Though released 14 years apart, Pixar Animation’s Inside Out and Monsters, Inc. have a cute and surprising connection between them. Both computer-animated films were box office and critical successes for Pixar and handled mature themes through comedy made for children. Inside Out features a young girl named Riley, while Monsters, Inc. features a toddler named Boo - two characters who have some natural parallels between them.
Inside Out and Monsters, Inc. both follow Pixar’s “What If X Had Feelings” movie formula. It’s a tried-and-true formula for Pixar that can be seen in numerous other films, but not all execute it as well as these two movie installments. One of their greatest achievements is how they manage to get viewers to truly care for the characters and their emotions, and some of this comes down to the great voice work featured within them. It is through the voice actress for Young Riley in Inside Out and Boo in Monster’s, Inc. that these two animated films connect.
Who Voices Young Riley In Inside Out
Inside Out features flashback sequences of 11-year-old Riley growing up from birth to the film’s present day, and to capture her range of emotions as a toddler, Pixar used archived voice recordings of Mary Gibbs initially recorded for Boo in Monsters, Inc. Gibbs was just two years old when she voiced the now iconic character of Boo. Using an actual toddler to voice the innocent, cheeky, energetic child was a plus for the role and provided plenty of archive footage of screams and giggles for young Riley.
On top of using Boo’s voice actress, Pixar had a nice homage to the beloved Monsters, Inc. character by giving young Riley the same hairstyle as her: two pigtails and bangs. Though Riley is blonde and Boo had dark brown hair and their bangs were cut slightly differently, Boo’s hairstyle is instantly recognizable and has become synonymous with her character. Pixar has teased how Inside Out 2’s story can go, which will feature a teenaged Riley and the emotions that come along with that period of time in one’s life. Thus, it’s unlikely that Gibbs’ voice will make another reappearance, but the cute connection remains.
How Mary Gibbs Was Cast In Monsters, Inc.
Gibbs’ name first appeared in Pixar’s end credits in 1999’s Toy Story 2 as one of the “production babies,” or babies born during the time of production. Her father was a story artist for the film and took on the role again for Monsters, Inc. Gibbs was brought into the production initially for the artists to be able to sketch her natural movements and capture stretch dialogue for the character of Boo. Gibbs told The Mouselets that she was already in her dad’s office often and comfortable with the studio and its crew, so Pixar offered her the part.
Boo continues to live on through Inside Out and even two possible Monsters, Inc. cameos in Toy Story 4. Now 26, Gibbs no longer voice acts and only has one other film credit to her name: 1998’s The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. Having been so young during the recording process for Monsters, Inc., Gibbs said she was “just playing and wandering around the studio,” and her energy and lack of focus subsequently made it difficult for the audio crew to record her lines. However, those qualities were exactly what made her voice perfect for young Boo in Monsters, Inc. and young Riley in Inside Out.