Core Memories

The core memories are objects of major importance in Inside Out. Like all memory orbs, core memories represent the memory of events in a Riley's life. However, they have a much greater importance than usual memories. Appearing brighter than any other memory, they each define an aspect of Riley's personality and each power an Island of Personality.

Core memories are usually stored in Headquarters in a dedicated tray, from which they send a beam of light through a glass tube all the way to their respective Islands of Personality.

Riley's First Five first core memories
Riley's five original core memories represented the following events:
 * The first time she scored a goal; powered Hockey Island.
 * One time she broke a plate and had the honesty of confessing it; powered Honesty Island.
 * One time she played with her friend Meg; powered Friendship Island.
 * One time she ran around naked in her house; powered Goofball Island.
 * One time she made cookies with her parents; powered Family Island.

All five were formed when Riley was around age 3, and were joyful memories. Riley kept them kept them until she was 11. When she moved to San Francisco, the goofball core memory became unstable, being rejected from the tray on one instance.

All five core memories ended up being lost on Riley's first day of school following a fight between Joy and Sadness, and were ejected out of Headquarters, along with Joy and Sadness. On their journey back to Headquarters, Joy kept them preciously with her, forbidding Sadness from touching them so that they could remain happy.

When they finally get back to Headquarters, Joy, having realized the value of Sadness, gives all five to her, letting them become sad after all.

Riley's Sad Core Memory
A new core memory was created the day after Riley moved to San Francisco. It represented the time she cried in class over her old home she missed. Joy forcefully prevented this memory from being used, evacuating it to the Memory Dump. She later brought it back for Sadness, who ultimately decided to create new ones instead.

Riley's New Core Memories
By the time she turned 12, Riley had created eight new core memories, replacing her original five. All were composed of more than one emotion at once.

The first of them was formed two days after she lost all her childhood core memories, when her parents comfort her after she tried running away. It was both joyful and sad, and powered a new, stronger Family Island.