Disney and Pixar’s latest sequel, Inside Out 2, continues to explore the complexities of Riley Andersen’s mind, now as a teenager. The film introduces new emotions to the already beloved ensemble of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. But some characters didn’t make it to the final cut.
New Faces in Riley’s Mind
Inside Out 2 tells the story of Riley Andersen, a young girl who just turned 13 years old. More specifically, the film tells the story of the emotions that dictate her decisions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. However, on Riley’s thirteenth birthday, four more emotions show up and start causing havoc. One of those emotions is Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke.
The Reluctant Cuts
When asked about the emotions that were cut, director Kelsey Mann mentioned they had many ideas that unfortunately couldn’t fit into the film. We really tried to incorporate them all, but ultimately had to make some tough decisions for the story’s pacing and structure.
Kelsey Mann’s Vision
Director Kelsey Mann will take over from Peter Docter with a screenplay written by Oscar-nominated writer Meg LaFauve. Mann wanted to continue the story because he felt there was more to explore in Riley’s emotional journey. At the end of the first film, Joy asked the audience a question. She says, ‘after all Riley is 12 now, what could happen?’ Well, I wanted to answer that question.
Mann explained that he aimed to connect with his own teenage self for inspiration, acknowledging how challenging it was to select which new emotions would feature prominently in the sequel.
The Ones That Made It
The film features Anxiety prominently among several others who managed to stay in the final cut despite initial deliberation. “A lot of it is me trying to connect to myself as a teenager,” Mann said. The introduction of these additional feelings adds depth to Riley’s complex emotional world.
A Peek Behind The Curtain
Behind-the-scenes glimpses and storyboards reveal painstaking efforts made in deciding who stayed versus who was reluctantly left out. Each cut element tells its own story—offering fans a richer understanding of what goes into building such an emotionally intricate narrative.
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