InsideU
About
Taking inspiration from Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out, the overall goal of the Crown Institute’s award-winning and internationally recognized InsideU is to develop and study highly engaging social and emotional learning tools that are relevant to a diverse population of children and youth. InsideU has received international acclaim, earning the Digital Design – Game Design and Animation award at the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards, and being named an Honoree in Education Websites and Mobile Sites at the 2025 Webby Awards, widely regarded as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times.
The Crown Institute worked directly with Pixar Animation Studios and in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs Metro Denver and digital design experts at Liquid to create InsideU. This collaborative project aims to harness the potential of Pixar's Inside Out as a powerful, entertaining, and educational tool for improving peoples’ mental and emotional wellness.
InsideU was collaboratively designed with youth using Inside Out’s unique characters and narratives that are deeply rooted in elements of evidence-based psychotherapies. Using a combination of clips from the iconic movie and interactive learning opportunities, InsideU facilitates the creative application of social and emotional learning skills to real-world dilemmas faced by elementary school-aged children.
Brian Sanders of KMGH-TV Denver discusses InsideU, our breakthrough app that is helping kids and their caregivers learn about emotions. Hear from Crown Institute Assistant Research Professor Sam Hubley as he discusses how the app helps guide kids through their feelings and how to respond to them. Watch the full video here.
InsideU has been internationally recognized with a Good Design Award in Digital Design – Game Design and Animation at the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards. The judges praised InsideU for its excellent combination of storytelling, game design, and animation and its ability to make social and emotional learning accessible and engaging for young people. Learn more about the award here.
InsideU has been honored in the Education Websites and Mobile Sites category at the 2025 Webby Awards. This distinction places InsideU among the top 25% of near 13,000 entries worldwide, celebrating its excellence in digital innovation and design. Hailed by The New York Times as the “Internet’s highest honor,” the Webby Awards recognize outstanding work that pushes the boundaries of creativity and impact online. Learn more about the award here.
Project Director
Our Team
Testimonials
- InsideU uses Disney and Pixar’s film Inside Out as a foundation for social and emotional learning. "The Jury was captivated by its clever and thoughtful design, which leverages engaging content to improve mental and emotional wellness, demonstrating how design can make a meaningful difference in educational resources.” – Good Design Award Jury
- “Honorees like InsideU are leading the charge in pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation online. Being chosen from nearly 13,000 entries this year is a remarkable accomplishment and a true testament to their excellence.” Nick Borenstein, General Manager of The Webby Awards.
Publications
Hubley, S., Moldow, E., Robbins, C., Harper, B., Martin, C., & Zhou, S. (2020). The Impact of Entertainment Education for Social and Emotional Learning in Elementary Schools. American Journal of Health Education, 51(5), 299-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2020.1795751
Jones, J.M., Lee, L.H., Zigarelli, J.C., and Nakagawa, Y.S. (2017). Culturally-responsive adaptations in evidence based treatment: The impact on client satisfaction. Contemporary School Psychology 21(3), 211-222. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40688-016-0118-6
Niebaum, J. C., Chevalier, N., Guild, R. M., & Munakata, Y. (2021). Developing adaptive control: Age-related differences in task choices and awareness of proactive and reactive control demands. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 21, 561-572. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-020-00832-2