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What Colors Mean, With the Characters From the Film Inside Out 2

Discover how to use colors to enrich your characters, through examples from the film Inside Out 2

Colors are visual perceptions that have helped us tell stories and provoke sensations, emotions, and interpretations for thousands of years. Depending on the culture using them, their meaning can vary, as in the case of red which is associated with purity and sensuality in India and with death in parts of Africa.
Understanding and mastering the use of colors is fundamental in creating art and illustrations, especially when designing characters that should transmit feelings, personality traits, behaviors, and historical context. The way in which we construct a character and choose their colors determines who the audience will interpret them.

In the book The Psychology of Colors, specialist and sociologist Eva Heller holds that the our perception of color changes according to context, but that they can also be associated with universal experiences in our language and thinking.
To help you choose your characters’ colors, illustrator, character designer, and graphic script artist Caio Martins (@caiorfmartins) shares his advice on how to enrich the meaning of your characters through examples from Inside Out.
Hear what he has to say in the video below!
Orange: Anxiety

In Inside Out 2, Anxiety is depicted in orange, symbolizing the intense, alert, and often overwhelming feelings that accompany stressful situations. In the film, Anxiety prepares Riley for potential dangers and uncertainties, reflecting the cautious and vigilant aspects of this emotion.
Turquoise: Envy

Envy, represented by a striking turquoise, conveys feelings of jealousy and desire. In the movie, Envy appears when Riley compares herself to others, showcasing the internal struggle and dissatisfaction that can arise from longing for what others have.
Pink: Embarrassment

Embarrassment is illustrated in pink, reflecting the blush of awkwardness and discomfort. Embarrassment surfaces during Riley's socially awkward moments, capturing the cringing and self-consciousness that accompanies such experiences in the film Inside Out 2.
Grey: Ennui

Ennui is shown in a purplish-grey hue, capturing the essence of boredom and listlessness. This emotion highlights moments when Riley feels uninspired and indifferent, emphasizing the dull and monotonous aspects of life that everyone experiences at times.
If you still have doubts about how to use colors to represent feelings and emotions, the infographic below, created by Copy Press, can serve as a practical guide:

Color theory is the art and science of using colors, which involves understanding how different hues interact and complement each other to create visually appealing combinations. Utilizing free color palettes can simplify this process, providing a harmonious blend of colors for various projects. These palettes help in selecting colors that evoke specific emotions and convey the desired message effectively, making them essential tools for designers, artists, and creatives looking to enhance their work with the perfect color combinations.
Learn to bring your illustrated characters to life, passing through every stage of the process, from the briefing to the model sheet, on his online course Character Design for Animation with Photoshop.
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