The 4 New Emotions In Inside Out 2: Anxiety, Envy, And The Teenage Mind Takeover

The highly-anticipated sequel, Inside Out 2, has redefined the landscape of emotional storytelling, diving deep into the turbulent world of adolescence. As of December 10, 2025, the film is hailed as one of Pixar's best in years, not only for its stunning animation but for its incredibly relatable portrayal of a newly minted teenager, Riley, and the chaotic new inhabitants of her mind. The core conflict revolves around the arrival of a new crew of complex feelings—the "Teenager Emotions"—who threaten to demolish everything the original five have built, centering on the formidable force of Anxiety.

The 2024 animated coming-of-age film, directed by Kelsey Mann, perfectly captures the intense, often overwhelming, shift that occurs when a child, Riley, turns 13. This pivotal moment triggers a sudden, dramatic demolition of Headquarters to make room for four entirely unexpected new Emotions. These newcomers bring with them a whole new "Sense of Self," pushing Joy and the original crew into a desperate journey through the deepest, darkest corners of Riley’s teenage mind.

Inside Out 2: Complete Cast and Character Guide (New & Returning)

The sequel features a mix of returning and recast voices for the original emotions, alongside a star-studded lineup for the new teenage cohort. This comprehensive list details the primary emotional entities that navigate Riley’s mind in Inside Out 2.

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• Joy: Voiced by Amy Poehler (Returning)
• Sadness: Voiced by Phyllis Smith (Returning)
• Anger: Voiced by Lewis Black (Returning)
• Fear: Voiced by Tony Hale (Recast from Bill Hader)
• Disgust: Voiced by Liza Lapira (Recast from Mindy Kaling)
• Anxiety: Voiced by Maya Hawke (New Emotion)
• Envy: Voiced by Ayo Edebiri (New Emotion)
• Ennui: Voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos (New Emotion)
• Embarrassment: Voiced by Paul Walter Hauser (New Emotion)

The recasting of Fear and Disgust sparked initial discussion, but the focus quickly shifted to the powerful performance of the new cast, particularly Maya Hawke's portrayal of Anxiety, which drives the central plot of the film.

The Four Teenage Emotions That Seize Control

The core of Inside Out 2’s fresh narrative lies in its introduction of four complex, puberty-driven emotions that arrive in a chaotic, wrecking-ball fashion. These new inhabitants of Headquarters immediately challenge the established order, believing they are better equipped to handle the complexities of teenage life, particularly as Riley faces high school tryouts and new social pressures.

1. Anxiety (Maya Hawke)

Anxiety is the de facto leader of the new group and the primary antagonist of the film, though her motivations are rooted in a desire to help Riley prepare for every possible future outcome. She is a frantic, orange-hued character who believes that to be successful, Riley must constantly worry about what could go wrong.

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Her arrival is marked by a massive 'demolition' of the control panel, signifying the end of Riley's simpler childhood. Anxiety’s main goal is to create a complex, often negative, "Sense of Self" for Riley, replacing the Core Memories of Joy with a new, more self-critical belief system. This focus on future-gazing and worst-case scenarios is highly relatable to the experience of puberty.

2. Envy (Ayo Edebiri)

Envy is a small, teal-colored emotion who constantly looks at what others have and wishes Riley could have it too. She represents the intense social comparison that becomes prevalent in the teenage years. Envy’s role is to highlight the perceived shortcomings in Riley’s life by comparing her to her peers, a key driver of adolescent insecurity.

This emotion subtly influences Riley's decisions, pushing her toward actions that might make her seem 'cooler' or more accepted by the high school crowd she is trying to impress. Envy works closely with Anxiety to suggest that Riley is not "enough" as she is, fueling the need for change and self-improvement based on external factors.

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3. Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos)

Ennui, pronounced 'on-wee,' is the embodiment of boredom, listlessness, and emotional detachment. This tall, purple, and perpetually slumped emotion is often seen lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone, and generally expressing a profound lack of interest.

She is the personification of the teenage phenomenon of feeling 'too cool' or apathetic about everything. Ennui's power lies in her ability to use the control panel with a detached, singular finger, allowing Riley to respond to her parents or friends with minimal effort and maximum teenage disdain. Her presence perfectly captures the modern adolescent’s struggle with motivation and the pervasive sense of 'meh.'

4. Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser)

Embarrassment is the gentle giant of the new group, a large, pink, hooded figure who often tries to hide himself. He represents the acute self-consciousness that defines the teenage experience, where every social interaction feels like a high-stakes performance.

His physical presence—large and cumbersome—symbolizes the feeling of wanting to shrink and disappear when an awkward moment occurs. Embarrassment’s primary function is to contain and manage Riley’s feelings of shame, often literally scooping up the other emotions (including the originals) when Headquarters is under threat or when Riley experiences a particularly mortifying moment.

The Battle for the Sense of Self and Topical Authority

The deeper, more mature theme of Inside Out 2 is the concept of the "Sense of Self." In the first film, Riley's personality was defined by her Core Memories, largely driven by Joy. However, the sequel explores how adolescence introduces complex, mixed emotions, leading to a more nuanced and often contradictory self-image.

Anxiety attempts to build a new, more 'perfect' Sense of Self for Riley, one that is free from failure and social rejection. This involves isolating the original emotions (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust) and banishing them to the deepest parts of Riley’s subconscious. The film argues that a healthy Sense of Self is not built on pure happiness or anxiety-driven perfection, but on a blend of all emotions—the good, the bad, and the complex.

The film’s critical success and strong box office performance upon its June 14, 2024, release solidified its topical authority in discussing mental health and emotional development. It uses the animated landscape to visually explain psychological concepts like Core Memories, belief systems, and the subconscious mind in an accessible way. Pixar Animation Studios, under the direction of Kelsey Mann, successfully navigated the challenging topic of puberty and mental health, delivering a film that resonated with both parents and teenagers.

Ultimately, the story is a powerful lesson in emotional acceptance. Joy learns that she cannot control Riley’s entire emotional life and that the new, complex emotions like Anxiety and Envy have a necessary, though often challenging, role to play. The film concludes with the understanding that the teenage mind is a messy, dynamic place where all feelings must coexist to create a truly authentic and resilient Sense of Self. This complex emotional tapestry is what makes Inside Out 2 a groundbreaking sequel.