Inside Out

Riley is born in Minnesota, marking the beginning of her story. Within her mind, five personifications of her core emotions come to life: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger.

As Riley grows, her emotions help her build memories that are stored as colorful orbs. These memories create 'core' memories that power five distinct 'islands' of her personality, each representing different aspects of her character.

When Riley turns eleven, her family moves to San Francisco due to her father's job. The transition is difficult as they arrive to a bare home with their belongings still lost.

Joy becomes increasingly anxious as Sadness inexplicably begins to touch their happy memories, transforming them into sad ones. Joy tries to compartmentalize Sadness to prevent her from causing distress.

On Riley's first day at her new school, an unintentional interaction causes a sad core memory to form. This prompts Joy to engage in damage control, trying desperately to fix the emotional chaos.

In her frantic attempts to control the situation, Joy accidentally knocks loose core memories, leading to the collapse of the personality islands and destabilizing Headquarters. This results in a chaotic environment for Riley.

Joy and Sadness find themselves ejected from Headquarters and sent into the vast storage area filled with Riley’s long-term memories. They must navigate through this unfamiliar maze to return.

While Joy and Sadness are absent, Anger, Disgust, and Fear struggle to maintain Riley's emotional balance. Their inability to cope leads to a growing distance from her parents and friends.

In a desperate moment, Anger suggests that Riley run away to Minnesota, believing that new happy core memories can be created there. This highlights the dire state of Riley’s emotional wellbeing.

Joy and Sadness encounter Bing Bong, Riley's forgotten imaginary friend, who is eager to assist them. They team up, hoping to ride the train of thought back to Headquarters.

After successfully boarding the train of thought, it derails when one of Riley's personality islands collapses. This event delays Joy and Sadness’s return to Headquarters.

In a selfless moment, Bing Bong sacrifices himself so Joy can escape the Memory Dump. His fading presence symbolizes the loss of innocence and the importance of supporting each other.

Joy discovers the importance of Sadness when she encounters a touching memory that highlights how comfort and support from family can transform feelings of sorrow into happiness.

After Joy and Sadness reunite, they return to Headquarters to find the control console malfunctioned. Inspired by Joy, Sadness takes charge to restore balance and help Riley express her true emotions.

Riley emotionally confesses her struggles, leading to a supportive moment with her parents. Joy and Sadness work together to create a new blended core memory, transforming Riley's personality for the better.