The sequel to the adorable “Inside Out” film, “Inside Out 2,” will arrive in theaters on June 14th, 2024. The characters Disgust, Fear, Joy, Sadness, and Anger are returning for another adventure inside Riley’s head. Only this time, a new character is in the mix. Anxiety is one of the new emotions, voiced by Maya Hawke, who is famous for her role in “Stranger Things.”
Extended Family of Feelings
With the addition of Anxiety to Riley’s head, soon comes other emotions as well. The first movie showed her mental state as she progressed throughout childhood, and “Inside Out 2” will focus on her incoming teenage years.
During adolescence, many hormones and feelings run amuck. Puberty certainly doesn’t help with all of the confusion and conflicting emotions. With Riley physically changing, emotions like Ennui (boredom/disinterest), Embarrassment and Envy shortly arrive after Anxiety.
New Emotions’ Importance
With the addition of these new characters, it familiarizes new and sometimes scary emotions. Children who watch this movie will learn about new feelings whose characteristics are important to understand.
There have not been many mainstream films besides “Inside Out” that teach children about their emotions. With this newfound familiarity, they can have the security of understanding, to a certain degree, what might happen to them as they age.
Those who are starting to enter their adolescence, Generation Alpha, will get to see a movie that prioritizes their mental health. With the addition of Ennui and Anxiety, children will learn about what emotions might be coming their way and how to live with them.
Embarrassment and Envy are important characters too, as they are feelings we all have from time to time. However, Anxiety and Ennui touch on certain adolescent emotions that haven’t truly been discussed openly in entertainment.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a ramped-up version of everyday worries and fears. It can speed up your heart and shorten your breathing. According to the World Health Organization, around 300 million people had some type of anxiety disorder in 2019.
Anxious feelings are normal, as we all go through one situation or another when we feel extra nervous. Whether it’s for a job interview or a first date, it’s okay to feel a little bit uneasy. With the anxiety-inducing culture of today, it’s important that incoming adolescents understand it.
Ennui
Ennui is another character that enters Riley’s head as she goes through adolescence. It is meant to represent feelings of boredom and overall disinterest. This character plays an important role as Riley enters puberty.
As children enter adolescence, their bodies start to change and so do their hormones. These changes often send preteens down a path where they feel confused and even sometimes lost. It’s important that “Inside Out 2” shows Generation Alpha what emotions are coming their way, and how to live with and understand them.
What are your thoughts on the new characters? Let us know by tweeting us @VALLEYmag
