Inside Out 2 is dominating the global box office at the moment. It is now the second highest-grossing animated film of all time and has brought back fortunes for Disney after disappointing results with Lightyear and Wish. The franchise has now grossed over $1 billion following the release of the newest film in the series.
The original Inside Out tells the fascinating story of emotions in the mind of Riley Anderson, a young girl from Minnesota who moves to San Francisco. Five emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—operate her every emotion throughout the film. Fast forward to this year, Inside Out 2 sees Riley entering her teenage years, with new emotions making room and taking over her mind.
This concept has been fascinating, and it is one that has been rightly praised for its creativity.
As of writing, Inside Out 2 is now the second-highest grossing film of all time, outperforming The Super Mario Movie.
But did you know a similar concept was introduced by DC Thomson in Dundee five decades before the release of the original 2015 film?
The Numskulls is a strip in the comic about a team of tiny human-like technicians who live inside the heads of various people, running and maintaining their bodies and minds.
Originating in Dundee and first appearing in The Beezer in 1962, this innovative concept has long entertained children and adults alike, offering a humorous look at the inner workings of the mind and body.
The Numskulls features tiny characters operating inside a person's head. Each Numskull has a specific role: Brainy controls the brain, Blinky the eyes, Radar the ears, Snitch the nose, and Cruncher the mouth. This cast of characters has been a staple in British comic culture, providing endless comedic scenarios as they navigate the complexities of their host, typically a boy named Edd.
Over the years, The Numskulls has evolved. Special editions like the Bananaman summer special introduced variations such as the "Nanaskulls," with an X-ray of Bananaman revealing tiny figures inside him. The 2008 Annual even explored the idea of animals and other Beano stars having their own Numskulls, adding depth and variety to the strip.
In December 2012, The Numskulls made a digital comeback in The Dandy. This new iteration featured Alex Bonce, a younger boy whose Numskulls were reimagined as characters popular with children.
This version, illustrated by Jamie Smart, included a space jackal starship captain controlling the brain, a masked wrestler for the nose, a video game elf for the eyes, a robot for the ears, and a barbarian and dinosaur for the mouth. This revamp brought a fresh, contemporary twist to the classic strip, appealing to a new generation of readers.
By July 2013, The Beano's version of The Numskulls was revamped by Nigel Auchterlounie. This iteration showcased the Numskulls of various celebrities, starting with the famous British TV duo Ant and Dec. Although Edd disappeared temporarily, he made a return in early 2014, with Auchterlounie continuing to draw the strip. Despite changes in appearance, the core characters of Brainy, Blinky, Radar, Snitch, and Cruncher remained beloved constants.
The concept of tiny figures managing the inner workings of a person is not unique to The Numskulls. This idea found a new audience with Inside Out, with Riley's emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, and then Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Unwee—operating within her mind. Much like The Numskulls, Inside Out uses this premise to delve into complex emotional and psychological themes, presenting them in an accessible and entertaining way.
While Inside Out brought the concept to a global audience with its sophisticated animation and storytelling, it's fascinating to see how this idea was first developed in the humble pages of The Beano. The Numskulls laid the groundwork for exploring the interplay between inner thoughts and outward behaviour, a theme that resonates deeply with audiences of all ages.
As The Numskulls adapts and evolves, it remains a testament to the imaginative spirit that originated in Dundee, proving that even the smallest characters can have a significant impact on the world of storytelling.
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