Inner Workings - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Geometric Shapes (Squares vs. Curves)
Squares symbolize rigidity, logic, and the suffocating structure of the office world. Curves and wavy lines represent freedom, the ocean, and the organic impulses of the heart.
Paul and his office environment are designed with sharp right angles, while the beach, the food, and the people Paul desires to meet are drawn with loose, flowing, and colorful silhouettes.
The Sunglass Stand
Symbolizes perspective and the choice to see the world through a more colorful, joyful lens.
Kate, the vendor, represents the romantic and adventurous life Paul's heart craves. The sunglasses themselves allow Paul to literally 'shade' the harsh light of his logical reality.
The 2D Projections
Represents the anxious imagination and the internal narrative of fear.
Whenever the Brain imagines Paul dying from a mistake (like being eaten by a shark or hit by a car), the animation shifts to a flat, 2D diagrammatic style reminiscent of 1950s educational films.
Philosophical Questions
Is safety worth the cost of joy?
The film examines the trade-off between a 'long, safe life' of monotony and a 'vibrant, risky life' of passion, ultimately concluding that a life lived in fear of death is not a life at all.
Where does the 'Self' truly reside?
By personifying individual organs as competing entities, the film asks if we are the sum of our parts or a separate consciousness (Paul) attempting to navigate their conflicting demands.
Core Meaning
The film serves as a poignant reminder that balance is the cornerstone of a meaningful life. Director Leo Matsuda suggests that while logic and caution (the Brain) are necessary for survival, a life devoid of passion and spontaneity (the Heart) is its own form of spiritual death. The core message is that happiness does not necessarily require quitting one's job or abandoning responsibility; rather, it is found in integrating moments of joy and risk into the daily grind, allowing the 'inner workings' of a human being to function in synchronized harmony rather than constant conflict.