Over the recent years, Pixar Animation has left many parents and long time fans discouraged in the content it has produced causing many to be cautious in viewing their films. Creativity had appeared to be replaced with conformity. We have certainly left, what many refer to as, the golden era of Pixar; a time where every movie was considered an instant classic. As a company they could do no wrong. But as they dealt with leadership change and expansion as a company, they entered into a more visible adolescent phase. It certainly explains a lot of their focuses and decisions; unsure who they want to be as a company, allowing culture to dictate their choices, and feeling pressure to tell certain stories.
Inside Out 2 becomes a greater metaphor for Pixar, when you take this into context. Adolescence includes missteps, trial and error behavior, and one would hope a sign of maturing. This film may be evident that we’ve turned a corner. Inside Out 2 is not necessarily a return to the Pixar classics but it is a return to Pixar discussions. It is perhaps the start of a new era of films that initiate wholesome discussions for us to have with our children over meaningful and important parts of growing up.
Riley has turned thirteen as the sequel kicks off and with that her emotions are introduced to new emotions. It’s all part of Riley entering into her own adolescence. The new emotions arrive unexpectedly, sending the audience to explore with Riley, Joy, and the others how to navigate life when we have so many new feelings.
The new emotions include Embarrassment, Envy, Ennui (which is portrayed as boredom), and of course Anxiety. While this movie covers a lot, it is very much a film trying to speak into our anxiety filled world that our children are growing up in today. And, may I add, the movie handles it really well.
Riley heads off to hockey camp for the weekend with her two closest friends. Immediately on the trip she learns that she won’t be going to High School with them the following year. Joy sees the Camp as a chance to build one more memory with her friends but Anxiety is more concerned about the future. The filmmakers shine a light on the darkness that anxiety brings in our life and gives us great insight into our own inner conflict.
Our anxiety is so worried about being happy in the future it is willing to overlook our beliefs, values, others and self care to obtain its goal. The problem worsens when you realize, anxiety can never reach its goal; an unachievable moving target of perfect happiness. The more our anxiety controls our behavior, the more we betray our core self, thus giving more to anxiety to worry about. The film demonstrates this journey beautifully and offers hope to those struggling with their own anxiety.
From a spiritual point, the film leaves the tiniest of room for where the Holy Spirit plays a role in all of this. A moving piece of the film is the main Emotions protecting Riley’s sense of self - formed together as the movie’s McGuffin. The object is comprised of Riley‘s beliefs, specifically about herself, and Joy is determined to return it to Riley’s mind after Anxiety had disposed of it.
There are many things to like about this new add-on to the inner workings of Riley’s mind. These beliefs can come from truths or experiences that Riley has. It's here where we could see how the truths of God’s Word can shape our identity, but it's also where our sinful nature can harm us. By the end of the film, we are given a well rounded portrayal of what a young teenage girl can believe about herself. As a Christian, you want her to know the love and mercy God has for her, so that her identity can find peace. Joy seems to represent that external need in the film. By no means is Joy, the character, portrayed as the Holy Spirit’s joy, however they do well to show that true joy is more than just happiness. As parents, we can take this assist and help our children understand that the joy that we need comes from God not ourselves.
Other great aspects are included in small moments of the film. We see Riley’s beliefs override her emotions, showing that we need to have self-discipline over our emotions. A perception about one's self needs to include our short-comings as well as our successes in order to remain humble. This is exactly the truth we should have about our own sense of self, so that we can understand our identity in Christ.
Paul from the Bible, was always good at demonstrating this. Paul held a well-rounded self-image of himself. He did not mask nor hide his mistakes or flaws. Instead he made them part of himself, so that they were included under the blanket of Christ. He found his strength, not in how he managed his failures, but in how Christ redeemed him.
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
The movie ends with a new understanding of our sense of self; that we are flawed. It also shows that anxiety and even our own pursuit of joy is not the answer by protecting ourselves from recognizing our short-comings. It's the perfect segue for Christ to now speak into our sense of self.
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him (Christ), because he cares for you.
1 Peter 1:5
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