An intriguing Pixar theory suggests that the 2009 film the Pixar sequel, Inside Out 2 – there is a possible connection to the story of Up.
There have been many theories that attempt to explain the connection that all of Pixar's films share. The Pixar Universe Theory, created by Jon Negroni, has speculated how all the movies inhabit a shared universe and fit together in one particular timeline. Negroni himself has said that fans shouldn't take the theory too seriously, but it's fun to speculate how Pixar's beloved animated films could be linked, especially due to the plethora of Easter eggs that can be found in every movie. One particular Easter egg in Inside Out lends credence to a theory that places Up in the same universe. Specifically, details found in Riley's memories suggest that she herself is familiar with the events of Up having captured and retained specific moments from the movie. This has led some to speculate that Up is actually just a movie made in Inside Out's world.
Is Up Just A Movie Riley Watched? Pixar Theory Explained
In Inside Out, a person's memories are stored in colorful spheres called memory orbs. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that a few of the orbs contain images from Up, such as Carl and Ellie's wedding in Up's opening scene. This has led to a theory that Up is a movie that exists in Inside Out and the orbs represent Riley's memories of watching the film as a kid. Up is quite a moving film, especially due to its montage of Carl and Ellie's life together, so it's understandable that Riley would be so affected by the film that the memories would stay with her. Their presence in Inside Out, given the fact that Riley couldn't have seen them first hand, is strong evidence that she, like the audience, has also watched Up the movie.
Why Inside Out Really Uses Shots From Up
The idea that Up is a movie set within Inside Out's world is appealing to anyone who ascribes to Pixar's shared universe theory. However, the real reason why Inside Out uses shots from Up may actually be disappointingly prosaic. The most likely explanation has to do with Inside Out's director, Pete Docter. Docter also directed Up, so the memory orbs of Carl and Ellie are a shout-out to the Pixar film he made before Inside Out. Pete Docter has been such an integral part of many beloved Pixar movies, and this Easter egg was a very cool yet subtle nod to a previous film of his. While it certainly lends credence to a popular fan theory, it could also be a simple matter of one director paying homage to a previous project.
Every Other Pixar Easter Egg In Inside Out
Another clue that the movie's Up references are more throwaway than significant is that Inside Out features many Easter eggs and hidden references to past Pixar films. The Luxo ball, an iconic Pixar symbol that originated with the animated short Luxo, Jr. in 1999, can be seen twice: there's a red star on Riley's backpack, and the ball itself can be seen in a flashback when a younger Riley is hanging out with her imaginary friend Bing Bong (Richard Kind). In another scene, when Riley is walking up a San Francisco street to catch the bus, A113, a reference to a classroom number at the California Institute for the Arts (where Pete Docter and other Pixar animators attended) can be seen written in graffiti on a wall in the background. Riley is also placed in room A113 at her new school. Another classic Pixar Easter egg is the Pizza Planet truck, which can be seen in Riley's memory orbs three times throughout the film.
Sid from Toy Story's skull shirt, a classroom poster based on the Pixar short La Luna, and the birds from the short For the Birds making an appearance as Riley's family drives into San Francisco.
The Carl and Ellie images shown in Inside Out are a great example of a fun Pixar Easter egg, yet the wealth of other references ultimately suggests that it is just one example of many other similar nods, rather than an explicit attempt to link the two movies. While it isn't confirmed that Up is a movie in Inside Out's world, it's still an interesting theory to speculate about, and it makes more sense than Riley somehow being there for Carl and Ellie's special moments. Regardless, it's great to see Carl and Ellie make another Pixar appearance, even if their presence is perhaps less significant than audiences might hope.
