Highlights
- Inside Out 2 features Amy Poehler’s beloved character Joy from the original film, helping Riley navigate new emotions and experiences.
- Amy Poehler’s portrayal of Joy was pivotal in conveying the message that it’s okay to feel a full range of emotions and that they help us grow.
- Inside Out 2 introduces new emotions like Anxiety, played by Maya Hawke, adding depth and humor to Riley’s teenage life journey.
Amy Poehler’s character Joy is one of the emotions returning to the Pixar sequel Inside Out 2, which will be released in theaters on June 14th, 2024. The 2015 movie Inside Out was a critical and commercial success and told the story of young Riley Andersen’s (Katilyn Diaz) San Francisco move and adjustment to life in a new place. Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust all played an important role in helping Riley on her journey and Joy said some of the funniest quotes in Inside Out.
With Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling not reprising their roles in the sequel, Inside Out 2‘s new characters need to be memorable. Amy Poehler’s Inside Out emotion Joy will also hopefully be just as unforgettable in Inside Out 2.
Who Is Joy In Inside Out?
Amy Poehler’s character Joy is one of the emotions in Riley Andersen’s mind in Inside Out, and she’s one of the most significant characters in the movie since sees herself as the leader. When Fear, Disgust, Anger, and Sadness get upset or worry too much, Joy is always there to bring them back to reality. Poehler gives a great voice performance in the animated movie as she ensures that Joy is likable and engaging and not irritating.
Like Riley, Joy goes on her own journey as Joy accepts Sadness as a key emotion, which is the biggest lesson that she learns in Inside Out. In one significant scene, Joy looks through Riley’s old memories and sees her crying in the classroom, which is a core memory. Joy feels guilt over Riley’s struggles, even though of course it’s not her fault, and says:
“I just wanted Riley to be happy…”
Joy and Riley both realize that it’s okay to feel a full range of emotions and that these experiences help people move forward and be happier. Since this is the overall message of Inside Out, it’s impossible to imagine the movie working so well without Amy Poehler’s character. Joy will play just as big a role in the sequel, and Inside Out 2 will hopefully be a huge success for Pixar.
Why Amy Poehler Wanted To Reprise Her Role Of Joy In Inside Out 2
In a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Amy Poehler said she wanted to voice Joy again in Inside Out 2 because she found it “healing” andloves the storylines focused on emotions. 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. 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.”
Poehler is the perfect actor to voice a vibrant emotion like Joy, thanks to her extensive comedic background acting in TV shows such as Parks And Recreation and countless movies like Mean Girls. Her portrayal of Joy is a great contrast to Riley’s dad (Kyle MacLachlan) who feels Anger regularly. While 2023 had great animated movies, 2024 will have at least one thanks to Joy’s presence in the anticipated Pixar sequel Inside Out 2.
The actor has spoken highly of Inside Out ever since she starred in the 2015 movie. That same year, she and director Pete Docter spoke to NPR and Poehler talked about how Joy must feel Sadness in Inside Out. This is a memorable part of the movie and also a huge part of her growth and development as a character. Poehler said:
“Joy goes through her own journey in the film: She realizes that she has to also be sad. And so when we were working on the character together, it was like: What level are we at in the beginning? Can we modulate that? And how does she change?”
The Other Emotions In Inside Out 2
Four new emotions have been added to Inside Out 2. Maya Hawke voiced Anxiety in Inside Out 2 and since Anxiety is an orange emotion with big hair, this character has gotten the most attention. However, the other new emotions Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walker Hauser) are just as significant. They all play a role in Riley’s teenage life and her hope that she will fit in.
Who Are All The Emotions In Inside Out 2?
- Joy (Amy Poehler)
- Anxiety (Maya Hawke)
- Embarrassment (Paul Walker Hauser)
- Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos)
- Envy (Ayo Edebiri)
- Disgust (Lisa Lapira)
- Anger (Lewis Black)
- Sadness (Phyllis Smith)
- Fear (Tony Hale)
With Inside Out 2 focusing on a teenage Riley, audiences will no doubt enjoy watching the new emotions along with the hilarious and smart ones who were featured in Inside Out.
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