Pixar reportedly changed aspects of Riley’s character in Inside Out 2 Due to the backlash against Light years same-sex kiss between Alisha and her spouse, Kiko. When the trailers for Inside Out 2 were released, there was speculation about Riley being gay and romantically interested in Val, but this possibility was not explored in the sequel. This led to discourse about the Pixar film’s lack of explicit LGBTQIA+ representation despite teasing it.
According to sources who spoke with IGN, Edits were made to depict Riley as “Less Gay” Because of fears grounded in Light years 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 unequal.” Another source says it’s because Pixar’s leadership made a mistake “Lightyear was a financial failure because it had a strange kiss to it.”
What this means for Pixar’s future
Better representation is needed
Pixar’s movies have featured a few openly LGBTQIA+ characters before Inside Out 2with Light yearAlicia is the most prominent, although she leaves relatively early in the story. Forward Features a minor character named Officer Specter who mentions her girlfriend’s daughter, and Wade’s younger brother in ElementalLike, is Pixar’s first non-binary character. Inside out 2 gwould be the first confirmed instance of a Pixar movie protagonist being LGBTQIA+ If the story committed to Riley being gay.
They tried to walk a fine line between including minor LGBTQIA+ characters while not committing to the characters or their identities being a significant part of the story.
As positive as Inside Out 2The record-breaking success of the box office is for Pixar and for Disney, and shying away from even implying that Riley is gay casts a negative light on the studios. They tried to walk a fine line between including minor LGBTQIA+ characters while not committing to the characters or their identities being a significant part of the story. The line can only go so long, and Disney and Pixar eventually need to have better follow up for improved representation in this area.
Our take on Inside Out 2’s behind-the-scenes changes
It’s disappointing, but unfortunately, not surprising
Given the history of previous Disney and Pixar movies, I didn’t expect Riley to be confirmed as gay. nevertheless, It is incredibly disappointing to hear that even the smallest suggestions of this have been erasedAnd that the changes are justified because of Light years lackluster box office performance. Light years challenges and Inside Out 2s success has little to do with their LGBTQIA+ representation or lack thereof. The most important thing with Light year It was his poor marketing that made this movie’s relationship to the previous one Toy Story Movies needlessly convoluted.
Inside Out 2 Has a more comprehensive, creative and clear approach to his marketing. Along with benefiting as the direct sequel to a beloved film, it tells a story about youth and anxiety that can be enjoyed and understood by all ages. I’m worried that these elements won’t be factored into Pixar’s discussions about that Inside Out 2 Done much better than Light yearAnd that the studio will still refuse to put openly LGBTQIA+ characters at the center of their stories. Hopefully, I’ll be proven wrong during Pixar’s upcoming movies and TV series.
Source: IGN