Inside Out

What qualities signify the best movie of the year? Could it be one that thoughtfully examines the human condition in the most striking way? Perhaps one that makes you laugh as much as it makes you cry and introspect over hard-to-swallow truths. Maybe even a movie that’s so visually dynamic its detailed beauty elevates the wonder of its evocative story. Now here’s the kicker: what if that movie was animated?

Before Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger and Disgust made the cut, 21 other emotions were considered for Pixar’s Inside Out. In a new special feature from the upcoming DVD for the animated film, courtesy of USA Today, director Pete Docter reveals the various emotions that were initially considered for Riley.

It’s that time again — if you aren’t one of those obsessive compulsive Halloween lovers who have already planned out their costume weeks or even months in advance, chances are you’re scrambling for ideas for what to wear next week. If you also count yourself as a big fan of movies (and you do, which is why you are here), you might find yourself wanting to wear a costume inspired by one of this year’s new releases. Don’t, we repeat, do not be one of those people who buys a costume in a bag at a Halloween super store. There are plenty of ways for you to have a cool movie-inspired costume and show off your creativity without caving in and dressing as Sexy Pizza Rat.

Inside Out is easily one of Pixar’s best, most emotionally complex films to date, making it an instant animated classic. As such, we — like you, surely — are incredibly excited for the Blu-ray release. The other day, we learned that Pixar has attached a new short titled Riley’s First Date? to the home video release, and new details have emerged that should get you even more pumped for the Blu-ray.

Hey, did you know there was going to be an Inside Out sequel short included in the film’s Blu-ray and DVD release? We didn’t either! But there’s going to one and the first clip from the short, titled “Riley’s First Date,” is online and everything.

Sort of like SNL’s famous fake commercials, this new mock ad for Pixar Depression accurately satirizes the studio’s latest animated film, Inside Out. Pixar’s newest film has been praised by many as their greatest effort to date thanks to its surprisingly complex exploration of emotions, but you can’t help but laugh at this video, which deftly mocks Riley for sulking through her first world problems.

When Universal scheduled Ted 2, they surely had no idea that Seth MacFarlane’s swearing teddy bear sequel would be squaring off against one of the biggest box office juggernauts of all time...a juggernaut that they themselves had created. So it’s not surprising that Jurassic World topped the box office again and it’s not surprising that Pixar’s Inside Out held onto second place. What is a little surprising is how low Ted 2 opened, falling significantly short of its predecessor’s opening weekend.

Inside Out isn’t the first Disney project to tackle this concept and director Pete Docter himself knows this. Several decades ago, the Inside Out director worked on the defunct Walt Disney World attraction Cranium Command, which tackles a very similar concept with very different results. Housed in the currently shuttered Wonders of Life pavilion in the Future World section of the Epcot theme park, Cranium Command was a theater show that combined animatronics, film, and animation to literally place the audience inside the human brain of a 12 year old.

Here’s how crazy this weekend is: Pixar’s Inside Out had the biggest opening for an original, non-sequel of all time...and it still came in second to Jurassic World’s second weekend. There’s literally nothing to ashamed of here. Sure, it may be the first time a Pixar movie hasn't opened in first place, but the only reason it didn’t open in first place is because it was dueling 2015’s greatest juggernaut. These two are worthy opponents and both are victors.

The good movies are supposed to come out in the second half of the year. January through June, that’s the dumping ground; the crap that was so toxic it had to get buried in the winter, followed by the empty-headed excitement of summer blockbuster season.