The Popsicule congratulates 2022 “Science & Humour” student Vinhara Goonesekera for publishing a thought-provoking piece on “Science as Fantasy: Humour and Human Psychology”

The use of hyperbolic humour and incongruities in Inside Out is an exemplar of how animation can be used to convey science knowledge in an easily identifiable way. Tapping into the fact that humour as a ‘pedagogical tool’ has the ability to foster positive social perceptions of and accessibility to, sometimes, complex topics and boost attention to its communication . The use of anthropomorphic personification to create emotion-based characters allowed the filmmakers to engage in issues such as emotional maturity and the connection between our emotions and behaviours. A vessel for this connection is the use of situational humour to create a bond between the viewer and their own experiences which they can identify in Pixar’s film. Ultimately, the ability of Inside Out to portray science through humour shows us the fantastic possibilities and extended versions of what science can be in our collective imagination.