Kyle MacLachlan Shows Paternal Side for Pixar’s INSIDE OUT

Kyle MacLachlan is known for his darker roles in films and television shows such as Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, and Calvin Zabo (aka Mister Hyde) in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  However in Pixar’s INSIDE OUT, MacLachlan’s just Dad, and as father to 7 year old son Callum, MacLachlan’s perfectly happy playing the dad.  During our recent press trip to Pixar Studios, we had the opportunity to sit down with Kyle MacLachlan and Kaitlyn Dias – the voices of Dad and Riley from Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT.

(L-R): Riley Andersen and Riley’s Dad. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

The “dad” in Kyle MacLachlan was showing during our interview as he acted paternalistic (in a good way, not the obsessive Cal from S.H.I.E.L.D. way) towards the 16 year old Kaitlyn Dias making sure she had plenty of questions and opportunities to answer.  They started with how they were drawn into the film and voice-acting differently.  “When Pixar calls, it’s hard to say no” said MacLachlan; while Dias was originally brought on as a scratch (or test) voice for the film.  When Kaitlyn found out they wanted to keep her voice in the movie, “it really blew my mind,” she said.

(L-R) Kyle MacLachlan and Kaitlyn Dias during a press junket for Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT. Photo by Dave Parfitt

 

As we heard from Director Pete Docter and Producer Jonas Rivera, INSIDE OUT has had a profound effect on how people perceive and express emotions.  Kaitlyn Dias and Kyle MacLachlan were no different.  “The concept definitely gets inside your head,” Dias explained, “it was just like, oh, Joy must be at the controls now.”  While Kyle MacLachlan said his son Callum would recognize and identify his emotions and who was guiding his attitude at the time.  Both MacLachlan and Dias saw a lot of their own personalities in their characters of Dad and Riley – especially the concept of Goofball Island.  “Oh, definitely a lot of me in Goofball Island,” Kaitlyn revealed, “my mom will attest, too.”  Like a good dad Kyle jumped in, “I join you on that, by the way.  We’re both really, really good in Goofball Island.”

Anger, Fear, Joy, Sadness and Disgust look out upon Riley’s Islands of Personality. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

 

With so many of Kyle MacLachlan’s roles exploring more of a darker side, he said it was fantastic to do a movie that he can watch with his son and whole family together, and was surprised at the film’s emotion.  MacLachlan added,

“I found it incredibly emotional, and I was moved a couple of times seriously.  As an adult you are revisiting territory that you don’t want to go back into because it’s very painful.  And you recognize that in order for your child to grow, there are painful things they’re going to have to go through.  The acceptance of that and realizing that ultimately the thing that’s going to make it easier is just to be present as a family.  And sometimes you don’t have any answers.  You just have to go through, have the experience, and the resiliency of the human spirit will carry you. ”

Kaitlyn Dias chimed in with her most important message from INSIDE OUT, “I think I’d just say to the parents watching this, make sure that you can recognize when your own child’s going through this so that you can make sure they know you are supporting them.”

(L-R): Riley’s Dad, Riley Andersen and Riley’s Mom. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

 

Kyle MacLachlan and Kaitlyn Dias reprise their roles in the Pixar short “Riley’s First Date?” available on the home version of INSIDE OUT.  In the short, Riley, now 12, is hanging out at home with her parents in San Francisco when potential trouble comes knocking: a boy shows up at the door.  We get a glimpse inside everyone’s heads to see the emotions of Mom, Dad, Riley, and Jordan as Riley’s “Boy-Friend” during “Riley’s First Date?”

Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT is available now on Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray Combo Pack and On-Demand.

Inside Out Blu-ray

The INSIDE OUT home edition includes an extensive line-up of bonus features including deleted scenes (click here for an exclusive look), the theatrical short film LAVA and “Riley’s First Date?” short.  We also chatted with the voices behind the breakout stars of the film, Sadness and Bing Bong.  Click here for our conversation with Phyllis Smith and Richard Kind, and follow this link to catch the “Train of Thought” and read our full review of Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT.

DISCLOSURE: I was hosted by Walt Disney Studios on an all-expense paid trip to San Francisco, California including airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals to attend this press event and learn more about Disney’s films and shows.  All opinions expressed are those of the author. For more family movie news, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.

About Dave Parfitt

Married, father of two girls, and living in the heart of the Finger Lakes. I'm a runner with a PhD in neuroscience and a passion for travel.