It’s understandably easy to get cynical about Pixar sequels. Why do we need more Cars or Toy Story movies (or spin-offs) from an animation studio that prides itself on unique storytelling? Why, after a run of solid original films like Soul, Luca, Turning Red, and Elemental, do we need to revisit 2015’s Inside Out?
Yet out of all of Pixar’s movies, Inside Out most invites an organic sequel. Its exploration of the tangle of emotions inside our heads is perfectly suited for continuation, because we as people are evolving and changing all the time! And when is that change more dramatic than the beast that is puberty?
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Like 2022’s Turning Red, which in itself proved a groundbreaking representation of puberty, Inside Out 2 embraces the complexities of this daunting life stage, especially when it comes to feelings of self-worth and anxiety. The result is a frank take on mental health that proves more mature than its predecessor, while also maintaining a well-needed touch of irreverence and Pixar comfort.
Inside Out 2 tackles the emotional challenges of puberty head-on.
Credit: Pixar
Directed by Kelsey Mann, Inside Out 2 reintroduces us to Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman), now 13 years old and still as obsessed with hockey as ever. Helping her navigate the world are her five emotions: Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale), and Anger (voiced by Lewis Black). After the events of Inside Out, the group is now a well-oiled machine, each helping Riley in their own way.
But wait, what’s this giant, blaring alarm on the emotions’ control console? Why is a wrecking ball smashing headquarters to bits for a surprise renovation? The chaos can only mean one thing: Puberty has arrived, bringing with it new emotions.
Leading the charge is Anxiety (voiced by Stranger Things‘ Maya Hawke), a toothy orange puffball who hopes to protect Riley from everything scary she “can’t see.” This mostly means drawing up horrifying scenarios of everything that could go wrong for Riley — a tactic that immediately rubs Joy the wrong way.
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![Embarrassment, Anxiety, Envy, and Ennui from](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04ET4HM000wXsUD2hytKOnA/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1718214542.jpg)
Credit: Pixar
Joining Anxiety are Envy (voiced by The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). New, more exaggerated character designs differentiate this group of emotions from the original crew. Envy is teeny tiny, with huge eyes that covet everything they see. Ennui, a portrait of disaffected French cool, lounges like a limp noodle on a couch. And while Embarrassment is by far the largest of the emotions, he prefers to hide himself away in the depths of his sweatshirt.
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Tensions between new emotions and old flare as Riley learns that her best friends Bree (voiced by Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (voiced by Grace Lu) have been assigned to a different high school. A summer hockey skills camp they’re attending could be the last chance they have to play together on the same team — but it could also be Riley’s chance to impress the coach at her new high school, as well as the the team’s formidable captain Valentina (voiced by Lilimar). Will Joy’s insistence that Riley stick with Bree and Grace win out? Or will Anxiety bulldoze years of friendship in her efforts to secure a “cool” future for Riley?
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