 An early version of the film focused on Joy and Fear getting lost together , as it seemed to be the most humorous choice . By July 2012 , the project was set for an evaluation screening with other Pixar filmmakers . Docter gradually began to feel that the story was not working , which led to fears that he might be fired . He took a long walk at his home one Sunday , in which he began to consider himself a failure , his previous successes " flukes " , and a general sense that he should resign from the film . While pondering what he would miss about Pixar , he concluded that he would miss his coworkers and friends most of all . He soon reached a breakthrough : that emotions are meant to connect people together , and that relationships are the most important things in life . He decided to replace Fear with Sadness , which he felt is crucial to renewal . He met with Rivera and Del Carmen that night to explain his change of plans , and to his surprise , they reacted positively to it . At the screening , he informed his superiors that new plans for the film were in order . Although a " scary moment " , the film remained in production . 
