REVIEW: ‘Inside Out 2’ Is The Rare Great Pixar Sequel

Pixar has a tumultuous history with sequels. Outside of the Toy Story series, their successors struggle to emulate the quality of their originals and justify their ultimate existence. In being unable to let great things lie, their sequels often detract from the core of what makes their original stories and characters so resonant. Yet, Inside Out 2, directed by Kelsey Mann and written by Dave Holstein and Meg LeFauve, follows up the studio’s best original effort of the 2010s not with a cash-grabbing whimper but a vibrant bang. It unfolds as a natural extension of 2015’s Inside Out, meaningfully expanding upon its central themes and emotions while doubling as a rapturous celebration of the animated form—constantly bubbling with new ideas that are as weird as they are inventive.

Inside Out 2 picks up soon after its predecessor, following 13-year-old Riley (Kensington Tallman) and the emotions that now harmoniously live in her mind: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira). The morning Riley is due to attend an exclusive ice hockey camp, Riley’s puberty alarm goes off, causing disarray in the mindscape her emotions call home.

The biggest changes come in the form of new emotions like Envy (Ayo Edibri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and, most notably, Anxiety (Maya Hawke). They quickly take charge of and morph Riley’s “sense of self.” As Riley navigates new relationships and personal hurdles during a multi-day hockey tryout, her original band of emotions must journey through her mindscape to recover her “true” self and stop her new emotions from changing who she is.

Pixar is no stranger to pushing the envelope of computer-generated animation, but Inside Out 2 marks their greatest implementation of varying animated styles, bridging the two-dimensional with the three-dimensional in hilariously odd ways. At its boldest, the film pokes fun at interactive children’s programs (à la Blues Clues) and the crunchy 3D character models of mid-2000s video games. The film casts a wonderfully idiosyncratic spell at each turn, personifying the eclectic range of emotions, thoughts, and memories of a child in ways only animation can conjure. It results in some ingenious visual puns and some of Pixar’s canon’s most memorable supporting characters.

In many ways, Inside Out 2 is Pixar’s funniest film, wildly succeeding with its odd tangents and even odder cast of characters. It’s the result of an animation house having fun with the endless possibilities in a child’s mind, wholly embracing the magic of its animated medium. At its best, it harkens back to the very spirit that made Pixar the household name it is today.

Yet, the key to the film’s comedic and emotional staying power rests in the charming interplay of its characters. Each emotion plays an integral role in the budding family unit of Riley’s mind, manifesting as satisfying foils to one another. It’s a ragtag bunch that feels messy and overstimulating but is purposeful in its creation. Each emotion complements the other while feeling wholly unique in its design.

Maya Hawke’s Anxiety is a highlight, with her raspy, rushed cadence giving way to a character that is as explosive as they are relatable. It’s a testament to the film’s detailed, vivid brand of creature design, where each visual and sonic facet of a character plays an important role in their thematic ambitions.

Inside Out 2 can be a little too lighthearted for its own good, at times undercutting its latter half’s more tender and somber edge. It’s easy to fall prey to the film’s bold and bizarre comedic high. It’s a feeling that lasts well past the punchline but sometimes bleeds into the moments where Inside Out 2 wants us to tap into our pre-pubescent emotions more gently.

The effect threatens to derail the climax, but its final rousing moments are ultimately given the time they need to rest on the most uncomfortable feelings. The movie embraces the emotions and feelings we too often bottle up, shedding light on the importance of being imperfect. It’s a defining final moment that many Pixar sequels struggle to capture, animated with the most enchanting and relatable strokes.

At its most moving moments, Inside Out 2 understands that we’re not only defined by our greatest parts but also the messiest. Only by embracing both our highest and lowest points do we come closer to becoming the most authentic version of ourselves. Inside Out 2 beautifully breathes life into this message with the most painterly and oddest of touches. Inside Out 2 is the rare Pixar sequel that justifies its existence as a moving, human experience that embraces the magic of the animated form.

Inside Out 2 is playing in theatres June 14th.