Pixar reportedly changed aspects of Riley’s character inInside Out 2due to the backlash againstLightyear’s same-sex kiss between Alisha and her spouse, Kiko. When the trailers forInside Out 2were released, there was speculation about Riley being gay and romantically interested in Val, but this possibility was not explored in the sequel. This has led to discourse about thePixar film’s lack of explicit LGBTQIA+ representationdespite teasing it.
According to sources who spoke withIGN,edits were made to depict Riley as"less gay"due to fears grounded inLightyear’s backlash and box office disappointment. This included an emphasis on making Riley and Val’s relationship as platonic as possible and even adjusting the lighting of certain scenes to avoid any connotations of"romantic chemistry”and"doing a lot of extra work to make sure that no one would potentially see them as not straight.“Another source says this is because Pixar’s leadership mistakenly believe“Lightyear was a financial failure because it had a queer kiss in it.”
What This Means For Pixar’s Future
Better Representation Is Needed
Pixar’s movies have featured a few openly LGBTQIA+ characters prior toInside Out 2, withLightyear’s Alisha being the most prominent, although she passes away relatively early in the story.Onwardfeatures a minor character named Officer Specter who mentions her girlfriend’s daughter, and Wade’s younger brother inElemental, Lake, isPixar’s first non-binary character.Inside Out 2 could have been the first confirmed instance of a Pixar movie protagonist being LGBTQIA+if the story committed to Riley being gay.
They have tried to walk a fine line between including minor LGBTQIA+ characters while not committing to these characters or their identities being a significant part of the story.
As positive asInside Out 2’s box office record-breaking success is for Pixar and for Disney, shying away from even implying that Riley is gay casts a negative light on the studios. They have tried to walk a fine line between including minor LGBTQIA+ characters while not committing to these characters or their identities being a significant part of the story. This line can only be walked for so long, andDisney and Pixar will eventually need to have better follow-through on improved representation in this area.
Our Take On Inside Out 2’s Behind-The-Scene Changes
It Is Disappointing, But Unfortunately, Not Surprising
Given the history of previous Disney and Pixar movies, I did not expect Riley to be confirmed as gay. Nevertheless,it is incredibly disappointing to hear that even the smallest suggestions of this were erased, and that these changes were justified because ofLightyear’s lackluster box office performance.Lightyear’s challenges andInside Out 2’s success have little to do with their LGBTQIA+ representation or lack thereof. The biggest issue withLightyearwas its poor marketing that made the movie’s relationship to the previousToy Storymovies needlessly convoluted.
Inside Out 2has made more than $1.6 billion and is the eighth highest-grossing movie of all time.
Inside Out 2had a more comprehensive, creative, and clearer approach to its marketing. Along with benefiting as the direct sequel of a beloved film, it told a story about adolescence and anxiety that can be enjoyed and understood by all ages.I worry that these elements will not be factored into Pixar’s discussions of whyInside Out 2performed far better thanLightyear, and that the studio will still refuse to commit to openly LGBTQIA+ characters at the center of their stories. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong duringPixar’s upcoming movies and television series.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
