'Inside Out 2' Shines in Brilliant Emotional Depths

Whenever you feel anxious, remember to breathe.

Inside Out 2 is a 2024 animated sequel. Riley, now 13 years old, is invited to a weekend of hockey camp. Riley’s current emotions are excited, but when a band of new emotions arrive, they cause a title wave of anxiety on Riley.

My theater erupted in applause when Inside Out 2 concluded. Inside Out 2 is a beautiful, profound, and resonating masterpiece. The research that went into studying the depths of the mind and anxiety is beyond impressive. Avoid suppressing emotions and embrace every quality that defines who you are.

All your favorite emotions are back, including new cast members. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black reprise their roles as Joy, Sadness, and Anger. Liza Lapira and Tony Hale are the new voices for Disgust and Fear.

One aspect the sequel expands on more is its characters. The emotions have grown, in personality and friendship since the last film. That adds depth. Anger was my favorite, highlighting that there’s more to him than rage. He’s the one who encourages Joy with a pep talk.

Anxiety is one of the most relatable characters. We have all experienced anxiety with the rapid and sometimes confusing feelings throughout puberty. Since her debut in Stranger Things, Maya Hawke was amazing in the role. She captured the emotion of this character in a way that helped viewers connect with her.

The film also introduces Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui voiced by Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, and Adele Exarchopoulos. I was on the fence about their characters, but they add integral messages.

Riley (Kensington Tallman) is thwarted by friendship issues, being the best at hockey, and anxiety about puberty. Riley’s journey is relatable on so many levels. Riley’s choices help her understand and ground herself from the difficult emotions.

The animation of Inside Out 2 is a beautiful work of art in every frame. Animators once again achieved new grounds and subtly, like sweat dripping from faces.

The research that went into Inside Out 2 is extraordinary. Taking the directing reigns from Pete Doctor, Kelsey Mann expanded on scrapped ideas from the first movie. New ideas consist of the sense of self, analyzing a friend’s behavior, and a studio to create all situations that could go wrong.

Reviewers argue that Inside Out 2 is the same as the first. I disagree. We really needed this film, especially now. Inside Out 2 attests that our emotions are meant to be felt, even our most embarrassing and cringiest moments.

The parts of ourselves that we find embarrassing don’t go away. As much as I would love to dump the cringy memories from middle school, they had an impact. I would rather not recall my memories at this age, but as this film encourages, you must embrace every aspect of yourself. They help us grow, ground ourselves, and see how we can improve.

Joy’s line, ‘Maybe we feel less joy as we grow up,’ has hit audiences, but it’s all based on how you control your feelings. I am known to be a positive person and I like seeing the bright side, but some days, life throws curveballs and it’s messy. And yet, I wake up every day looking forward to new opportunities.

I kept saying ‘wow’ as I watched Pixar’s bold and sophisticated presentation. Inside Out 2 is funny, emotional, and sincere. There is one scene that depicts an anxiety attack which may trigger viewers. Go see Inside Out 2 in theaters. It’s not to be missed and you’ll feel several emotions.