Calling all Joyful fans, Fearful friends, and everyone in between! Get ready to dive back into the headquarters of Riley's mind – things are about to get more emotional than ever before!
Disney and Pixar's phenomenal film "Inside Out" introduced us to the hilarious and heartwarming world of Riley's emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust.
These fun characters guided Riley through childhood, making every experience a rollercoaster of feelings.
But as Riley enters her teenage years in "Inside Out 2," new emotions are about to join the party! And I've got the scoop!
The highly anticipated "Inside Out 2" dives into the emotional whirlwind of adolescence.
In a recent press conference, director Kelsey Mann and producer Mark Nielsen provided a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating process of selecting new emotions to join the familiar cast in Riley's mind.
A Lesson in Less is More
Initially, Mann envisioned overwhelming Joy (and the audience!) with a surplus of new emotions. Mann explains, "My first pass, my first screening, nine emotions. Nine new emotions showed up."
This abundance backfired. As Mann admits, "There were so many emotions and they all canceled each other out because you couldn't keep track of everybody."
Producer Mark Nielsen summed it up perfectly: "Too many ingredients."
Finding the Focus: Self-Consciousness Takes Center Stage
Faced with this feedback, Mann decided to change things up. Keeping Riley's teenage experience at the forefront, Mann said, "First and foremost, I knew Riley was gonna be dealing with becoming a teenager.
So, I’m like it’s gotta be the emotions that show up and drive at the console when we’re teenagers."
The Right Emotions
To hone in on the right emotions, Mann consulted Dr. Dacher Keltner, the emotional expert from the first film.
Keltner's expertise proved invaluable. He steered Mann towards emotions that captured the essence of adolescence: self-consciousness.
"I brought Dacher in and I had a list of emotions. And he saw them over my shoulders. I had written them all down on the wall and he’s like what are those?" Mann explained, "I go, oh, those are the new emotions I’m thinking about options of what I can do.
He asked Keltner "Which ones feel right for a teenager? He looked at the list and he’s like it’s all the ones that are the self-conscious emotions."
Why Self-Consciousness?
Mann further shared, "All the ones, at this age, you start, we’re hard wired at this age to start to become really self-conscious. And in part we’re doing it because when you’re a kid, you’ve got your parents and your caregivers taking care of you."
He continued, "And eventually, you’re going to have to take care of yourself. And that’s why we’re hard-wired to push our parents and our caregivers away, so that we can become independent people that can take care of ourselves."
The New Emotions
Joining the cast of Inside Out 2 are four new emotions reflecting the ups and downs of teen life: Anxiety (jittery worry), Ennui (boredom's master), Envy (green-eyed jealousy), and Embarrassment (blushing troublemaker).
They promise to shake things up for Joy and the others as Riley navigates teenage challenges.
Anxiety: The Worried Newcomer
Leading the pack is Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke. This jittery emotion embodies worry and nervousness, perfectly suited to navigate the uncertainties of teenage life.
Director Kelsey Mann expresses enthusiasm for bringing 'anxiety' in "Inside Out 2" to life, "'That's her. That's what my anxiety looks like. That's what she does.'"
This ability to visually represent these abstract concepts is a gift, and Mann is eager to share it with the world. "I hope it does a lot of good in the world."
The raw emotion in her statement perfectly underscores the film's core theme: emotions, and the importance of understanding and navigating them.
Anxiety's arrival promises to shake things up for Joy and the others, as Riley faces challenges like school pressures and social anxieties.
Ennui: The Master of Boredom
Next up is Ennui, the embodiment of boredom and listlessness. Teenagers are notorious for experiencing highs and lows in motivation.
This one is certainly going to make an impact on the movie. Kelsey shared, "There were lots of emotions that didn’t make the cut both for this film and the original film."
Exmpaling, "I even started by rewatching every single screening of the first movie. ‘Cause I just wanted to see if there were any gems that were like in there that I could bring back in."
Ennui will likely play a part in many moments when Riley feels uninspired or uninterested.
Envy: Always Wanting More
Teenage years can be a breeding ground for comparison, and that's where Envy steps in.
During the press conference, Kelsey shared "There were a ton of emotions. And then we ended up, like why did we end up with the ones we ended up with?"
I think envy is certainly going to be one many will connect with. This emotion might cause some internal turmoil for Riley as she grapples with feelings of jealousy or wanting what others have.
Embarrassment: The Blushing Troublemaker
Last but not least, we have Embarrassment. This emotion is bound to cause some hilarious (and relatable) moments as Riley navigates the awkwardness of teenage social interactions.
When speaking about emotions, Kelsey discussed "We kind of worry so much about what others think about us at that age. And it turns on and it never goes away. You have to manage it, which is a big reason why I’m making this movie."
He continued, "So, that’s why we ended up going towards the emotions that we have in the film now."
Embarrassment's presence could even lead to some internal power struggles, potentially pushing Joy and the others to the sidelines.
Coming To Theaters This Summer
I can not wait to see the full movie when it hits theaters on June 14, 2024!
Mark your calendars! With its new cast of emotions reflecting the complexities of adolescence, "Inside Out 2" promises to be a hilarious and insightful journey.
Get ready to revisit Riley's mind and experience the emotional rollercoaster of teenage life. "Inside Out 2" arrives in theaters this summer!
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