Child development expert Denise Daniels filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Co. Monday, claiming the company’s Pixar studio stole her idea to make the 2015 animated film “Inside Out.” The suit states that every year between 2005 and 2009, Daniels and her team pitched an animated television program, “The Moodsters,” to Disney. The show featured five anthropomorphized emotions that live within every child — similar to the characters of Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness and Disgust in “Inside Out.”

According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, “Daniels and her team pitched and disclosed the idea underlying “The Moodsters” to Disney-Pixar with the understanding ... that Daniels would be compensated if Disney-Pixar used the idea.”

Daniels has filed for breach of implied-in-fact contract, and is seeking unspecified damages. “Inside Out” won an Academy Award for best animated film and grossed more than $356 million in the United States, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. Daniels claims she has received no compensation from Disney.

Isha Salian is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: isalian@sfchronicle.com