the release of inside out 2 has sparked considerable discussion, particularly around the character of riley and her potential romantic interests. while the film introduces new emotional complexities and social dynamics for riley as she navigates her teenage years, the question of her sexual orientation has become a focal point for many viewers.
this article delves into the evidence presented within the film, fan interpretations, and the broader context of disney and pixar's approach to representation to explore whether riley might be queer.
riley's admiration for val: mentor or more?
a central element of inside out 2 is riley's intense admiration for val, a star player on the hockey team.
riley sees val not just as a skilled athlete but as a role model, emulating her every move and striving to break her records. this ambition is fueled by a desire for fame and universal approval, with riley viewing val's success as a blueprint for her own. the film portrays riley's wide-eyed gaze and enthusiastic imitation of val as evidence of deep admiration.
however, the narrative clarifies that this admiration stems from a place of aspiration rather than romantic attraction. val serves as a mentor figure, guiding riley through the challenges of elite sports and social navigation.
riley's desire to impress val and earn her approval is driven by her social ambitions.
she wants to fit in, gain popularity, and be accepted by the "cool" crowd that val represents. this ambition leads riley to make impulsive and sometimes selfish decisions, impacting her existing friendships.
ultimately, her interactions with val are framed within the context of social mobility and the universal teenage desire to belong and be recognized.
the role of riley's emotions and past crushes
the internal world of riley's emotions provides further clues regarding her romantic leanings.
throughout inside out 2, her core emotions—joy, sadness, anger, fear, and anxiety—experience her developing psyche. notably, none of the emotions exhibit any overt signs of romantic interest in val or any other female character. their focus remains on understanding riley's motivations, which are primarily rooted in her desire for new friendships and success in hockey.
further confirmation of riley's past romantic interests comes with the reintroduction of lance slashblade, a video game character from riley's younger years.
lance is found in the vault, a repository of forgotten memories. riley had a childhood crush on lance, which she eventually suppressed because his fighting style wasn't deemed "epic" enough. when lance is freed, he assists joy and her team. the fact that riley's emotion of disgust shows affection for lance is interpreted by some as a lingering sign of riley's past romantic feelings, suggesting that her capacity for romantic attraction is directed towards male figures.
the presence of mount crushmore, a structure carved with riley's past crushes, reinforces this interpretation.
lance is prominently featured on mount crushmore, depicted as handsome and suave. importantly, the other figures carved into the mountain are all male. there are no female figures present, which critics argue provides definitive evidence against any potential for riley to be queer.
potential for future exploration: the deep dark secret and embarrassment
despite the evidence pointing towards heterosexual crushes, some viewers and critics suggest that inside out 2 leaves room for the possibility of riley being queer in future installments.
one intriguing element introduced is the "deep dark secret," a giant entity locked away in the vault. this secret is revealed to be riley having lied about burning her mother's rug. the potential for this character to hold a more significant secret, such as riley's sexuality, is a point of speculation.
the franchise could indeed explore the idea of riley having a hidden queer identity, perhaps one that has caused her embarrassment.
the color palette associated with riley's emotions also draws attention. the avatar for embarrassment is depicted in pink, a color often associated with femininity and, in some cultural contexts, with the LGBTQ+ community.
this visual cue has led some to theorize that riley might be embarrassed by her sexuality, potentially believing that being different is inherently negative. such a storyline could offer a compelling narrative arc, allowing riley's mindscape to evolve as her emotions grapple with undiscovered aspects of her identity.
a potential third installment in the inside out franchise could provide an opportunity for both anxiety's team and joy's team to explore these uncharted territories of riley's mind, now that they have united.
this could involve delving deeper into her emerging identity, including her romantic preferences.
disney and pixar's history with queer representation
the discussion surrounding riley's potential queerness cannot be separated from disney and pixar's broader track record on LGBTQ+ representation in their films.
historically, disney has faced criticism for its limited and often fleeting depictions of queer characters and relationships. in films like lightyear and onward, queer presence was reduced to brief mentions or scenes involving same-sex couples. a queer scene was also reportedly cut from the live-action remake of beauty and the beast.
online backlash has been a recurring theme for disney when it has attempted to include LGBTQ+ elements.
despite this, comments from disney ceo bob iger have suggested a shift in strategy, with a focus on creating entertainment rather than "sending messages." this ambiguous stance leaves the future of queer representation within disney's animated features uncertain.
given inside out 2's significant box office success, it is unlikely that disney would want to jeopardize this financial success by introducing potentially divisive elements.
the studio's history suggests a cautious approach to overtly showcasing queer characters, particularly when it could impact commercial performance.
alternative interpretations and future possibilities
while the current narrative of inside out 2 strongly suggests riley's crushes are directed towards male characters, particularly lance, the possibility of her having crushes on her friends bree or grace remains an open question for some viewers.
it is also conceivable that disney and pixar could alter the narrative in future films, allowing riley to develop feelings for val or a new character she meets in high school.
however, considering disney's established patterns, the likelihood of riley being explicitly portrayed as queer in the near future appears slim.
the studio's past actions indicate a tendency to either avoid overt LGBTQ+ representation or to relegate it to subtext, often due to commercial considerations or perceived audience reception.
ultimately, whether riley is queer or not, the conversations sparked by inside out 2 highlight the growing demand for more diverse and inclusive storytelling in mainstream cinema.
as audiences continue to evolve, the pressure on major studios like disney and pixar to reflect a wider range of identities and experiences in their films will undoubtedly persist, potentially shaping the narratives of future beloved characters.