotion
Digging deeper, Inside Out lays out the roles of each emotion in Riley’s mind:
Joy – Seeks out positivity and happy memories. Tries to keep Riley in a content, upbeat mood.
Sadness – Makes Riley cry and express difficult feelings. Helps her process loss and adjust to change.
Fear – Scans for potential dangers and helps Riley avoid harm. Sometimes overreacts.
Disgust – Repulsed by anything unpleasant. Pushes Riley to reject unhealthy choices. Can also reject harmless unfamiliarity.
Anger – Protective emotion that prepares Riley to stand up for herself. Can cause reckless, aggressive reactions when too intense.
No emotion is inherently good or bad. Each one serves an important purpose, even if it can be disruptive in excess. Riley matures when she learns to embrace them all and achieve balance between them.
The Main Role of Each Emotion
| Joy | Seeks out happiness |
| Sadness | Processes difficult feelings |
| Fear | Scans for danger |
| Disgust | Avoids harm or grossness |
| Anger | Protects and stands up for oneself |
Conclusion
Inside Out uses colorful animation and personified emotions to showcase the complex inner world of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. We see how her feelings of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust influence her memories, personality and growth.
Riley’s primary emotion shifts from Joy to Sadness as she adjusts to her family’s move across the country. Meanwhile, Anger and Fear reign in her father’s mind, while Sadness and Disgust direct her mother.
Analyzing when each feeling takes over reveals how emotions compete for control. Though they can be disruptive in excess, each one serves a vital function. True maturity is found in balancing them harmoniously.
The insights from Inside Out apply to all of us. Our inner feelings drive our outer actions in ways we may not even realize. By understanding the roles of our own core emotions, we can master them and develop inner peace.