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Inside Out

Inside Out is a 2015 American animated feature film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Inside Out is a 2015 American animated feature film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter, it follows 11-year-old Riley and the personified emotions in her mind as she adjusts to a family move from Minnesota to San Francisco.

Premise

Inside Out follows Riley Andersen, an 11-year-old girl whose emotions are depicted as characters who help guide her thoughts and actions. The story begins when Riley must adapt to a new life after her family relocates to San Francisco.

Development and direction

The film was directed by Pete Docter and emerged from his interest in how children’s emotions change with age. The concept became a feature-length story built around the inner life of its central character.

Cast and characters

The film features personified emotions in Riley's mind, including Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger. These characters are voiced by Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, and Lewis Black.

Themes

The film explores emotional development, memory, adjustment, and the difficulties of growing up. Its narrative treats sadness as an important part of emotional experience rather than a problem to eliminate.

Key facts

  • The film centers on five personified emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.
  • Riley is uprooted when her father takes a new job and the family moves to San Francisco.
  • The story uses the emotions inside Riley's mind to explore memory, identity, and growing up.
  • Pete Docter conceived the film after observing changes in his daughter's personality as she grew older.
  • The main voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, and Lewis Black.
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Canadian context

Inside Out was widely released in Canada as part of Pixar's international theatrical distribution and became familiar to Canadian audiences as a major family animated film.

Frequently asked questions

What is Inside Out about?
It is about an 11-year-old girl named Riley and the personified emotions inside her mind as she copes with moving to a new city.
Who directed Inside Out?
Pete Docter directed the film.
When was Inside Out released?
It was released in 2015, with a theatrical release date of June 19, 2015.
Who are the main emotions in the film?
The main emotions are Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.
Which studio produced Inside Out?
Pixar Animation Studios produced the film, and Walt Disney Pictures released it.

References

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/
    Supports: Plot premise, main characters, and voice cast.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Out
    Supports: Basic film identification, premise, and development background.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inside_out_2015
    Supports: Release date, director, production companies, language, genre, and synopsis.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/inside-out-2015
    Supports: Plot summary and thematic focus on Riley's emotional adjustment.
  5. TIME — https://time.com/116970/pixar-inside-out-plot/
    Supports: Initial plot details, character lineup, and release timing.