Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.
Character Design
The Many Particles of Joy
Joy is very bouncy, almost like a star. She’s full of life and energy, so filmmakers called on Effects Supervisor Gary Bruins and his team to figure out how to showcase that effervescence.
“Pete [Docter] wanted Joy to have particles that radiate and shoot off her skin throughout the entire film,” says Bruins. “That meant creating an effect that would appear in hundreds and hundreds of shots. It had never
been done before.”
Joy
Joy’s goal has always been to make sure Riley stays happy. She is lighthearted, optimistic and determined to find the fun in every situation. Joy sees challenges in Riley’s life as opportunities, and the less happy moments as hiccups on the way back to something great. As long as Riley is happy, so is Joy.
Sadness
None of the other Emotions really understand what Sadness’s role is. Sadness would love to be more optimistic and helpful in keeping Riley happy, but she finds it so hard to be positive. Sometimes it seems like the best thing to do is just lie on the floor and have a good cry.
Anger
Anger feels very passionately about making sure things are fair for Riley. He has a fiery spirit and tends to explode (literally) when things don’t go as planned. He is quick to overreact and has little patience for life’s imperfections.
Disgust
Disgust is highly opinionated, extremely honest and prevents Riley from getting poisoned – both physically and socially. She keeps a careful eye on the people, places and things that Riley comes into contact with – whether that’s broccoli or last year’s fashion trend. Disgust always has the best of intentions and refuses to lower her standards.
Fear
Fear’s main job is to protect Riley and keep her safe. He is constantly on the lookout for potential disasters, and spends time evaluating the possible dangers, pitfalls and risk involved in Riley’s everyday activities. There are very few activities and events that Fear does not find to be dangerous and possibly fatal.
Riley
Riley Andersen is an eternally happy kid, at least until she turns eleven and her dad gets a job across the country, forcing the family to relocate to San Francisco. As she struggles to navigate a new home and school, Riley experiences an unfamiliar mix of emotions.
Bing Bong
With the trunk of an elephant, the tail of a cat, and body of cotton candy, Bing Bong is Riley’s imaginary friend. (You have to remember, when Riley was three animals were all the rage.) Unfortunately, he’s been out of work since Riley turned four, and he’s desperate to not be left behind as Riley grows up.
Mom and Dad
With a new job and a brand new city, Riley’s Mom and Dad find themselves dealing with the ever-changing emotions of their once
happy daughter.
World Design
Mind vs Brain
“The film takes place in the mind, not the brain,” says Director Pete Docter. “We were very specific from the get-go. We didn’t want blood vessels and dendrites. The mind is metaphorical. We imagined our thought processes,
memories, feelings.”
But according to Daniel Holland, sets art director, the team used the physiology as reference. “We were inspired by shapes—the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, cells under a microscope,” he says. “Everything was heavily caricatured, but we wanted to start from somewhere that made sense.”
Headquarters
Headquarters is the control center in Riley’s mind where all five Emotions live and work, monitoring Riley’s day-to-day experiences and guiding her along the way.
Dream Productions
Built and staffed like a full-fledged Hollywood studio, Dream Productions is where Riley’s dreams (and nightmares) are created. The writers here are not afraid to take risks and often dance on the edge of logic when it comes to Riley’s dreams.
Imagination Land
“Imagination Land is where all of Riley’s flights of fancy and daydreams are built full-size and come to life,” says Docter. “It’s a place where you go to play.”
Islands Of Personality
Riley’s Islands of Personality are powered by core memories, which are memories of extremely significant times in Riley’s life.
Train Of Thought
The Train of Thought is an all-terrain choo-choo with a self-generating track that delivers daydreams, ideas and other thoughts to Headquarters. It’s also used to transfer memories to different regions of Riley’s mind. But take note: When Riley sleeps, so do the operators.
Long Term Memory
Long Term Memory is a vast floor-to-very-high-ceiling storage facility that houses millions of Riley’s memories. Long Term Memory is staffed by Mind Workers, including the Forgetters, who evaluate the usefulness of each memory and eliminate those that no longer seem relevant.
Awards
Best Animated Feature
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
National Board of Review Winner
Boston Online Film Critics Winner
New York Film Critics Online Winner
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Runner-Up
Washington Area Film Critics Association Winner
Boston Society of Film Critics Winner
Golden Globe Winner
Phoenix Film Critics Circle Winner
San Diego Film Critics Society Nominee
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Nominee
Critics’ Choice Award Winner
Chicago Film Critics Association Winner
Indiana Film Journalist Association Runner-Up
Houston Film Critics Society Winner
St. Louis Film Critics Association Winner
Southeastern Film Critics Association Winner
Dallas Ft. Worth Film Critics Association Winner
Las Vegas Film Critics Association Winner
American Film Institute
Florida Film Critics Circle Winner
Austin Film Critics Association Winner
Phoenix Film Critics Society Winner
North Carolina Film Critics Association Winner
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists Winner
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Winner
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Winner
Denver Film Critics Society Winner
Black Film Critics Circle Winner
Producers Guild of America Winner
BAFTA Award Winner
Academy Award Winner
Best Picture
Chicago Film Critics Association Nominee
Houston Film Critics Society Nominee
St. Louis Film Critics Association Nominee
London Film Critics Circle Nominee
Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse To Grow Up
AARP Winner
Best Original Screenplay
Washington Area Film Critics Association Winner
Critics’ Choice Award Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Nominee
St. Louis Film Critics Association Nominee
Detroit Film Critics Society Nominee
Southeastern Film Critics Association Runner-Up
Las Vegas Film Critics Association Nominee
Florida Film Critics Circle Nominee
Austin Film Critics Association Winner
Phoenix Film Critics Society Winner
North Carolina Film Critics Association Nominee
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists Nominee
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Runner-Up
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
BAFTA Award Nominee
Final Draft Screenwriters Choice Awards Nominee
Academy Award Nominee
Outstanding Writing in
a Motion Picture (Film)
NAACP Image Awards Nominee
Best Edited Animated Feature Film
AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS WINNER
Kevin Nolting, ACE
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
Best Sound Mixing
Cinema Audio Society Award Winner
Best Sound Editing: Sound Effects, Foley,
Dialogue & ADR In An Animation Feature
Motion Picture Sound Editors Winner
Best Casting, Animation,
CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA (CSA) WINNER
Kevin Reher, Natalie Lyon
Best Comedy
Critics’ Choice Award Nominee
St. Louis Film Critics Association Nominee
Favorite Movie
People’s Choice Awards Nominee
Favorite Family Movie
People’s Choice Awards Nominee
Women Film Critics Circle Winner
MovieGuide Award Winner
Best Ensemble
San Diego Film Critics Society Nominee
Detroit Film Critics Society Nominee
Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects
in an Animated Production
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Nominee
Visual Effects Society Nominee
Outstanding Created Environment
in an Animated Feature
Visual Effects Society Nominee
Outstanding Effects Simulations in
an Animated Feature
Visual Effects Society Nominee
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation
in a Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD WINNER
Allison Rutland
Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation
in a Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD NOMINEE
Travis Hathaway
Outstanding Achievement, Character Design
in an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
Outstanding Achievement, Directing in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
Best Score
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
New York Film Critics Online Nominee
Chicago Film Critics Association Nominee
Houston Film Critics Society Nominee
St. Louis Film Critics Association Nominee
Austin Film Critics Association Nominee
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Nominee
Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award Winner
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD WINNER)
Tony Rosenast
Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD NOMINEE
Domee Shi
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD NOMINEE
Amy Poehler: Joy
People’s Choice Awards Nominee
Women Film Critics Circle Winner
Visual Effects Society Winner
Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in
an Animated Feature Production
ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD ANNIE AWARD WINNER
Phyllis Smith: Sadness
Indiana Film Journalist Association Winner
Best Stereography-Animated Feature
Advanced Imaging Society Creative Arts Award WinneR
Credits
DIRECTED BY
Pete Docter
CO-DIRECTED BY
Ronnie del Carmen
PRODUCED BY
Jonas Rivera, p.g.a.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
John Lasseter,
Andrew Stanton
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Mark Nielsen
STORY BY
Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
SCREENPLAY BY
Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley
ORIGINAL SCORE COMPOSED BY
Michael Giacchino
STORY SUPERVISOR
Josh Cooley
FILM EDITOR
Kevin Nolting, A.C.E
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Ralph Eggleston
SUPERVISING TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Michael Fong
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Dana Murray
SUPERVISING ANIMATORS
Shawn Krause, Victor Navone
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY-CAMERA
Patrick Lin
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY-LIGHTING
Kim White
CHARACTER SUPERVISOR
Sajan Skaria
SETS SUPERVISOR
Robert Moyer
SIMULATION SUPERVISOR
Edwin Chang
EFFECTS SUPERVISOR
Gary Bruins
CHARACTER ART DIRECTOR
Albert Lozano
SHADING ART DIRECTOR
Bert Berry
GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY SUPERVISOR
William Reeves
RENDERING SUPERVISOR
Alexander Kolliopoulos
SOUND DESIGNER
Ren Klyce
CASTING BY
Kevin Reher, C.S.A.
Natalie Lyon, C.S.A.
CAST
JOY
Amy Poehler
SADNESS
Phyllis Smith
BING BONG
Richard Kind
FEAR
Bill Hader
ANGER
Lewis Black
DISGUST
Mindy Kaling
RILEY ANDERSEN
Kaitlyn Dias
MOM
Diane Lane
DAD
Kyle MacLachlan
FORGETTER PAULA
Paula Poundstone
FORGETTER BOBBY
Bobby Moynihan
DREAM DIRECTOR/MOTHER'S ANGER
Paula Pell
SUBCONSCIOUS GUARD FRANK
Dave Goelz
SUBCONSCIOUS GUARD DAVE
Frank Oz
JANGLES
Josh Cooley
MIND WORKER COP JAKE
Flea
FRITZ
John Ratzenberger
BRAZILIAN HELICOPTER PILOT
Carlos Alazraqui
CLOWN'S JOY
Peter Sagal
COOL GIRL'S EMOTIONS
Rashida Jones