Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Sadness

Joy's evolution is guided by Sadness, even if Sadness doesn't exactly know she's a mentor. At the start of the story, Joy's all about, well, joy. She thinks it's her job to keep Riley perpetually perky. Given that Riley's a kid, she's kind of right: most kids' focus is non-stop fun.

As Riley begins leaving childhood in the dust, however, Joy must understand that Riley's other emotions are equally valuable and just as necessary as Joy, and she does so by hanging out with Sadness. She learns from watching Sadness provide a sympathetic ear to Bing Bong, for example, as well as from finally acknowledging Sadness's useful effect on Riley's memories. Sadness only makes Joy richer.