Inside Out 2 Director Discusses Deleted Scenes and Content Changes

Overview

Inside Out 2 has captivated audiences, ranking as the top-grossing film of 2024.
The sequel introduces new emotions for a growing teenage Riley, including Anxiety, Envy, and more.
Director Kelsey Mann shared insights into cut content that may feature in future installments of the franchise.

The animated hit Inside Out 2 made waves upon its release, swiftly claiming the title of the highest-grossing movie of 2024. Building on the foundation laid by its predecessor, this Pixar sequel explores the intricate personification of human emotions, although not all unique ideas made it to the final cut.

Set during Riley’s challenging teenage years, Inside Out 2 navigates her transition into high school and the emergence of complex emotional experiences. This evolution leads to a shifting dynamic among her core emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear—who find themselves outnumbered by newcomers such as Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. The film not only garnered significant praise, achieving a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but also generated an impressive global box office total nearing $1.7 billion, underscoring its widespread appeal.

Insights from Inside Out 2’s Director on Excluded Content

As Inside Out 2 recently garnered several nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, director Kelsey Mann took a moment to discuss some intriguing content that was ultimately removed from the film. Among the omitted ideas was a whimsical setting dubbed Procrastination Land, where emotions would humorously question the completion of various construction projects. “It was a great concept, but it was difficult to incorporate effectively, especially with a narrative centered around Riley being overwhelmed by Anxiety. Nevertheless, I hope to revisit this idea in the future,” Mann shared.

Additionally, Mann indicated that other new emotional characters were initially considered but cut from the final story. For instance, Schadenfreude, a feeling derived from the misfortune of others, was left on the cutting room floor. Similarly, Jealousy was also excluded, as it created confusion with the character of Envy. Mann recounted a humorous moment in which these emotions were visualized as identical twins, leading to their eventual removal to ensure clarity in the narrative. “We opted to focus on Envy, which reflects the comparisons teenagers often make, particularly for Riley,” Mann explained.

“We tried a lot of emotions [for Inside Out 2]. One that stands out is Jealousy. Early in the process, I struggled to differentiate between jealousy and envy. We even had a joke where they appeared as identical twins, causing confusion. After consulting with various experts, I learned that envy is about wanting something that someone else has, which is particularly relevant during adolescence. Hence, we decided to keep Envy while cutting Jealousy.”

Is Inside Out 3 on the Horizon for Pixar?

Despite the removal of certain concepts, Mann has expressed a strong desire to explore these ideas in potential future projects. While Inside Out 3 has not yet been formally announced, the overwhelming success of its predecessor suggests that a follow-up is a distinct possibility. Mann confirmed that sentiments within Pixar favor a third installment, with many creatives eager to continue Riley’s journey as she navigates adulthood.

The Dream Productions miniseries on Disney+ serves as an exciting stopgap between the Inside Out films. This series dives into the adventures of characters responsible for crafting Riley’s dreams each night, featuring beloved characters like Joy, as well as Riley and her family. Dream Productions illustrates the franchise’s versatility and potential to flourish in diverse formats, successfully engaging fans while they await the next cinematic installment.

Inside Out 2 is currently available for streaming on Disney+.

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