Inside Out 2 Director Revealed Why a Major Emotion Was Left Out from the Film

Pixar’s Inside Out 2 will have Riley encounter a new series of emotions. Yet, amid the colorful chaos, one potential character never made it past the cutting room floor. The emotion of Shame, originally designed to join the ensemble, was excluded for its overwhelmingly somber tone, which tilted the film’s balance toward the darker side of the emotional spectrum.

Director Kelsey Mann, in a conversation with TheWrap, talked about the difficult decision to omit Shame from the sequel. The character, envisioned in shades of grey and exuding a somber demeanor, was initially integral to the narrative. However, as the film’s development progressed, it became clear that Shame’s presence was casting a gloom too dense for the film’s target audience. Mann said:

“
It was not fun to watch. It was not fun. It was too heavy.
You know when you see a good movie and you’re like, ‘Man that was a great movie.’ You want to see it again? ‘No, not really.’ There are movies like that.”

Mann emphasized the importance of the film’s rewatchability, a key aspect of Pixar’s success. He pointed out that while films can be profound and impactful, the essence of a family-friendly movie should invite repeated viewings without reservation. The emotion’s inclusion led to a viewing experience that felt more burdensome than entertaining, prompting the creative team to reassess its fit for the film.

The decision to cut Shame was driven by a desire to maintain the film’s appeal to a broad audience, including younger viewers. Mann’s goal was to create a movie that was enjoyable enough that audiences would leave the cinema with a desire to return. He said:

”
I don’t want to make that movie. I want to make a movie that’s really meaningful and when you’re asked, ‘Do you want to see that movie again?’ You say, ‘Yes!’
Because those are my favorite movies. And those are the kinds of movies I want to make. And I did not want to return to that movie with that character. It’s not that funny.”

Anxiety Joins Riley’s Set of Emotions in Inside Out 2

Notably, the introduction of Anxiety, voiced by the talented Maya Hawke, marks an important change in the animated sequel’s approach to portraying complex emotions. Jason Deamer, the art director and character designer for the film, offered some insight into why certain emotions like Anxiety were integrated into the storyline, while others such as Shame were left out.

“It was like, What are we trying to say?
Shame is a real thing in life but not everybody goes through that. But anxiety is in all of us. It’s just better.
I think it’s a more important thing to talk about than some kind of message about don’t shame yourself. It was preachy. Anxiety, you need it. It’s not 100% bad.”

Related

What the Inside Out 2 Cast Looks Like in Real Life

With new people and characters being added to Inside Out 2, everyone should take a look at what the cast looks like in real life.

Joining Anxiety are other fresh faces like Envy, voiced by Ayo Edebiri; Ennui, brought to life by Adèle Exarchopoulos; Embarrassment, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser; and Nostalgia, voiced by June Squibb. These characters will join the ensemble of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, creating a richer set of emotions that mirror the complex psychological landscapes of humans.