Srinagar, June 11 -- I didn't plan to get emotional over a Pixar sequel. I thought I'd just watch Inside Out 2 for fun, maybe smile at the animation, maybe forget about it the next day.

But here I am, days later, still thinking about a scene where Joy, the old ringleader of Riley's emotions, learns something important: being good doesn't mean always being happy. And being human means you can feel a lot of things at once.

Many adults skip animated films thinking they're just noise for children: goofy characters, bright colours, and predictable endings.

But Inside Out 2 surprised me. It starts in a familiar place.

Riley, now a teenager, has four core emotions living in her mind. Joy leads the charge, curating memories, pushing aside any...