Summary
Inside Outhas finally gotten a sequel after nine years of waiting—but which of the two is better, the original movie orInside Out 2? As one of Pixar’s top movies,Inside Outset a high bar for its sequel to overcome. The 2015 animated movie took a unique approach to how a person’s mind works, portraying complex psychological concepts in fun, lighthearted ways that resonated with children and adults alike. This, combined with breathtaking animation, a great story and cast, and that emotional ending, means thatInside Out 2had its work cut out for it.
Inside Out 2picks up a couple of years afterInside Out’s ending. Now 13, Riley and her five inner emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear—begin the harrowing adventure of puberty, which sees some new emotion characters introduced at headquarters. Anxiety, Envy, Embarassment, and Ennui step in to bring Riley more nuanced emotions, just as she and her friends head for hockey camp. Of course, this means a lot goes wrong inInside Out 2, and an adventure to rivalInside Outensues.
Inside Out 2 Review: Anxiety & Envy Breathe New Life Into Formulaic Pixar Sequel
Inside Out 2 leans more towards greatness than redundancy & though it falls short of being one of Pixar’s best, it’s a worthy addition to the library.
Inside Out vs. Inside Out 2: Which Has The Better Story
Inside Out’s Overall Story & Adventure Was More Enjoyable
Inside Out 2came ready with a great story. The majority is spread out over a single weekend, in which Riley heads out to hockey camp hoping to impress the high school coach and team enough that she would be welcomed as one of them. With the help of Anxiety, Riley begins to completely change everything about herself. She leaves her old friends in the dust, lies about the things she does or doesn’t like, and becomes an all-around poor sportsman. All of thiswas highly relatable for anyone who has been 13, but it was also a little difficult to watch.
Riley’s tumultuous weekend was full of embarrassing moments and tension. Ultimately, it felt very much like real Anxiety, and while this was undoubtedly impactful, it meant thatInside Out 2wasn’t quite as lighthearted as theInside Out. Joy and the gang’s journey inside Riley’s mind was a little less exciting since it was a repeat of many features that had already been explored in the 2015 movie. The story ofInside Out 2was certainly excellent, butInside Outwas a smoother ride overall.
Star Amy Poehler has expressed enthusiasm about creating moreInside Outmovies, which means more sequels could be on the way.
Inside Out vs. Inside Out 2: Which Has The Better Animation
Inside Out 2’s Animation Really Raised The Bar
Inside Out 2came out almost a decade afterInside Out, and animation has already come a long way in that time. Of course, the 2015 movie was no visual slouch.Inside Outwas highly celebrated for its animation, and there were truly breathtaking scenes throughout. The colorful characters were absolutely beautiful, from their expressions and movements to the details of their clothes. It certainly looked as if it couldn’t get much better, butInside Out 2proved otherwise.
Pixar has really turned things up a notch, andInside Out 2managed to pack in even more outstanding detail. Riley herself is beautifully designed, with many subtle details indicating how much she has grown up from the first movie (she even has a few pimple breakouts across her chin and cheek). Some of the most impressive scenes of the film were Riley’s hockey games, which were even more visually exciting than a live event. Then, there were the characters inside Riley’s mind. With twice as many emotions as before, the excellence of Pixar’s creative team was evident in every colorful character.
How Much Did Inside Out 2 Cost To Make & What Box Office It Needs
The highly anticipated sequel to Inside Out premieres in June 2024, and Pixar has big expectations following the first movie’s box office success.
Inside Out vs. Inside Out 2: Which Has The Better Cast
There could be no criticism for thecast of the firstInside Outmovie. Unfortuantely, many of the original actors couldn’t return forInside Out2. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black reprised their roles as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, respectively, butMindy Kaling’s Disgust and Bill Hader’s Fear had to be recast. Then, with Bing Bong being heartbreakingly forgotten inInside Out, the iconic voice of Richard Kind was nowhere to be heard inInside Out 2. Still, with several more characters thanInside Out, the sequel still managed a phenomenal cast.
Liza Lapira seamlessly stepped into Kaling’s shoes as Disgust, while Tony Hale replaced Hader as Fear. Those who didn’t know about the recasting might not have ever even noticed since the duo sounded so much like the original actors. The parts of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment were played by Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser, respectively, and they each brought such subtle nuance to their voice performances. Overall,with so many more actors to enjoy,Inside Out 2gets the edgehere.
Inside Out vs. Inside Out 2: Which Has A More Emotional Ending
Inside Out 2’s Emotional Ending Was The Film’s Crowning Glory
Pixar is known for its big emotional endings, and bothInside OutandInside Out 2delivered on this front. The original movie saw Joy realize that Riley needed Sadness just as much, if not more than she needed her. This acceptance resulted in a touching moment between Riley and her parents, and the young protagonist experienced a complex emotion—a combination of Joy and Sadness—for the first time. It was a beautiful and impactful ending, butInside Out 2turned up the tension so far that its final resolution managed to hit even harder.
At theend ofInside Out 2, Anxiety’s obsession with making Riley the perfect version of herself comes to a head, and the teenager begins having an anxiety attack. Though the movie never explicitly called this out, the way this experience was visually represented on the screen was striking. Anxiety rushed around the control panel in a flurry of orange, the very image of pure panic, while Riley hyperventilated and attempted to calm herself on the outside. Joy’s eventual compassion for Anxiety andthe resolution in which Riley accepted her full, authentic self saw all this painful tension resolved, allowing for a highly satisfying and tear-jerking ending.
Why Inside Out 2 Is Better Than Inside Out
Both Movies Are Excellent, But Inside Out 2 Took The Cake
ComparingInside OutandInside Out 2is no easy task since both movies are truly remarkable. Pixar managed to take two stages of growing up and put them on screen in a raw but colorful and entertaining way, andthe franchise as a whole is sure to be a significant piece of the studio’s legacy. However, sinceInside Out 2unflinchingly takes a step into the messier parts of adolescents, it comes out slightly on top.
SinceInside Out 2unflinchingly takes a step into the messier parts of adolescents, it comes out slightly on top.
WhileInside Outcommunicated the importance of accepting all human emotions,Inside Out 2teaches kids and adults alike that accepting even the messiest versions of themselves is imperative. Joy had wanted to keep Riley’s worst decisions and behaviors in the back of her mind, ensuring that they didn’t interfere with her belief system and sense of self. However, the ultimate lesson ofInside Out 2is thateverypart of a person must be accepted for emotional balance—the good, the bad, and the ugly. The importance of this can’t be overstated, and it’s for this reason thatInside Out 2has the slightest edge.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
