INSIDE OUT 2: WHAT AMY POEHLER SAID ABOUT THE PIXAR SEQUEL
- Inside Out 2 continues to explore Riley's emotional journey, this time focusing on themes of anxiety and growing up, with a relatable touch.
- Amy Poehler's return as Joy in the sequel reflects her deep connection to the character and the healing experience of voice work.
- The Pixar movie, balancing humor with serious storytelling, offers a nostalgic escape for audiences of all ages, promising happiness in Inside Out 2.
Amy Poehler's Inside Out character Joy is one of the most crucial emotions in young Riley Andersen's (Kaitlyn Diaz) mind. When the Pixar movie was released in 2015, it offered a compelling look at the different emotions that everyone feels, sometimes even on a daily basis. When Riley relocates from Minnesota to San Francisco, Riley is scared and nervous, and Joy is in charge of the command center in her brain. In Inside Out 2, Joy will also help Riley work through her feelings and stressors.
Amy Poehler, known for playing the hilarious and quirky Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, has played several comedic characters in movies, but none quite as memorable as Joy in Inside Out. In the lead-up to Inside Out 2's June 14th, 2024 release, Poehler has given a few interviews about her character Joy and why she wanted to return to the Pixar sequel.
Inside Out 2: The New Emotion Anxiety, Explained
Anxiety is one of four new emotions in Inside Out 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2015 Pixar movie, and there's a lot to know about them.Amy Poehler Talked About Inside Out 2 Ahead Of The Pixar Sequel's Release
Amy Poehler talked about Inside Out 2 at the 2024 CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards and shared a few compelling plot details in an interview with People. Riley Andersen is going through the tough emotional and physical changes of puberty and explained:
“That feeling of, ‘Who am I? How should I act?’ The inner feeling of, ‘What should I be worried about? What should I let go of? How do I take care of myself?’ We can all relate to that.”
It sounds like Inside Out 2 will have the same unique tone of the original and will balance laughs with relatable moments. While Inside Out has hilarious quotes, the movie tells an important and fairly serious story about Riley's coming-of-age experiences. The movie is also about how her parents are adjusting to the emotional move to San Francisco, which allows Inside Out to appeal to a wide range of ages.
| Inside Out 2 Director | Kelsey Mann |
|---|---|
| Writers | Screenplay by Meg LaFauve, Jon Zack, Dave Holstein Story by Leslie Dixon, Kirsten Smith, Karen McCullah |
| Voice Actors | Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Tony Hale, Maya Hawke, Liza Lapira, Lewis Black, Paul Walker Hauser, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Ayo Edebiri, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLaughlan, Kensington Tallman |
| Release Date | June 14th, 2024 (United States) |
Pixar fans hope that Inside Out 2's new characters are great considering that Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader didn't voice Disgust and Fear in the Pixar sequel. Thankfully, Amy Poehler told People that she is happy with the sequel, particularly the focus on the new emotion Anxiety.
Poehler said:
“The stuff they did in this next film is so good. The movie's growing with all of us… I love the research and the depth that they did where anxiety is a motivator. So at first, Joy is like, ‘I like you! Anxiety's fun!’”
According to Variety, the first 35 minutes of Inside Out 2 were played at CinemaCon, and audiences were given the chance to learn a bit more about the plot. Riley is still a fan of ice hockey and she is excited to go to hockey camp. Considering how much Riley struggles in Inside Out, Inside Out 2 has a perfect and smart plot since it examines what Riley needs to learn in order to truly grow up. Of course, Riley isn't going to have an easy time, and the alarm puberty goes off, alerting the emotions in Riley's mind that something bad is happening.
Why Amy Poehler Wanted To Play Joy Again In Inside Out 2
In April 2024, Amy Poehler talked about wanting to play Joy in Inside Out 2 in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She said that she loves that the Pixar sequel focuses on "basic emotions" like Fear and Joy but also proves that people can experience anxiety as they get older. Like other Pixar movies that feature emotional storylines, like Bruno leaving the family in Encanto, Inside Out and Inside Out 2 approaches deep topics entertainingly and humorously.
Poehler said:
"Doing the voice work feels like healing work to me. The content touches me so deeply as a grown woman, and it touches the young child inside of me."
Amy Poehler's comments prove that Pixar movies are nostalgic for many fans. Whether recalling soundtracks from past Disney and Pixar movies or watching the latest releases, audiences relive their childhoods when watching these films. Since Inside Out 2 is about Riley as a high schooler, the story will allow audiences to think about that time in their life and compare their own experiences to the main character. Movies like Inside Out are an important and necessary escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Poehler added:
"This second one digs into the idea that at a certain age, new emotions like anxiety show up and everything becomes complicated and you become status-driven. You start to feel almost nostalgic for the easier, more basic emotions like sadness and fear."
What Are Amy Poehler's Best Movie Roles?
- Susie in Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
- Mrs. June George in Mean Girls (2004)
- Angie Ostrowski in Baby Mama (2008)
- Joy in Inside Out (2015) and Inside Out 2 (2024)
- Abby in Wine Country (2019)
- Lisa in Moxie (2021)
While there are charming sci-fi movies aimed at children and dark animated children's movies, Inside Out appeals to various age groups thanks to its focus on core memories and childhood nostalgia. Amy Poehler's comments prove that anyone of any age can find something relatable in the story. The Pixar sequel Inside Out 2 is sure to make fans happy.
Can Inside Out 2 Break Pixar's Cold Streak?
When Inside Out is released in the summer of 2024, it seems likely that it will do much better at the box office than Pixar's last few animated movies