Inside Out 2 owes its emotional climax to another beloved Pixar masterpiece
As a gamer with decades of life experience under my belt, I must say that Pixar never ceases to impress me with their storytelling prowess. The latest installment of Inside Out, or as I like to call it, “Inside Out 2,” has certainly lived up to the hype and then some.
By the second month, “Inside Out 2” has proven itself as a remarkable success. Climbing the ranks to potentially become one of the top ten highest-grossing movies ever made is no trivial accomplishment. However, it was the film’s robust performance and persistent positive buzz that helped maintain its momentum, ultimately generating an estimated $1.6 billion in revenue, as we stand today.
Everything has been said about what contributed to its tremendous success, from the story being a worthy addition to Riley’s life journey to the memorable characters. However, one element of the film owes much of its inspiration from another Pixar masterpiece.
And that is the climax of Inside Out 2 being strikingly similar to the climax of 2020’s Soul.
For some context, the animated film “Soul” follows the story of a humble school teacher named Joe, who yearns to showcase his jazz skills in his preferred club. In an unexpected incident, Joe’s spirit gets detached from his physical body and ends up in a spiritual realm called “The Great Before”. To rejoin with his body once more, Joe joins forces with a disillusioned soul named 22 and embarks on a quest across the realm to discover a means to return.
Over time, Joe regained possession of his body, but the decision he made left 22 in deep despair, turning her into a drifting, aimless entity that took on a form resembling a tempest. However, Joe was able to calm 22, restore her badge and make her once again fit for Earthly existence.
In the sequel to “Inside Out,” when Anxiety takes over Riley during a significant hockey match, causing chaos at Headquarters and inducing an anxiety attack in Riley, Joy steps in just in time, accompanied by Anger, Fear, and Disgust. They manage to calm the situation down, similar to how Joe soothed 22. Interestingly, it was not only Joy but all of the emotions that helped Riley regain her sense of identity.
In various aspects, the personalities of “Soul”‘s 22 and “Inside Out 2″‘s Anxiety exhibit similar traits. They both functioned as contrasting characters to the main protagonist, are keen observers of their environment, often face criticism from subordinates but remain unperturbed by their responses, and possess a knack for causing mischief. However, 22 displays a stronger degree of stubbornness compared to Anxiety.
The emotional peaks of both films aptly convey their central ideas: “Soul” explores the quest for one’s life’s meaning, whereas “Inside Out 2” delves into understanding the emotions that shape our lives. However, to reach these pivotal moments, the characters are propelled by a literal whirlwind.
The outcomes show differences, yet collectively, they achieved unprecedented acclaim and emerged as cherished films independently. Specifically, “Soul” was celebrated with numerous awards in 2020, while “Inside Out 2” broke box office records.
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2024-08-13 17:27