10 Years of Inside Out: How a Pixar Film Changed the Way We Talk About Emotions
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Inside Out, Pixar’s animated masterpiece that offered a beautifully simple, yet deeply profound way of understanding our emotions. But what’s the legacy of this film a decade on? And why has it resonated so strongly with audiences of all ages?
A New Language for Emotions
Released on 24th July 2015, Inside Out took us on a journey inside the mind of 11-year-old Riley, where five core emotions; Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, worked behind the scenes to guide her through life’s ups and downs. The genius of the film lies in its ability to personify these emotions, giving them voices, colours, and personalities that made it easier for children (and adults) to understand their own inner worlds.
For many, Inside Out was the first time they saw emotions like sadness not as a problem to be fixed, but as a valid and even necessary part of being human. The idea that sadness brings people together was a powerful shift in how we think about wellbeing.
Impact Beyond the Screen
Over the past ten years, Inside Out has been used in classrooms, therapy sessions, and mental health workshops across the globe. It’s become a key resource for:
- Teaching emotional literacy to children.
- Normalising mental health conversations in families and schools
Mental health professionals have praised the film for making it easier to talk about feelings that can often be hard to name. Nicola, from Education Mental Health Practitioner from our Children, Young People and Families Service says, “I’ve definitely seen the impact in, particularly Primary age, children’s confidence in identifying different emotions using the characters and their traits to support children relating to their own experiences of the range of emotions”.
Why It Still Matters
In a world that often encourages us to “stay positive” or “look on the bright side,” Inside Out reminds us that all emotions serve a purpose. Sadness helps us slow down, process loss, and connect with others. Fear protects us. Anger sets boundaries. Disgust helps us form values.
