The Riley Dance, often referred to as the Teen Riley Edit, stems from the 2024 Disney-Pixar film Inside Out 2. As Riley enters her teenage years and experiences new emotions like Anxiety and Ennui, the internet latched onto her more expressive and sometimes awkward movements. TikTok creators and video editors began syncing clips of Riley dancing to modern hits, transforming her character into a symbol of Gen Z energy, girlhood, and chaotic joy. The meme is typically used to represent a specific mood when something good happens or to ironically depict the overwhelming feelings of growing up.