Inside Out 2 Restores Pixar’s Oldest Tradition 4 Years After Breaking It

Inside Out 2’s trailer introduces all the new emotions Riley has to confront and also confirms Pixar is restoring an old tradition with the return of a certain character. After a long stretch where Pixar was focused on producing sequels to their biggest hits (Finding Dory, Incredibles 2, etc), in recent years they’ve largely focused on original projects. Some, such as 2020’s Soul, were acclaimed upon arrival, while the likes of Elemental was considered a critical and commercial disappointment.

Pixar’s movie output was considered bulletproof thanks to a run of instant classics like Monsters, Inc., but it’s unreasonable to expect they can hit a home run with every single movie. That said, their follow-up to Elemental is another sequel that already looks like a big course correction. Inside Out 2 picks up many years after the 2015 original, where the now teenage Riley (Kensington Tallma) has to deal with the influx of new emotions that making new friends can bring. Inside Out 2’s trailer introduces four new emotions, including Paul Walter Hauser’s Embarrassment and Anxiety (Maya Hawke).

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Every Upcoming Pixar Movie & TV Show

Here is every upcoming Pixar movie and TV show slated for release over the next few years, from Inside Out 2 to Toy Story 5.

Inside Out 2 Confirms John Ratzenberger’s Return To Pixar Movie Roles

Ratzenberger has been missing from Pixar since Onward

Pixar has layered many easter eggs into their work, but one beloved recurring element was that actor John Ratzenberger would appear in all of their movies. He was perfect casting for Toy Story’s Hamm – a role he reprised in every subsequent sequel – and from there, a Ratzenberger cameo became Pixar’s good luck charm. He has played an array of supporting roles in their films, even if they amounted to little more than cameos.

Ratzenberger missed several of Pixar’s recent films, including Luca and Turning Red. Ratzenberger had a silent physical in Soul, where a background character was made to resemble the actor. There was no clear reason for Ratzenberger’s absence from the studio’s later projects, and there were no signs of a falling out between the actor and the studio; in fact, he reprised his role as Yeti for the 2021 animated TV spinoff Monsters at Work.

Why John Ratzenberger’s Inside Out 2 Cameo Is So Exciting

John Ratzenberger returning as Fritz for Inside Out 2 is great news – even if the part probably amounts to another brief cameo. Fritz’s role in the original Inside Out was brief, with the character being a Mind Worker who upgraded Riley’s emotion console in the final scenes. Even so, it’s just comforting to hear his distinctive tones in a new Pixar movie. Ratzenberger’s comeback also suggests he’ll return for future movies with the studio, be it Elio or Toy Story 5.

Source: The Walt Disney Company

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. – literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.

Director

Kelsey Mann

Release Date

June 14, 2024

Cast

Amy Poehler , Tony Hale , Maya Hawke , Liza Lapira , Lewis Black , Phyllis Smith , Diane Lane