“Inside Out”, the acclaimed Pixar animated film, captivated audiences of all ages with its unique and emotional approach to the complexities of the human mind. Released in 2015, this film not only presents us with the inner journey of a young girl named Riley but also takes us to explore the fascinating and often unknown world of mental processes. With anthropomorphized characters representing the fundamental emotions of joy, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust, “Inside Out” provides us with a colorful and imaginative insight into the inner workings of the human mind. In this text, we will delve into some of the most interesting curiosities behind the creation of this innovative film, from its conception to the technical and psychological details that make it a masterpiece of modern animation.
1 – THERE WERE 27 EMOTIONS
The writers initially contemplated including up to 27 distinct emotions in the film, but opted to simplify and focus on just five: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger, making the narrative less complex. Among the emotions considered but ultimately left out were Surprise, Pride, and Trust.
2 – EACH EMOTION IS REPRESENTED BY A DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTIC
As mentioned by director Pete Docter, each emotion is represented by a specific visual characteristic: Joy is personified by a star, Sadness is symbolized by a tear, Anger is visualized as a brick, Fear is portrayed as an exposed nerve, and Disgust is represented by a broccoli. The director also noted his appreciation for broccoli as a peculiar choice for the Disgust emotion.
3 – INSPIRATION
Pete Docter found inspiration to create this film by closely observing the development of his own daughter during the crucial phase of growth.
4 – ANIMATORS
The movie “Inside Out” was produced with a reduced team of only 45 animators, which represents approximately half the number of professionals involved in previous Pixar productions.
5 – THE CHARACTERS’ TEXTURE
Initially, the bubbly texture of the emotions was planned only for the character Joy. However, after eight months of efforts to materialize this unique idea and facing significant difficulties, the animators decided to abandon it as impractical. However, when Pixar’s creative director, John Lasseter, saw the design, he was enthusiastic and recommended, “This is great. Add it to all the characters.” Production designer Ralph Eggleston commented on this, noting that it was possible to feel the anxiety of the technical team and concerns about the budget, but in the end, they managed to find a viable solution.
6 – SOUNDTRACK
This marks Michael Giacchino’s fifth collaboration as a soundtrack composer for a Pixar film and his second time working with Pete Docter. His Pixar debut was in “The Incredibles” (2004), and his last collaboration with Docter was in “Up” (2009), a film for which Giacchino won an Oscar for Best Original Score.
7 – SAME COLOR
With the exception of Anger, all emotions share the same hue in their eyes and hair (Anger does not have hair). On the other hand, they all have the same skin tone and eye/hair color, except for Joy.
8 – SCARY MUSIC
In the sequence where Riley imagines her new home turning into a nightmare, the background soundtrack is the thematic melody from Disneyland’s “The Haunted Mansion” attraction.
9 – INSPIRATION
The different characteristics of each emotion were taken as inspiration from the seven dwarfs in the fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” released in 1937.
10 – HEADLINES
Anger dedicates himself to reading newspapers featuring headlines related to events in Riley’s life, such as “First Day at School” and “No Dessert.”
In short, the movie “Inside Out” not only captivates with its touching story and charming characters but also enchants with its fascinating trivia. From inspirations from Disney classics to subtle details that enrich the narrative, the quirks behind the scenes add an additional layer of appreciation to this animation masterpiece. By exploring these aspects, viewers are invited to delve deeper into Riley’s world and her emotions, revealing the care and creativity that make “Inside Out” a truly memorable experience.