Inside Out

A delightful and insightful journey inside the mind of an eleven year old, a coming to age movie of a different kind. It's been reviewed as Pixar's best to date, and I get why.

The entire movie happens inside Riley's head with the main characters being ones basic emotions......joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust.

The conceptualization and animation is simply marvelous... crazy imagination and inventiveness in designing and visualizing the inside of the mind. I love the varied dimensions and depth;  all memories stacked away in layers and layers of subconscious mind, a dream production center, an abstract thought place, a central console which acts as filter and driver. Then there's the distinction between random memories and core memories and how the core memories build out your personality islands. They are visualized as the pillars on which you stand..... of things that really matter to you.... your value systems....almost like what defines you.

While Joy seems to take charge from the word go.........through the process of growth she realizes that all emotions have their place and need to be there. I particularly loved the scene when Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary friend is upset, then sadness gets close.....hugs him.....there's moments there and maybe a few tears.....and in a while he's up and about. Joy is so amazed, she's like...how did you do that?

This is not really kid stuff........I'm sure it would also have gone a long way in helping many a child (and many a parent too :), understand, articulate and label their emotions......... a huge step in self awareness.