Summary
Amy Poehler’s character Joyis one of the emotions returning to thePixarsequelInside Out 2, which will be released in theaters on June 14th, 2024. The 2015 movieInside Outwas a critical and commercial success and told the story of young Riley Andersen’s (Katilyn Diaz) San Francisco move and adjustment to life in a new place. Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust all played an important role in helping Riley on her journey and Joy said some of thefunniest quotes inInside Out.
With Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling not reprising their roles in the sequel,Inside Out 2’s new characters need to be memorable. Amy Poehler’sInside Outemotion Joy will also hopefully be just as unforgettable inInside Out 2.
Who Is Joy In Inside Out?
Amy Poehler’s character Joy is one of the emotions in Riley Andersen’s mind inInside Out, and she’s one of the most significant characters in the movie since sees herself as the leader. When Fear, Disgust, Anger, and Sadness get upset or worry too much, Joy is always there to bring them back to reality. Poehler gives agreat voice performance in the animated movieas she ensures that Joy is likable and engaging and not irritating.
Like Riley, Joy goes on her own journey asJoy accepts Sadness as a key emotion, which is the biggest lesson that she learns inInside Out. In one significant scene, Joy looks through Riley’s old memories and sees her crying in the classroom, which is a core memory. Joy feels guilt over Riley’s struggles, even though of course it’s not her fault, and says:
“I just wanted Riley to be happy…”
Joy and Riley both realize that it’s okay to feel a full range of emotions and that these experiences help people move forward and be happier. Since this is the overall message ofInside Out, it’s impossible to imagine the movie working so well without Amy Poehler’s character. Joy will play just as big a role in the sequel, andInside Out 2will hopefully be a huge success for Pixar.
Why Amy Poehler Wanted To Reprise Her Role Of Joy In Inside Out 2
In a 2024 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Amy Poehler said she wanted to voice Joy again inInside Out 2because shefound it “healing” andloves the storylines focused on emotions. Poehler said:
“Doing the voice work feels like healing work to me. The content touches me so deeply as a grown woman, and it touches the young child inside of me. This second one digs into the idea that at a certain age, new emotions like anxiety show up and everything becomes complicated and you become status-driven. You start to feel almost nostalgic for the easier, more basic emotions like sadness and fear.”
Poehler is the perfect actor to voice a vibrant emotion like Joy, thanks to her extensive comedic background acting in TV shows such asParks And Recreationand countless movies likeMean Girls. Her portrayal of Joy is a great contrast toRiley’s dad (Kyle MacLachlan) who feels Angerregularly. While2023 had great animated movies, 2024 will have at least one thanks to Joy’s presence in the anticipated Pixar sequelInside Out 2.
The actor has spoken highly ofInside Outever since she starred in the 2015 movie. That same year, she and director Pete Docter spoke to NPR and Poehler talked about howJoy must feel Sadness inInside Out.This is a memorable part of the movie and also a huge part of her growth and development as a character. Poehler said:
“Joy goes through her own journey in the film: She realizes that she has to also be sad. And so when we were working on the character together, it was like: What level are we at in the beginning? Can we modulate that? And how does she change?”
The Other Emotions In Inside Out 2
Four new emotionshave been added toInside Out 2.Maya Hawke voiced Anxiety inInside Out 2and since Anxiety is an orange emotion with big hair, this character has gotten the most attention. However, the other new emotionsEnvy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walker Hauser) are just as significant. They all play a role in Riley’s teenage life and her hope that she will fit in.
Who Are All The Emotions In Inside Out 2?
WithInside Out 2focusing on a teenage Riley, audiences will no doubt enjoy watching the new emotions along with the hilarious and smart ones who were featured inInside Out.
