Pixar's Inside Out 2 Captures How I Felt as an Anxious Teenager, and Everyone Needs to See It

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 5 minutes read

Spoilers for Inside Out 2 lie in front. If you have not seen the sequel which is available on 2024 movie calendaryou can see it in theaters now.

Although it is difficult to rank the best Pixar films, Upside down has always been my favorite. When the first trailer for Inside Out 2 came out and introduced anxiety as a new emotion, I knew I was heading for another emotional journey. I had high hopes for the new film and somehow it managed to exceed them all. Just like the first film, the sequel tells a carefully crafted story about how our emotions affect us. As someone who suffered from anxiety as a teenager in high school, I can honestly say that the character with Maya Hawke's voice made me feel seen, and that's just one of the reasons for which people need to go see the film in the cinema.

Judging by the phenomenal opening box office numbers for Inside Out 2I'm far from the only one who went out to see the film last weekend. The hour-and-a-half-long film is actually a coming-of-age story that follows Riley as she once again grapples with monumental changes in her life. I think everyone can relate to the struggles Riley faces in the film, even if you've never dealt with anxiety. But there were certain moments that made me feel like I had traveled back in time and watched myself as a teenager on screen. Pixar may not have aimed to specifically cater to people like me when making this film, but I can't help but think that I was the target audience.

(Image credit: Pixar)

How Inside Out 2 Captured My Experiences With Anxiety as a Teenager

Anxiety manifests itself differently for everyone who faces it, but as soon as it was presented in the film, I knew that was the emotion running through my head. What was even more relevant was that Riley was dealing with this emotion without being formally diagnosed with it – something I have yet to do myself.

One of the key scenes that stood out to me takes place about halfway through the film. Anxiety became Riley's primary emotion and began to take over, invading the teen's imagination. Instead of letting her fall asleep and escape into a wholesome dream world that once evoked the widely mourned imaginary friend Bing Bong, Anxiety has Mind Works in Imagination Land. Instead of rainbows and sunshine, they imagine horrible scenarios that could happen to Riley during the big hockey scrimmage that she believes will determine her high school future.

I can't even begin to estimate how many nights I spent lying awake in bed, running through what-if scenarios about big life moments that only got worse. It's in our nature to worry about our choices and how others will perceive us, but, with anxiety at the helm, it takes on a world of its own.

In this scene, Joy finally bursts in and gets the Mind Workers back on track by reminding them that none of this has happened yet, so there's no reason to worry about it. It's easy to see Joy as the hero in that moment, but when you're in a spiral like that, it's almost impossible to find a way out.

This moment becomes clear at the emotional climax of the film when Anxiety loses control of herself. Riley is sent to the penalty box after crashing into her best friend and immediately begins to worry that not only has she lost a spot on the high school team, but she has also lost her friend now. In his head, the anxiety took the form of chaotic spirals surrounding the control panel, pushing everyone away. We actually see Riley get emotional in the penalty box. She is out of breath and clutches her heart as Anxiety begins to worry that she has ruined the young woman's life.

I was definitely holding back tears, as it was the first time I saw how my anxiety/panic attacks manifested on screen. I knew immediately that Riley was in the middle of an anxiety attack, and it broke my heart to see her have to go through that. But it also made me feel seen. When you're a teenager, it often feels like you're the only one dealing with mass pressure and the desire to be perfect, but the truth is that we all struggle in our own way.

In movie terms, it's easy to say that Anxiety is the villain of the sequel, but the reality is much more complicated than that. While it's true that she's causing trouble for Riley, she's only doing it because she cares about her and her future. For me, personally, watching Joy and the other emotions embrace anxiety at the end was an eye-opening moment. This emotion, which can sometimes turn our lives upside down and make us dream of nightmare scenarios, does indeed have our well-being in mind. As in the original film, the overall message is that all of our emotions are precious and should be appreciated.

(Image credit: Pixar)

Everyone should go see Inside Out 2 because you will be a better person after watching it

The first one Upside down did a phenomenal job depicting how emotions manifest in the real world, and the sequel really continued that tradition. Part of what makes the film so great is that it exposes an audience who may not suffer from anxiety to what it actually feels like for those of us who do. Of course, we couldn't all spiral out of control imagining horrible scenarios etc. But everyone can understand him questioning his choices and wondering if he's on the right path.

At the same time, I think the film can help destigmatize anxiety a little and show that it's really difficult to deal with. It doesn't always revolve around nightmare scenarios and what-ifs; Sometimes it alters our being to the point that we begin to doubt ourselves, just like Riley does in the movie. It's easy to dismiss Riley as an overly dramatic teenager, but, in that moment, these tribulations are some of the worst things she's ever experienced, so her actions are justified.

Beyond the mental health aspect, the film directed by Kelsey Mann is an incredibly joyful film that truly captures what it means to be a 13-year-old with his whole future ahead of him. I laughed as much as I cried. There were some clever and hilarious moments – one of them being the quirky emotions, the discovery of Riley's vault of secrets and her love of a children's animated show. There were poignant moments – like the whole core belief system – that made me better understand myself as a person.

By the time the credits rolled, I felt like I had been to a therapy session and had finally understood how my own emotions worked in my life. I'm sure I'm not alone in this feeling. Watching the film definitely feels like a “core memory” for me, and I can’t recommend this wonderful film enough.

You can catch Inside Out 2 for yourself in theaters now. I also encourage everyone to stream the first film with an active Disney+ subscription. And keep an eye on the upcoming Disney movie schedule in case the Mouse House surprises us by announcing a third movie, for which the director already has ideas.