Pixar Had To Drop One Emotion From ‘Inside Out 2’ As It Was ‘Too Heavy’
Video screenshot via Pixar
Pixar’s beloved 2015 film Inside Out took audiences on a delightful yet abstract journey through the emotional rollercoaster of a young girl’s mind. With the highly anticipated sequel on the horizon, fans were curious to see which new emotions would join Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear in navigating Riley’s adolescence. However, a recent interview with the film’s director, Kelsey Mann, reveals a surprising cut.
As it turns out, the emotion of Shame was planned to play a significant role but was ultimately excluded from the final version. The character was envisioned in muted tones and with a somber demeanor.
During development, though, concerns arose about the impact of this addition. Mann worried that Shame’s presence would overpower the tale’s overall tone, making it too emotionally heavy, especially for younger viewers.
“It was not fun to watch,” Mann admits in an interview with TheWrap, adding that the intention was to make a film enjoyable enough for viewers to step out of the theater with the desire to return. Shame, unfortunately, wasn’t adding to that as she was “too heavy.”
While Shame took a backseat, the film does introduce new emotions to reflect Riley’s teenage experiences. Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), for example, plays a prominent role, a decision supported by Dr Dacher Keltner, a collaborator on the film.
Shame is not a real emotion, Dr Keltner explains, since it’s not something everyone encounters. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a more compelling and resonant narrative that’s “in all of us.”
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Joining Anxiety in Inside Out 2, releasing this June 14, are Envy (Ayo Edebiri), a character with big, saucer eyes who longs for what others have; Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), a shy and awkward fellow; and Ennui (unannounced voice actor), a blueish-purple embodiment of boredom and apathy. These newcomers will undoubtedly challenge the established dynamics within Riley's emotional headquarters as she grapples with the complexities of adolescence.
[via Men’s Journal, MovieWeb, TheWrap, video and cover screenshot via Pixar]
