Inside Out 2: Embracing adolescence and new emotions

WEB DESK: Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” premiered in theaters on Friday and has already grossed $28.7 million—an impressive start.

However, a movie’s greatness isn’t solely determined by its box office success (looking at you, Hobbes and Shaw). It’s about the plotline, character development, thematic exploration, and how deeply it resonates with the audience. The best movies leave a lasting impact, and if there’s one film that masterfully balanced all these elements while exploring a unique concept, it was 2015’s “Inside Out.”

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The highly awaited sequel to Pixar’s 2015 hit, Inside Out 2 continues Riley Andersen’s emotional journey as she navigates the complexities of adolescence.

Director Kelsey Mann and producer Mark Nielsen reintroduce audiences to Riley’s emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—alongside new characters that delve deeper into Riley’s evolving psyche.

Set just a year after the original, “Inside Out 2” finds Riley celebrating her thirteenth birthday and preparing to enter high school. Kensington Tallman voices Riley, who faces new challenges triggering a flood of emotions in her mind’s Headquarters.

Amy Poehler returns as Joy, leading the emotional ensemble with Lewis Black as Anger, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust.

The new “emotions-cast” include Maya Hawke as Anxiety, Ayo Edebiri as Envy, Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui, and Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment, each embodying facets of Riley’s emerging emotional landscape.

The sequel expands on Pete Docter’s original concept of multiple emotions guiding Riley’s responses. Mann’s direction incorporates nine new emotions, initially overwhelming Joy and her cohorts but ultimately enriching Riley’s emotional palette.

Central to the plot is Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, whose presence challenges Joy’s optimistic outlook. Anxiety prompts a clash of perspectives within Riley’s mind as she navigates new school dynamics and friendships.

Inside Out 2 premiered at the El Capitan Theatre, continuing Pixar’s legacy of resonant storytelling across generations. With a budget of $200 million and an opening weekend box office gross of $28.7 million, the sequel has already captivated audiences with its imaginative exploration of emotions, the thing that makes us humans, sets up apart from machines.

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Inside Out 2 stands as a testament to Pixar’s skillful fusion of entertainment with insightful narratives on human emotions, providing audiences with a thoughtful yet lively reflection on the universal journey through adolescence and the constantly evolving landscape of one’s inner world.