Summary
- Inside Out 3 could be Pixar’s most grown-up film yet if emotions fight in Riley’s inner world.
- Adding characters with opposite emotions in Inside Out 3 could lead to humorous conflicts and emotional processing.
- Inside Out 2’s success proves that a sequel was demanded by audiences, thus cementing the necessity for an Inside Out
Pixar has released no shortage of funny and charming movies, from the loveable objects in Toy Story to the fun boy band-obsessed world of Turning Red. Thanks to the first two intelligent and creative movies, the Inside Out franchise is shaping up to be one of the most beloved in the company’s history. While fans wait for Inside Out 3 to be confirmed, it’s fun to imagine what could happen in Riley’s life next. Will Riley have kids of her own in the next movie? Will she be only a few years older than she is in the sequel? No matter what age she is, it’s clear that the third film would tell another deeply emotional and moving story.
In Inside Out and Inside Out 2, Riley’s emotions have driven the story. But what if Riley’s emotions and another character’s emotions fought each other? This would create some great tension and would make the third movie even more unique than the other two.
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How Inside Out 3 Can Feature Two Fighting Emotions
Riley’s inner world has been the focus of Inside Out and Inside Out 2, and there has been plenty of conflict in each movie. She has experienced tension with her parents, classmates, and even with herself. But it would be cool if Inside Out 3 saw one of Riley’s emotions battling her child’s, her mom’s, her dad’s, or a coworker’s.
Perhaps, if Riley is an adult in the next movie, she could be working with someone who she doesn’t get along with. The story could lead up to a big event, contest, or competition in the third act. Perhaps Riley is trying to get a new job, or she wants her boss to pick her idea instead of a coworker’s.
Regardless of what Riley is going through, it would be fun if Riley’s emotion and another character’s emotion were complete opposites. Perhaps Riley feels shame or doubt and the other character is dealing with pride or hope. While it was sad not to see the emotions Disgust and Fear in Inside Out 2, each new movie in the franchise has to introduce some new feelings. If Inside Out 3 wants to stand out, it should definitely feature two warring emotions.
Inside Out 2 focuses on Riley’s anxiety as she enters the teenage years, and Anxiety (Maya Hawke) often feels like an evil character. In an interview with Poc Culture, director Kelsey Mann talked about the nuance behind this new emotion. Mann said:
“She always was going to be the antagonist in the film. But she’s doing it coming from a good place. She wants to protect Riley and she loves Riley just as much as Joy. I keep thinking of them as two parents arguing about how to best take care of their kid.”
It would be hilarious to see one of Riley’s emotions and another character’s feelings duking it out in their brains. This would likely lead to a big fight near the end of the movie when the emotions would apologize to each other. Both characters would learn that many feelings can coexist together. Since Inside Out is known for its sense of humor, it would make sense for Inside Out 3 to lean into this funny storyline while also talking about the importance of processing emotions.
What Did The Filmmakers Say About Inside Out 2?
Inside Out 2 focuses on Riley’s anxiety as she enters the teenage years, and the cast and crew have given some compelling interviews about working on the sequel. Pete Docter, who directed Inside Out and is the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar, spoke to Time Magazine about the idea for the second movie. He said:
“There was way more to play with, and we had a lot of leftover ideas. But the big question is, was there something substantive? We tapped Kelsey Mann, who was head of story on
Onward
and
Monsters University
, and he ran off and thought of this idea having to do with anxiety. It felt like that’s something that was really ripe.”
Docter also talked about some of the Pixar movies not doing well at the box office. Before the sequel was released in theaters, many wondered if Inside Out 2 could be successful. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie grossed $652,980,194 domestically and $1,698,586,747 worldwide. As Variety reported, Inside Out 2 was the first animated movie to make $1 billion globally. It looks like audiences were thrilled to learn more about Riley’s anxiety-ridden high school years. There seems to be no question that Inside Out 3 should happen.
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