The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh reopened June 12 with the world premiere of the first interactive exhibit based on the Disney/Pixar animated feature, “Inside Out.”

“Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out,” developed by the museum in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, offers interactive experiences focusing on the five emotions explored in the award-winning 2015 film: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear.

One of those emotions was particularly prevalent on the first day, said Bill Schlageter, the museum’s director of marketing.

“The grand reopening reaction to the exhibit by all visitors — both young and old — was filled with joy,” he said.

The exhibit’s hands-on and digital stations “help visitors understand the important role emotions, memory and imagination play in our everyday lives,” according to a release. “Children and families learn to recognize emotions and explore how we express and manage our emotions.”

Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh "Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out" was developed by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios.  

In “Emotions at Play,” visitors can:

• Step into Headquarters to explore the range and intensity of emotions at the Control Panel

• Explore ways we show how we feel with our faces and bodies at the Emotions Mirrors

• Think about an important memory and how it felt, or show current feelings by creating a glowing Memory Sphere

• Use their imaginations to create a story and perform it at Dream Productions

• Work to keep the Train of Thought on track and identify feelings associated with trying to control and balance it

• Explore how emotions work together by stacking and balancing Emotion Blocks.

The exhibit will run in the North Side facility through Jan. 9, then will tour museums and libraries across the country beginning late that month.

Child development

“Our partnership with Pixar and its animated film ‘Inside Out’ helps the Children’s Museum expand its innovative museum experiences that focus on social and emotional learning,” said Executive Director Jane Werner. “This is such an important part of children’s development and especially timely as we welcome back children and families to the Museum after such a challenging year.”

Development of the exhibit began in 2018 after Werner met Tony DeRose, former senior scientist at Pixar, on the board of the Maker Education Initiative, Schlageter said.

“On a visit to Pixar, (Werner) asked about the possibility of an exhibit based on ‘Inside Out. Over time, the idea of collaborating on an interactive exhibit took shape, combining the Museum’s experience in producing exhibits based on social and emotional learning, such as ‘XOXO: An Exhibit about Love & Forgiveness,’ and Disney and Pixar’s award-winning feature ‘Inside Out,’ which explores the internal emotional landscape of adolescent Riley.”

“To see elements of our film re-imagined into interactive experiences is something that, as a filmmaker, brings me incredible Joy (sorry Sadness!),” said the movie’s producer, Jonas Rivera. “And knowing how informative and fun the exhibit will be for kids and their parents makes all of us at Pixar feel immensely proud.”

The exhibit is locally supported by major sponsor PPG and presenting sponsor Chase.

Courtesy of Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has premiered “Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out,” the first interactive exhibit based on Disney and Pixar’s hit animated movie.  

In addition to “Emotions at Play,” the museum reopening also was the debut of the Kindness Gallery, where visitors can express themselves through communications-based activities inspired by the work of Fred Rogers and lessons from the series, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

During the pandemic closure, perennial museum exhibits were refreshed or had new features added.

Current museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, with plans to expand them gradually. MuseumLab, located next door, is open Saturdays and Sundays only. An online timed-ticketing system is in place. Walk-up tickets may be available but are not guaranteed.

All staff and visitors will be required to wear face masks in the museum, with the exception of children 2 and younger.

“Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be reviewing our mask wearing policies,” Schlageter said.

The Museum’s Cafe has not reopened yet, but visitors can bring food and drinks to enjoy in the cafe. Water fountains are not be operating.

Details: pittsburghkids.org

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