An Inside Look Of Pixar Inside Out #PixarInsideOut

From the same film makers of 2009’s “UP” comes Disney Pixar’s newest animation “Inside Out” set to be released in theaters nationwide in June 2015.. During a recent media trip to Pixar Animation Studios I along with 24 bloggers from across the country had the opportunity to preview an inside look of Pixar Inside Out and interview Director Pete Doctor and Producer Jonas Rivera about the film.

In hopes to emulate classic Disney animated greats such as Lady and the Tramp and Dumbo, Inside Out attempts to strike an emotional key in audiences by animating non other than the emotions in which guide us through every day life. In a never-before seen original film story, Inside Out takes audiences on a journey of a little girl named Riley and all the emotions that guide her:  Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in “Head”quarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a newly uprooted life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school. What happens along the way is that Sadness starts to become more and more pushy in an attempt to handle the new friends and new surroundings. Joy tries really hard to make sure her kids stays happy so she tries to relegate her to the side, tensions escalate and things get worse to the point where both Sadness adn Joy end up getting sucked up out of Headquarters and thrown way out into long term memory. With Joy and Sadness gone that leaves only Disgust, Fear and Anger in control of Riley, which may explain some things about teenagers (says Pete Doctor).

Director Pete Doctor (“Monsters Inc”, “UP”) was inspired to create Inside Out after experiencing a bit of emotional turmoil with his own daughter (who voiced young Ellie in “UP”!). Like Riley in Inside Out, Doctor’s own daughter slowly became withdrawn and quiet and in an attempt to “get inside her head” Pete was inspired to create a movie that dealt with the emotions in our minds.

Our Blogger group with Director Pete Doctor and Producer Jonas Rivera of Inside Out

The collaboration of Pete Doctor and Jonas Rivera is a real treat for Disney Pixar fans, they had this to say about creating “Inside Out”:

“UP was sort of an observation and love letter to our grandparents, the idea of growing old, and the fact that there’s nothing you can do about it. Inside Out is the echo of that about our kids and growing up, which is just a lot of fun, and it means something to us. It’s very personal, and we’re very proud of it.”

Emotions Joy and Sadness look at a memory ball

I had the very lucky honor of attending the 1 year until theater release preview of both Inside Out and LAVA on June 19th 2014 in Hollywood, California at the Directors Guild of America theater. It was during the cocktail reception that I even had the opportunity to shake Pete Doctor and Jonas Rivera’s hands, ask a few questions and get my original concept art autographed (see picture below). Tee Burgess of That’s It Mommy and I asked Director Pete Doctor and Producer Jonas Rivera several questions (to which neither of us had a recording device UGH) and the question I was most interested hearing answered was how they thought this film would translate to young children seeing as mature emotions and turmoil (like in the film UP) are hard for little children to comprehend as well as basic learning & memory comprehension. Jonas Rivera answered quickly and candidly with a real-life testimonial. During movie production, the film makers often show bits and pieces of completed film to their children at home as a form of testing the waters. Jonas declared that after a film maker showed Inside Out to his daughter, she explained her feelings in the following days by saying that “fear and disgust” where in control and that proved to Producer Jonas Rivera that not only are kids going to love this film, but that they’ll be able to comprehend it internally.

I have yet to see Inside Out in entirety because it is not quite finished yet, but I cannot wait to see what happens to Riley and the rest of the emotions. To get the latest news and updates about Inside Out like them on Facebook. And make sure to see Inside Out when it hits theaters nationwide this June!