Inside Out 2 is a truly marvellous sequel that not only captures the spirit of the original film, but expands its ideas and world in the most logical way, that with the support of an excellent voice cast and strong animation, allows Pixar to once again deliver an unforgettable and emotional experience that instantly works it way into audiences’ hearts.

 

Sequels are always tough, but one of the studios with the best record with them is Pixar Animation. For the most part, Pixar’s sequels have captured the essence of the original film while deepening the mythos of the world; expanding it with a new heartfelt story. And they have once again done exactly that with their latest film, Inside Out 2. The first Inside Out is one of Pixar’s greatest films, so expectations were high for this sequel which sees Riley entering her teenage years and encountering new emotions such as anxiety, envy, embarrassment and ennui, but not only has Pixar crafted a worthwhile story that is destined to once again connect with viewers of all ages on an emotional level, it marks a return to the gold standard the animation studio is known for.

 

The first Inside Out had an important message about embracing all of your emotions and not to suppress them, whether they be joy, sadness, anger, disgust or fear. It helped spark conversation about feelings with younger viewers and their parents, and this sequel takes it one step further. With Riley preparing to enter high school, the new emotions introduced in this sequel are ones all too familiar to older viewers, as they are all ones we struggled with trying to fit in while growing up. But the screenplay goes beyond just the emotions, instead developing ideas around the individual self and what goes into making an individual who they are. It’s the logical expansion of the ideas started by the first film, allowing the world and its mythos to be deepened in meaning and further explored with a new adventure through Riley’s mind. This narrative allows Joy and the other emotions to grow and help Riley become a better person, which alone justifies the sequel’s existence. Once again, it is a beautiful story full of laugh out loud moments, memorable characters both new and old, notably with Anxiety, which is handled so delicately throughout the film, effortlessly capturing the overwhelming crippling feeling this emotion can bring while highlighting how the right amount of anxiety can help us become a better person. Like any good Pixar film, it has an emotional third act that is guaranteed to get some tears flowing. It’s not on the same level of emotional devastation that we experienced in the first film saying goodbye to Bing Bong and watching Riley attempting to run away from home, but it has an incredible amount of heart and is relatable to anyone who has gone through high school, guaranteeing to move audiences and have them re-assessing who they are.

 

Reprising their roles from the first film, Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black are back as Joy, Sadness and Anger respectively. All three of them are wonderful in bringing to life their memorable characters, slipping back into these characters like they only just finished their work on the first film. Tony Hale and Liza Lapira join the main cast as Fear and Disgust, replacing both Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling respectively who did not return for the sequel after pay disputes, and they are good in their roles. Hale more easily captures the nervous energy that Hader brought to Fear in the first film, but Lapira is missing that signature mischievous sass that Kaling so perfectly and effortlessly found within Disgust. Maya Hawke leads the new emotions as Anxiety, and it is pitch perfect casting as Hawke beautifully captures the energetic but self-doubting emotion that begins an inner whirlwind within Riley as she tries to impress her new teammates to avoid the fear of being alone in high school. Never for a second does Hawke allow Anxiety to be a villain by highlighting her character’s desire to protect Riley from the potential worst possible outcomes, which by doing so, sets Riley on the path to become exactly what Anxiety fears. But thanks to the vulnerability Hawke finds within Anxiety in the film’s third act, she allows this often misunderstood emotion to become a beautiful part of Riley that helps make Riley who she is. Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser and Adèle Exarchopoulos round out the voices of the new emotions, each of whom is wonderful in their roles. And while they have smaller roles, June Squibb and James Austin Johnson consistently steal the show as Nostalgia and Pouchy, each bringing to life two unforgettable characters that you instantly fall in love with.