'Inside Out' is the movie kids need to see to understand they're not alone

Pixar is known for making animated movies that pull at your heartstrings. Whether it's toys coming to life, a fish looking for independence or monsters trying to figure out their purpose, it's always wise to come to the theater with a pack of tissues. 

"Inside Out" is no exception to that standard, but it takes it one step further. Since emotions are the film's main characters, the movie does more than just make you feel things -- it attempts to explain why you feel them, which might make it the most important movie the company has ever made. 

Riley's age is an important piece of the "Inside Out" puzzle. It's a crucial time in growing up where you're no longer a child but you haven't officially started becoming an adult yet either. It's a time of transition. 

For Riley, that means maturing from simple emotional reactions to being able to process mixed feelings about the events in her life. That's only possible if Joy (Amy Poehler) and her other emotions can learn to work together. 

"At the end of the film, we wanted [Joy] to go back and do something that she could have never done at the beginning of the film, based on what she'd learned," Docter says. "The central theme of this film is coming together and finding the most important thing, I think everyone would agree, is relationships with our family, with our friends."

Pixar's previous films have also dealt with the theme of growing up. Andy grows out of his toys in "Toy Story." Nemo goes out on his own in "Finding Nemo" and Boo stops needing Mike and Sully in "Monsters Inc," but "Inside Out" delivers the message more frankly. 

"Inside Out" technically doesn't have a happy ending. Riley doesn't get to go back to Minnesota. She doesn't get her best friend back. She still has to grow up. Instead, the ending translates more accurately to "Sometimes everything isn't OK, but that's OK" -- which is a lot more honest and more likely to relate to Pixar's young audience so they know they aren't alone when life starts to get difficult. 

The movie is an isolating experience for Riley as she feels displaced and forgotten by those that matter most to her, but she's providing solace for many kids -- and adults -- who are watching. By using animated emotions to explain why Riley feels the way she does, it gives adolescent kids a way to understand their own confusing thoughts and feelings. They don't have to feel as alone as Riley does, because they have her to prove they aren't living a singular experience. 

"Pixar doesn't patronize their young audience and they don't underestimate the intelligence of their audience every time so they keep raising the bar and also they assume that you and your big brain is going to show up and your big heart," says Poehler at the press conference. 

"They assume you're gonna take all those things with you when you go see their movies; and you're so rewarded when you do." 

"Inside Out" is in theaters now. 

Photo/Video credit: Disney/Pixar

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