Inside the mind of 11-year-old Riley her core emotions – Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger – try to steer their host through her dramatic move from Minnesota to San Francisco. Riley’s parents (Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan) don’t have as much time for her anymore; she struggles at her new school, and doesn’t want to settle into her unimpressive new house.
Joy (voiced by Parks and Rec’s Amy Poehler) is determined to stay in control and not let Riley be overcome by Sadness (Phyllis Smith, The Office), but in her determination to keep Riley positive she unwittingly causes a major disruption that ejects both Joy and Sadness from ‘Headquarters’ and leaves Riley being controlled by Anger, Fear and Disgust – with rather disastrous results.
This Best Animated Feature Winner is an inventive and moving look at growing up and growing out of childhood, with incredible performances by Poehler and Smith as the bickering emotions of Joy and Sadness.