In 2015, Pixar's Inside Out was declared one of the greatest animated movies ever made and went on to win an Oscar. This summer, the studio's eagerly awaited sequel Inside Out 2 is set to push all of your emotional buttons again as it formulates a physical landscape from the erratic, mercurial and vivid emotions that govern all of us. (Don't forget about our limited edition Inside Out 2 cups and toppers. There are two different cup designs with a total of five characters from the film to collect – Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger.)
Why is Pixar's follow-up film destined to be an emotional rollercoaster? Keep on reading to find out.
1. It reunites you with old favourites...
Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale) and Disgust (Liza Lapira) are back. Their fractious chemistry kept Riley's emotional headquarters in check in the first Inside Out film, with variously hilarious and moving results. From debates about broccoli on pizza to the cathartic yet seemingly unlikely union between Joy and Sadness, the original Inside Out doubled up as both a riotous comedy and a profound statement on growing up.
The presence of the characters in Inside Out 2 means we can expect more of the same. With Joy and Sadness now presumably simpatico, their partnership has the scope to go deeper, making yet more statements about why the two emotions don't need to cancel one another out. Plus, we get to savour that sparking voice cast all over again, albeit with some substitutions from the original film's ensemble.
2. ... And introduces you to brand-new emotions
The scope of Inside Out 2 is wider than before. Now that Riley is entering the early adolescent phase, the landscape of her mind is becoming figuratively and physically more complex with the onset of the Belief System. Riley’s Sense of Self comprises all of her beliefs, each of which can be heard with the pluck of a string, represented by cords of light that fluctuate and resemble sound waves. It's an abstract concept that is made physical, showing how formative memories are made and how Riley is subconsciously tackling the complex and nuanced issues that will prepare her for adulthood.
Then we have the brand-new emotions. There is Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke) who defines the hyper-sensitivity and emotional paranoia that comes with peer pressure, hormones and all-round teenage challenges. Embarassment (Paul Walter Hauser) also defines a critical part of the self-conscious young adult experience while Envy (Ayo Edebiri) and Ennui (Adele Exarchopolous) variously represent the bitterness and apathy that come with the onset of the teenage years.
3. It promises to look and sound beautiful in the classic Pixar tradition
Original Inside Out director Pete Docter is now installed as Pixar's chief creative officer and has given way to filmmaker Kelsey Mann who makes his feature film debut. However, given Mann's background as a veteran storyboard artist on the likes of Pixar's very own The Good Dinosaur (2015), we can expect Inside Out 2 to be equally as gorgeous in its lush, primary-coloured designation of emotional states.
From Anxiety's frazzled on-edge haircut to the near-ethereal depiction of the Belief System, Inside Out 2 will be a feast for the eyes. Of course, the soundscape is just as important from the frantic button-clacking at emotional HQ to the undulations of the score (composer Andrea Datzman takes over from Michael Giacchino, having long served as the composer's orchestrator and co-ordinator on the likes of Planet of the Apes and Star Trek).
4. It relays a story that we can all relate to
Adults can watch the film and reminisce on their turbulent teenage years with a mixture of amusement and melancholy while kids poised to go through this stage will undoubtedly see the film slightly differently. While adults may be able to articulate their own emotional journeys more efficiently (one of the benefits of getting older) and youngsters will feel it more on a mysterious gut level, there's an unspoken level of emotional understanding that unites young and old alike.
Hormonal changes, mood swings, anxious moments, happy outbursts and fits of wild emotion are shared by everyone on the planet from the age of 5 to 105. This is the classic Pixar formula: breathtaking concepts that resonate with emotional truths for people of all ages (Toy Story's concept of toys coming to life is another masterful example). This is the genius behind Inside Out and Inside Out 2.
5. You can experience the film vicariously through the eyes of your children
What better way to watch Inside Out 2 than with a family trip to Cineworld? The new Cineworld Family Ticket allows you to take 2 adults and 2 kids or 1 adult and three kids into the cinema (kids up to the age of 14 can be admitted), meaning you can be more childish together. There's something special about watching a film together with the kids, especially when it's as emotionally rich as Inside Out 2: step into the shoes of your children and you'll be able to see the cogs turning in their heads as they watch and process Riley's all-important shift from child to adult.
It's therefore more than a mere viewing of the film. It's an opportunity for emotional growth and empathy. No doubt it'll also prompt deep post-screening discussions as adults relay fond memories of their childhood experiences. That's the magic of cinema.
Are you ready for another emotional rollercoaster from the geniuses at Pixar? Then click the link below to book your tickets for Inside Out 2. It's released on June 14th.
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