Did Riley have a crush on Val in Inside Out 2? Here’s what the film’s writer explained

Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has generated some buzz and discussions about Riley’s budding emotions, as well as her newfound admiration for Val, who is a much older and confident hockey player than Riley is.

This sequel to the well-received 2015 film takes a time-jump of nearly two years and it follows Riley as she figures out the challenges and hurdles of adolescence.

Along with the pre-existing emotions like Joy, Sadness anger, etc, Inside Out 2 brings new emotions into Riley’s life. These emotions comprise Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment.

As Riley figures out her way through high school and navigates newer emotions along with her connection with Val, fans think: Did Riley have a slight little crush on Val in Inside Out 2?

The co-writer on the film, Dave Holstein recently answered this question in an interview with ScreenRant, while contributing some level of insight into Pixar’s style towards Riley’s emotions and her relationship with Val.

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What did the Inside Out 2 Writer Say About Riley’s Feelings for Val?

In an interview with ScreenRant, Inside Out 2 co-writer Dave Holstein talked about how Val as a character was created to act out as a role model for Riley rather than an interest fixated on romance.

The makers of the film needed Riley to look up to someone older, more self-assured, and cool, something which played an important role in developing Riley’s newly found anxious emotion.

"I think that the discussion throughout the entire film is just to give her someone to look up to, the way a freshman looks up to a senior. I mean, [it’s a] girl crush in that way…. Frankly, it's not even age, it's confidence, and we wanted to give her that character to then give her anxiety, to then give us a movie."

Holstein’s clarification makes it crystal clear that what Riley felt for Val was merely embedded due to admiration rather than romantic feelings.

Riley was simply pulled toward Val’s confidence and guidance on the hockey team, which added to the film’s principal theme of discovering oneself and developing emotional growth.

What Does Riley and Val’s Relationship Mean for Inside Out 3?

While Inside Out 2 does not openly explore Riley having romantic feelings for another character, the film’s depiction of what Riley must have felt for Val has led to guesswork about her character development in the future installment.

Fans are trying to interpret the sequel as the starting point of Riley's feelings toward romance. However, Pixar has not yet commented on any plans to explore Riley’s sexuality or her having actual romantic interests in future films.

However, certain reports indicate that Pixar intentionally steered away from making Riley a queer character due to the backlash faced by Lightyear.

This could indicate why Holstein would talk about Riley’s feelings for Val as just being a "girl crush" in a non-romantic way.

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So, did Riley actively have a romantic crush on Val in Inside Out 2?

Not in the way some fans may have guessed because according to the co-writer of the film, Riley had high regard for Val’s confidence rather than developing romantic feelings for her.

The film in no way focuses on Riley’s romance but rather focuses on emotions, discovering oneself, and character development which focus on the intricacies of being a teenage girl.

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