Just finished watching the movie "Inside Out 2". Rather than simply beautiful, I’d describe it as intellectual because it definitely warrants discussion.
In the film, the emotions in Riley's mind—Joy, Sadness, Anger, and Fear—manage the Headquarters of her mind peacefully until puberty hits at age 13. This is when anxiety, the notorious new emotion, makes its entrance, bringing along a team of negative emotions like jealousy, envy, and embarrassment, taking over the Headquarters.
This shift symbolizes the loss of the joy or happiness we often felt as children. Suddenly, you're on edge, nervous, and worried about everything and everyone around you. The movie clearly shows how poor decisions can be made under anxiety. You might have a significant goal and a strong desire to achieve it, but in the process, you start losing the "good person" or the happy person you once were. As the film illustrates, anxiety takes over the mind, leaving Joy with only the basic emotions at the Headquarters while the more complex ones dominate.
The drama unfolds as anxiety, which can be useful in some situations, becomes overwhelming. It keeps you awake at night, thinking of countless ways things might go wrong, without offering any peaceful, positive thoughts. Anxiety thrives on this negative thought process, taking control and weakening other emotions day by day.
I love how Pixar's creators have depicted this so specifically. The moments in the film can make you reflect on your own experiences, recognizing similar feelings and challenges. This relatability extends beyond Riley’s story, even if it has been years since you experienced puberty. After that point, the struggle with complex emotions and mood swings continues.
Joy leaves the Headquarters with the basic emotions and does everything to help Riley feel normal again. Despite the struggles, including the moments when Joy feels sad, angry, or powerless, she tries to restore balance. Anxiety initially aims to protect Riley by preparing for potential problems, but this often results in exacerbating the situation. The thought "I am not good enough" becomes particularly dangerous, leading Riley to feel inadequate and break her belief system. This results in a panic attack, vividly depicted by Pixar, capturing the overwhelming sensation of losing control.
Have you ever had a panic attack, where everything seems to collapse around you? Pixar does an excellent job illustrating this experience. Riley feels the weight of negative thoughts and memories she has bottled up, realizing how they have impacted her life.
In the end, Joy returns to Headquarters, acknowledging the strength of the avalanche of emotions Riley is experiencing. By allowing these feelings to be expressed, Joy helps Riley regain control. This illustrates how excessive pressure can disrupt a person’s functioning.
Ultimately, Riley calms down as Joy takes charge of the Headquarters, managing anxiety without letting it dominate. Pixar created a movie about emotions nine years ago, and I believe this sequel is a remarkable continuation. I’m looking forward to seeing how nostalgia, potentially the next significant emotion, might play a role in future films, as it can deeply influence our emotional experiences.
After all, "Inside Out 2" offers a powerful exploration of anxiety and its impact on our mental well-being. Through Ryle's journey, the film effectively conveys the importance of acknowledging and addressing our emotions, rather than suppressing them. The film's ending, with Joy and Ryle finding a way to coexist peacefully, offers a hopeful message that even in the face of adversity, it's possible to overcome challenges and find inner peace.
A must watch!! 🫡
- Maani -
