Inside Out 2: Meet The Emotions (New & Returning)

Meet the emotions in Inside Out 2: A description of both returning and new emotions in Pixar’s Inside Out 2, as well as who voices them.

Inside Out 2: Meet The Emotions

“Inside Out 2” Makes Way for More Voices Inside Riley’s Mind

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” revisits characters who made feelings famous back in 2015’s “Inside Out.” According to executive producer Jonas Rivera, who produced the first film, creating any sequel conjures a vast array of emotions for filmmakers. “I remember going into a screening room for ‘Toy Story 4,’” he says. “Seeing Woody in an animation test gave me this feeling of reconnecting with family – he’s like an old friend. The idea of seeing Riley again and getting back to Headquarters with Joy, Sadness, Anger and everybody was like a fun family reunion.

“At the same time,” Rivera continues, “when you make a sequel, you know the audience will come to the theater with their own expectations because they’re familiar with the characters. That’s like a giant opportunity for us to deliver something that surprises people.”

Director Kelsey Mann was able to approach the challenge from two points of view. “I have two kids – they’re 16 and 15 – so I’m smack dab in the middle of it,” he says. “But I really zeroed in on the idea of Riley being a teenager because that was a hard time in my own life. The first film did a lot of good in this world – giving people a new way to talk about their feelings, and if we can do something like that for teenagers around the world, then sign me up – I want to be part of that.”

Audiences will be privy to a renovation of sorts in Riley’s mind when a construction team shows up to make way for new Emotions. Caught off guard, to say the least, Joy and the rest of the original five aren’t sure what to make of the new arrivals.

The roster of the Emotions – old and new – plus characters from the real world, follows.

Joy

Joy is back and ready to tackle teenagerhood – the joyous highs, the tearful lows, the blistering frustrations, nauseating changes and frighteningly awkward moments that Riley’s new teenage world has to offer.

With Riley’s happiness as her first priority, Joy is determined to protect Riley’s Sense of Self and help her stay the same happy kid she knows and loves. Optimistic, lighthearted and bubbling with bright ideas for their girl’s future, nothing will derail Joy’s plan for Headquarters – that is, until new Emotions move in.

Says Rivera, “Joy tends to like things the way they’ve always been. She would be the one saying ‘last summer was the best summer,’ right? It always made us laugh that we ended the first movie with Joy basically forgetting the lessons she just learned. This second movie gave us the opportunity to show Joy learning a new lesson from a different season of Riley’s life.”

According to Mann, Riley’s very Sense of Self is challenged. “That’s the thing that Joy wants to protect more than anything,” he says. “For a long time, she’s been working hard to ensure Riley focuses on the positive. Joy literally takes those negative thoughts we all have – those times when we’re hard on ourselves – and sends them to the back of Riley’s mind.”

Amy Poehler returns to Headquarters as the voice of Joy.

Anxiety

A bundle of frazzled energy, ANXIETY enthusiastically ensures Riley’s prepared for every possible negative outcome. Protecting the new teen from the dangers she can’t see, Anxiety is determined to make sure Riley fits in with her high school peers at all costs.

Armed with meticulously organized lists and plans to make sure Riley never makes a mistake, Anxiety thinks ten steps ahead and isn’t shy about sharing worst-case scenarios. Anxiety knows she’s a lot to deal with, but feels pushing Riley toward perfection means being that much closer to achieving her goals.

Anxiety plays a big role when it comes to Riley’s social game. Says Mann, “In an attempt to make sure that Riley is safe, protected and ultimately accepted by others, Anxiety pushes Riley to change. I think a lot of teenagers do that – I know I did. We shift who we are, morph a little in order to gain that acceptance. But should we have to change who we are in order to be liked?”

Story supervisor McKenna Harris insists, however, that even if Anxiety is the antagonist, she’s not the enemy. “From the beginning there was always this strong sense of wishing to tackle that battle against perfectionism that a lot of young girls face – that we all face,” Harris says. “We felt that anxiety can’t be all bad – it serves a purpose in our lives – so we treat Anxiety with empathy and compassion in our story to make sure that the character isn’t a classic film villain. She’s someone who wants the best for Riley.”

Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety.

Anger

Hotheaded and stubborn, ANGER is ready and willing to fight for what’s fair when it comes to Riley. He’s certainly passionate but can be overreactive at times—explosive even. Anger believes in setting boundaries, but he isn’t afraid to steamroll over obstacles if that’s what he thinks is best for Riley.

“What’s fun about Anger in this movie is that he’s out in the world,” says producer Mark Nielsen. “He’s taken out of his comfort

zone in Headquarters and is faced with some frustrating circumstances. His first instinct is to punch something in the face—but there’s more to him, to all of the Emotions, than the obvious. Joy can be sad and Anger can be happy.”

Anger is once again voiced by the inimitable Lewis Black.

Fear

Fear protects Riley and keeps her safe from visible hazards both big and small – from rogue hockey pucks to papercuts. A walking caution sign, Fear dutifully steers her away from risky situations, imminent danger and serious threats. So, what if he’s overprotective? Someone has to stick to safety protocols.

“Fear is that feeling you get of a known threat,” says Mann, “whereas Anxiety is all about the perceived threat.”

Adds writer Meg LeFauve, “Fear actually admires Anxiety a little – he’s quite impressed by the advances she can bring to the warning system.”

Tony Hale was called on to voice Fear.

Sadness

Sadness was just getting the hang of things before a group of new Emotions arrived. Everyone understands how important her role is in Riley’s life, so Sadness is feeling more comfortable in her melancholy shoes these days.

Though she may not have a lot of pep in her step, she’s all in when it comes to helping their girl endure the changes coming her way – even if that means taking on a crucial mission. “Joy understands the value in Sadness, so much so that it’s her idea to entrust Sadness with an important job,” says Nielsen. “It’s Sadness’ take on becoming an action hero.”

Phyllis Smith returns as the voice of Sadness.

Now that Riley’s a teenager, Disgust’s radar for the painfully uncool is sharper than ever. Opinionated, brutally honest and committed to keeping Riley away from all things icky, Disgust is quick to turn up her nose at the first whiff of funky food or cringy comments, and she refuses to partake in any activity that could lead to certain social death.

According to writer Dave Holstein, Riley isn’t the only one changing. “Disgust discovers that she’s incredibly perceptive.”

Disgust is voiced by Liza Lapira.

Ennui

Ennui is one of Riley’s new Emotions, and she couldn’t care less. Bored and lethargic with a well-practiced eye-roll, Ennui adds the perfect amount of teenage apathy to Riley’s personality, when she feels like it. The best part? She doesn’t even have to get up off the couch – Ennui can work the console remotely using her mobile app.

According to story supervisor John Hoffman, Ennui will feel all too familiar. “It’s that every-teen feeling that you don’t care or don’t want to deal,” he says. “I could relate when I was a teenager. Ennui has that droopy noodle posture and she’s committed to her technology.”

LeFauve points out that even though Ennui seems to be checked out, she’s there to help their girl by providing a protective mechanism that allows Riley to downshift from high drama to none at all. “Ennui also serves an important function by building a little distance between Riley and her parents,” says LeFauve. “I know that’s not fun if you’re the parent.”

Adèle Exarchopoulos lends her voice to Ennui.

Envy

Envy may be small, but she sure knows what she wants. She’s perpetually jealous of everything everyone else has, and she’s not afraid to pine over it. Envy’s wishful thinking and fascination with the newest, coolest thing pulls her attention in all directions and longs for what Riley doesn’t have.

Mann says Envy represents the “I wish” feeling that teens know all too well. “We really lean into social comparisons at this age,” he says. “So Envy being tiny comes from the idea that she would always be wishing she was as tall as everyone else.”

Adds Nielsen, “Dr. Dacher Keltner, who’s a professor at Berkeley, a psychologist and an author, was a great partner to us for the first film and we workshopped with him extensively: jealousy came up a lot and ended up becoming Envy because nobody really wanted to spend time with jealousy as a character.”

Ayo Edebiri voices the tiny Emotion.

Embarrassment

Embarassment likes to lay low, which isn’t easy for this burly guy with a bright blush-pink complexion. Shy and decidedly quiet, Embarrassment is ready to flop onto the Headquarters console at the first sight of social awkwardness.

Embarrassment is quiet to be sure and uses his hoodie as a built-in hiding place.

According to Hoffman, the largest Emotion may be shy, but he packs a punch. “Embarrassment is often an exclamation point to interactions Riley has with other characters,” he says. “But he really comes to life when his relationship with Sadness takes off. She really sees Embarrassment. There’s a kinship. Embarrassment is a very sensitive character and kind of an outsider like Sadness was in the first film.”

Filmmakers tapped Paul Walter Hauser to voice Embarrassment.

NEXT: Inside Out 2 First 30 Minutes Description & Reaction

About Inside Out 2

The little voices inside Riley’s head know her inside and out—but next summer, everything changes when Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” introduces a new Emotion: Anxiety.

According to director Kelsey Mann, the new character promises to stir things up within headquarters. “Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, might be new to the crew, but she’s not really the type to take a back seat,” said Mann. “That makes a lot of sense if you think about it in terms of what goes on inside all our minds.” 

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen

Inside Out 2 comes to theaters on June 14th.