My family went to see the new Pixar movie, Inside Out, on its opening day last weekend. It was a hit with kids and parents and showed a depth of story telling that most movies never attempt.

My friend, Calli, sent me this article about the movie.

The article highlights the film’s lack of a villain and how novel that is.

Finding Nemo is one of my favorite Pixar films, and it, too, does not rely on a villain.

I am partial to stories without obvious villains. It’s too easy to put a hero in a story doing battle against an “evil” nemesis. But that’s not reality.

The obstacles most of us face are not from an arch enemy. Most of our battles are within. We all face resistance, but I know for me that resistance is usually of my own making. Self-doubt, fear, laziness…

That’s why Inside Out really shines. It asks the audience for more than most films do and succeeds without a bad guy to root against.