The Inside Out movies have drawn multiple comparisons to Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, but there is one pivotal decision that future sequels cannot follow. The Toy Story and Inside Out movies might not appear to be all that similar on the surface thanks to drastically different premises. One is about toys that are alive, and the other is about the emotions inside everyone. And yet, both franchises have shown an incredible knack for exploring what it means to grow up and the various difficulties that can come with that.

Just as the Toy Story movies followed Woody and Buzz Lightyear as they made it through formidable years of Andy’s life, the Inside Out films follow Riley and her emotions at different important moments. Whether it is moving to a new city or going through puberty and figuring out who she wants to be, Riley’s life has been the focal point of the first two installments. With Inside Out 2‘s box office increasing the likelihood that more movies will happen, the Toy Story comparisons could only continue. But Pixar must avoid repeating one major decision.

Inside Out 3 Cannot Replace Riley Like Toy Story 3 Did With Andy

Toy Story 3 Introduced Andy’s Replacement

Looking ahead to Inside Out 3, there is a strong likelihood that the movie will age Riley up more to put her at another pivotal point in life, such as graduating high school or college. This would be quite similar to Toy Story 3, which focused on Andy leaving for college and getting to the point where he was ready to give up his toys. This allowed Pixar to move Andy out of the franchise, with Bonnie inheriting Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of his old toys and being the human lead in Toy Story 4.

The results of Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 critically and commercially speak for themselves, as the films were massively successful even as Andy’s story ended. However, Inside Out 3 would make a terrible mistake by trying to do something similar and replace Riley. The Toy Story franchise moved on from Andy while still giving audiences the versions of Woody, Buzz, and others they’ve come to know and love. This would not be possible with Inside Out 3, as replacing Riley as the human lead would mean an entirely new group of emotions.

Riley Is A Much Bigger Key To Inside Out Than Andy Is To Toy Story

It’s Her Life & Emotions

Replacing Riley is no easy task for the Inside Out franchise based on how the first two movies have utilized her. Most of the movies occur within her mind, with Joy and the other emotions serving as the main characters. But everything they do is directly connected to Riley’s life and how she is feeling. Inside Out 2 took this a step further by showing even more of Riley’s perspective instead of relying almost solely on the emotions. By exploring more of her life and emotions, audiences develop a strong connection to Riley.

The Toy Story movies take a very different approach with Andy. He had minimal screen time in the first two movies, but Toy Story 3 focused more on him and his life so that the film’s ending would resonate. Even then, the main conflict and dilemma come from the toys and their experiences. The films never took too much of the focus away from the toys, as Woody and Buzz are the main characters, not Andy. Inside Out is different since Riley and her emotions are one and the same.

Inside Out Not Replacing Riley Is Best For The Franchise

There’s So Much More Of Riley’s Life To Explore

There do not appear to be any plans to replace Riley as the human lead of the Inside Out franchise, at least not anytime soon, and that’s a good thing. Toy Story managed to replace Andy without impacting the story too much, but that would not be the same if Inside Out 3 or another sequel opted to focus on someone else’s mind. That could be a concept worth exploring at some point but only after Riley’s story is completely wrapped up. Inside Out 2‘s ending proves it is only the beginning.

The Inside Out franchise has only followed Riley’s life over the course of a few years, leaving her as a first-year student in high school. With Amy Poehler expressing an interest in going well beyond this point, going up to Riley’s adult life is worthwhile. Showing her in college, finding a career, and falling in love are just a few possibilities for her story’s continuation. Doing this with Joy, Anxiety, and other emotions helping craft Riley into the person she is can allow future Inside Out movies to find new depths to explore instead of retreading familiar waters.