Inside Out was praised for its story, characters, and bright animation when it initially came out. Inside Out may even be one of Pixar’s best movies for portraying relatable and severe topics. But did it need a sequel? Inside Out ends on a pretty good note with its central storylines all dealt with and wrapped in a neat bow as all the main characters have learned the lesson they needed to understand. Emotions are complex, but all of them are necessary and important for one’s growth. Riley’s move to San Francisco triggered significant life changes and emotional ramifications. But what would the upcoming sequel portray?
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Regardless of whether the movie portrays an older Riley, the way Inside Out wraps up creates the question of if there is a story that felt unresolved from the original ending. Instead, Inside Out explored the depths of long-term memory and the vitality of core memories while explaining the value of each emotion and how Riley was affected by losing Joy and Sadness. While a sequel has the potential to be just as emotionally impactful, the original film does not need a sequel.
All The Emotions Got Their Moment
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Although it may start like Joy is the most potent emotion with everyone else acting as supporting characters in Riley’s life, it is clear that is not true by the movie’s conclusion. However, they do not only get their moment in reference to Riley’s actions but also to themselves. Joy takes up the most room in Riley’s life, but one of the essential scenes in Inside Out follows Joy’s realization of how impactful and vital Sadness is to Riley’s life. Although Sadness’ much darker approach to life is also played as a joke, sometimes, such as enjoying downpouring rain and existential dread, Sadness’ most significant moment comes at the conclusion, when she is the only one capable of getting Riley to feel again and gets the idea of running away out of her head. Sadness and Joy’s understanding that they help each other even earns Riley a new core memory that is both blue and yellow.
Although Disgust, Fear, and Anger are more supporting characters, each gets to be helpful. In addition, they each prove how well they know Riley and use that to the best of their ability and skill set. While vital in different ways, the five primary emotions are all used highly or get a moment to shine throughout the film.
The Tease for the Future was Implied
In the film’s final minutes, Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger are gifted with an updated counsel that gives them all the chance to react to things at once, proof of the growing understanding they all grew to learn throughout the movie’s events. Riley can feel multiple things at once, and the emotions have a bigger chance to react rather than one doing most of the work. Riley’s future in San Francisco, supported by her family, seemingly finally settled in and in a better place, seems brighter with her joining the ice hockey team.
There was even a tease for puberty, which would soon be coming up for Riley. While a sequel could dive into what puberty or late teenage years could mean for Riley and the ever-growing set of emotions that comes with growing up, ending the story before things got too complicated still leaves Riley on the verge of growing up and childhood innocence.
The Original Film Had A Perfect Ending
While there are potential stories for a sequel, Inside Out had a brilliant ending that did not need to be expanded upon. Riley’s emotional struggles surrounding her new environment and conflicts with her parents are dealt with when Sadness returns and gives Riley the chance to finally be honest with her parents about how she has been feeling. Joy’s development in understanding how her fellow emotions are just as essential as she is allowed Joy to let Riley feel a more vast array of things. Riley had a perfect ending as a character, ending the movie in a much happier place than she started, gaining her core memories back in addition to new ones, and growing the Islands of Personality.
The movie also ended well for the five primary emotions, who each had the opportunity to be more involved in Riley’s life as she grows up. A sequel risks the potential of ruining the beautifully crafted conclusion that Inside Out earned. What will become of the emotions? Will there be more of them as Riley had grown up? Inside Out also has to avoid re-telling the same story or creating feelings that are too similar to the original five.
