Pixar has created yet another wonderful and entertaining animated film with Inside Out 2, delivering another strong, anxiety-fueled, yet heartfelt story. As someone who enjoyed the first film, I was looking forward to seeing how they would continue the story of these beloved characters, and the movie did not disappoint.
The movie continues Riley’s journey, who is now a newly minted teenager. The film introduces us to new emotions in Riley’s mind, and one of the standout additions is Anxiety, voiced by the talented Maya Hawke.
Anxiety starts as a charming and fun character, but as the story progresses, her transformation into full-force anxiety put me on edge. I believe the tension is intentional to make viewers feel the weight of Anxiety’s presence.
This film connected with me on a variety of levels, particularly in its portrayal of teenage girls hitting puberty. Having raised three daughters, I couldn’t help but laugh at the accurate depiction of the parents’ experiences in the film.
The moments of confusion, frustration, and love were spot on, making the story deeply relatable for anyone who has navigated the teenage years with their children.
Additionally, the exploration of anxiety struck a personal chord. Having dealt with heavy anxiety and anxiety attacks myself, I appreciated how the creative team visualized the complexity of this emotion.
They captured the suffocating grip of anxiety in a way that felt both authentic and empathetic. Pixar has always been good at tackling the challenging certain subjects with sensitivity and creativity.
In Inside Out 2, we return to the mind of Riley, as she navigates the tumultuous period of adolescence, her mind’s headquarters undergoes a significant transformation. The original emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—are accustomed to running a successful operation within her mind. However, everything changes when new emotions start to appear.
The primary new emotion, Anxiety, initially presents herself as a charming addition. However, as Riley faces the challenges of teenage life, Anxiety’s influence grows stronger, causing a significant shift in the emotional dynamics.
Alongside Anxiety, other new emotions such as Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui also make their presence felt, further complicating the situation.
The story centers on how Riley and her original emotions cope with these new additions, navigate the complex landscape of teenage emotions, and find balance in the face of these profound changes.
Directed by Kelsey Mann and starring Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust, the film’s cast brings these emotions to life with depth and humor.
The new additions, including Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment, Ayo Edebiri as Envy, and Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui, add fresh dynamics to the story.
Inside Out 2 is a great movie that I think Pixar and Disney fans are going to love. It captures the tumultuous journey of growing up, the complexity of emotions, and the challenges of navigating anxiety. It tell that story in a fun an heartfelt way, which is what Pixar is good at.