‘Inside Out 2’ filmmaker Kelsey Mann talks ‘exciting, daunting’ sequel
Nine years after Pixar’s animated feature “Inside Out” gave the world a new way to talk about feelings and emotions, the sequel is set to release with a bang. “Inside Out 2” returns to cinemas on June 13 with filmmaker Kelsey Mann introducing new emotions as the film’s protagonist Riley takes on her teen years.
The film opens with Riley hitting adolescence just as the headquarters inside her mind undergoes a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected — new emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who have long been running a successful operation, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And she’s not alone, she’s brought Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment with her.
“I’d zeroed in on the idea of Anxiety being a major character,” Mann told Arab News. “It’s something that really starts to appear as we become teenagers — we can all relate. I remember doing a lot of research early on about what happens in our brains at this age that triggered this idea of a wrecking ball coming through Headquarters — a bunch of workers piling in and tearing everything down. It’s a renovation — that’s kind of what it feels like to be a teenager. It’s chaotic.”
The concept of memories was dealt with in the original film, while the sequel introduces the idea of a belief system.
“We’re looking at Riley and what age she is and what she’s going through and she’s a teenager. And what’s happening at that time is that you’re starting to develop who you are as an individual, which means you’re starting to create your own beliefs … it’s exciting. It’s also daunting, because it could look like anything … but I’m really happy with what we ended up with,” Mann said.