Inside Out 2 (2024) offers an emotional and visually engaging continuation of the groundbreaking journey that Pixar embarked on in 2015 with the original Inside Out. Set one year after the events of the first film, the sequel deepens the audience’s connection to Riley, now a 13-year-old girl entering the tumultuous phase of adolescence. While the premise remains the same—personified emotions guiding Riley through her life—this time, the stakes feel higher, the emotional dynamics more intricate, and the journey, though familiar, offers fresh insights.
Riley, once the happy-go-lucky child with emotions led predominantly by Joy, now faces the overwhelming onslaught of teenage changes. As the film opens, we see her balancing typical adolescent issues such as social pressures, academic challenges, and hormonal fluctuations. The familiar emotions of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear are still at the helm, but they are joined by new emotional players: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. These new emotions represent the complexities of Riley’s maturing psyche, emphasizing the expanded emotional spectrum that comes with growing up. This nuanced depiction mirrors the emotional turbulence teenagers experience, making the film incredibly relatable to audiences who have lived through, or are currently living through, that phase of life.
What immediately stands out in Inside Out 2 is its visual design. Pixar has once again pushed the envelope with breathtaking animation that reflects the inner workings of Riley’s mind. The bright, colorful world of Riley’s emotions is as imaginative and detailed as ever. With intricate backgrounds, fast-paced sequences, and expressive characters, the film invites viewers to immerse themselves in the world inside Riley’s head. The design of the new characters is especially striking. Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, is depicted as an almost jittery, orange figure with wisps of nervous energy. The depiction of the other new emotions also reflects their personalities well—Envy with wide, anxious eyes, and Embarrassment often cowering within his oversized hoodie, evoking the feeling of awkwardness and social discomfort.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the film is how it balances humor and deep emotional resonance. The comedic timing remains sharp, with witty dialogue and situational humor that manages to land effectively without overshadowing the film’s core message. Inside Out 2 has several clever nods to pop culture, which serve as lighthearted breaks amidst the emotional depth. However, beneath the laughs lies a poignant narrative about the trials of growing up. Just as the first movie taught viewers that sadness is not something to be avoided but an integral part of emotional health, the sequel continues the exploration of how emotions evolve as Riley matures.
The core conflict of Inside Out 2 revolves around Anxiety’s growing influence over Riley’s life. The film smartly positions Anxiety as the ‘villain’ of sorts, though not in a traditional sense. Anxiety’s goal, after all, is to protect Riley from danger, but her methods—sabotaging Joy’s efforts and pushing Riley into overthinking—reveal how a well-intentioned emotion can become overwhelming and counterproductive. This balance of a well-meaning yet misguiding antagonist is central to the film’s exploration of teenage development. As Riley transitions into her teenage years, Anxiety tries to take control in ways that hinder her ability to enjoy life, similar to how many adolescents feel trapped by their fears of fitting in, succeeding, or being accepted.
The film offers a thoughtful take on the interplay between Anxiety and Joy. In their ongoing struggle for dominance, Inside Out 2 asks the important question: how do we find joy in the face of constant worry? This question resonates deeply with audiences, especially those who may have experienced the anxiety of adolescence. The answer, the film seems to suggest, is not to suppress one emotion over the other but to find balance. Joy’s character development is handled particularly well, as she learns to accept that she cannot always be in control and that Riley’s growth requires her to feel a range of emotions, not just happiness. This message, while aimed at younger viewers, is one that resonates with adults as well, reflecting the film’s broader universal appeal.
One of the critiques of Inside Out 2 is its inability to fully recapture the magic of the original. The first film was a groundbreaking exploration of emotional intelligence, and its message about the importance of sadness struck a chord with audiences. In comparison, Inside Out 2 does tread some familiar territory, occasionally feeling like it’s revisiting old themes rather than breaking entirely new ground. The film follows a similar structure, where emotional chaos inside Riley’s head mirrors the struggles she faces in the outside world. At times, this familiarity can feel repetitive, especially when compared to the fresh impact of the original.
Moreover, the new emotions introduced in Inside Out 2, while clever, do not quite reach the same level of iconic status as the original five emotions. While Anxiety plays a significant role in shaping Riley’s character arc, emotions like Envy and Ennui feel underdeveloped and somewhat one-dimensional. Their presence adds to the overall chaotic energy of the film but does not have the same lasting emotional impact as characters like Sadness or Bing Bong from the first film. This can leave some audiences feeling that the new additions are more narrative devices than fully realized characters.
However, these critiques do not detract from the overall emotional power of the film. Inside Out 2 remains an impressive exploration of how emotions shape human behavior and identity. The film’s core message—that growth involves embracing a wider array of feelings, not just joy—is a profound lesson, especially for younger viewers navigating their own emotional landscapes. The film also delves into the social pressures that come with growing up, particularly the desire to fit in and the fear of rejection. This is most evident in Riley’s interactions with her peers, where she grapples with feeling out of place and insecure about her changing identity.
In one of the film’s most moving moments, Riley finds herself feeling pure joy, not because of external validation or achievement, but simply by being in the moment. It is in these quieter, more reflective scenes that Inside Out 2 truly shines. The film ultimately suggests that joy is not something to be chased, but something that emerges naturally when we allow ourselves to be present and accept all of our emotions, even the difficult ones. This message is especially relevant in today’s world, where many people—adolescents and adults alike—struggle with anxiety, stress, and the pressure to constantly achieve.
Overall, Inside Out 2 succeeds in continuing the legacy of the first film while offering new emotional insights. While it may not completely surpass the original, it provides a thoughtful and visually stunning exploration of adolescence and emotional growth. The introduction of new emotions like Anxiety and Embarrassment helps to expand the emotional depth of Riley’s character, while the film’s humor and heart ensure that it remains accessible to audiences of all ages. In the end, Inside Out 2 reminds us that growing up is not just about learning to be happy, but about understanding and accepting the full spectrum of human emotion.
