The emotional landscape of Riley Andersen’s mind has fundamentally changed. With the release of Inside Out 2 in June 2024, Pixar introduced a complex new suite of feelings—and an updated voice cast—to navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence, making this a truly fresh and essential update for fans of the original film. The sequel not only brings back the core, beloved emotions but also introduces a powerful new squad of teen-centric feelings, led by the high-energy, orange-hued Anxiety, all voiced by a mix of returning legends and breakout stars.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the full, current cast list, highlights the major recastings that surprised fans, and provides a deep dive into the talented actors who brought the new emotions—Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment—to life, cementing Inside Out 2 as one of the most talked-about animated movies of the year.
The Core Cast Profiles: Returning Legends and Breakout Stars
The success of the Inside Out franchise rests on the shoulders of its incredible voice talent. Here is a detailed look at the actors behind the most important emotions, including their background and key filmography.
Amy Poehler as Joy
- Born: September 16, 1971, Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Role in Inside Out 2: Joy, the radiant optimist who leads Riley's core emotions and struggles to accept the new, complicated feelings of adolescence.
- Biography and Filmography: Poehler is an American comedian, actress, writer, and producer, most famous for her eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Her breakthrough role was as Leslie Knope in the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015). She has won a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, and her notable film roles include Mean Girls and Sisters.
Maya Hawke as Anxiety
- Born: July 8, 1998, New York City, New York, U.S.
- Role in Inside Out 2: Anxiety, the central new emotion, a frantic, orange character who is determined to prepare Riley for every possible future scenario, often to the detriment of the other emotions.
- Biography and Filmography: Maya Hawke is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and model. She is the daughter of Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Hawke gained international recognition for her role as Robin Buckley in the Netflix series Stranger Things (2019–present). She has also appeared in films like Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the Netflix film Do Revenge.
Ayo Edebiri as Envy
- Born: October 3, 1995, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Role in Inside Out 2: Envy, a small, teal emotion who constantly looks at what others have, often with a sense of admiration and desire.
- Biography and Filmography: Ayo Edebiri is an American actress, comedian, and writer who has quickly become one of the industry's most sought-after talents. Her breakthrough and Emmy-winning role is as the earnest sous chef Sydney Adamu in the critically acclaimed series The Bear (2022–present). Edebiri is also known for voicing Missy Foreman-Greenwald in the animated series Big Mouth and has appeared in films such as Bottoms.
Tony Hale as Fear (Recast)
- Born: September 30, 1970, West Point, New York, U.S.
- Role in Inside Out 2: Fear, the purple, perpetually panicked emotion responsible for keeping Riley safe, a role that was recast for the sequel.
- Biography and Filmography: Tony Hale is an American actor and comedian, widely celebrated for his portrayal of the neurotic Byron 'Buster' Bluth in the Fox series Arrested Development, a role for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards. He is also well-known for his two-time Emmy-winning role as Gary Walsh in the HBO comedy series Veep. Hale is a veteran voice actor, having also voiced Forky in Toy Story 4 and the subsequent Disney+ shorts.
The Major Recastings and New Voices in Inside Out 2
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the sequel was the decision to recast two of the five original emotions. While Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), and Lewis Black (Anger) all returned, the voices for Fear and Disgust were replaced for Inside Out 2.
The transition was handled by bringing in two highly respected comedic actors to take over the roles, ensuring the characters maintained their familiar comedic energy:
- Fear: Originally voiced by Bill Hader in the first film, the role was taken over by Tony Hale. Hale's established history of playing anxious, endearing characters, such as Buster Bluth, made him a natural fit for the perpetually worried Fear.
- Disgust: Mindy Kaling, who voiced the green, sassy emotion in the original, was replaced by Liza Lapira. Lapira is a veteran film and television actress known for her roles in TV series like Dollhouse and The Equalizer, bringing a fresh, sharp wit to the character.
The recasting was a significant change, but the new voice actors seamlessly integrated into the emotional headquarters, helping to make the sequel feel both familiar and new.
The New Emotions: Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment
As Riley turns 13 and enters the turbulent world of puberty, her emotional headquarters undergoes a massive demolition, making room for a whole new crew of sophisticated, complex teenage emotions. This expansion is the core of Inside Out 2's topical authority, addressing the universal experience of growing up and the overwhelming feelings that come with it.
The four main new emotions—often referred to as the "Puberty Crew"—are critical to the film's plot and are voiced by an all-star lineup of contemporary comedic talent:
- Anxiety (Maya Hawke): The leader of the new emotions. Anxiety is a fast-talking, highly organized, and over-prepared emotion, obsessed with Riley's future success and acceptance by her new high school friends.
- Envy (Ayo Edebiri): A small, teal-colored emotion who looks up to and yearns for what others have, often admiring the world with wide, innocent eyes. Edebiri’s voice work brings an earnest, slightly manic energy to the role.
- Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos): Voiced by French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, Ennui embodies the feeling of listlessness and boredom typical of a teenage slump. She is a purple, slouching emotion who operates the console with a phone, often speaking in a detached, monotone voice.
- Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser): The largest of the new emotions, Embarrassment is a huge, pink, hoodie-wearing emotion who is shy and often covers his face with his hood, reflecting the awkward, self-conscious feelings of a teenager.
A fifth, more minor new emotion, Nostalgia, also makes a memorable appearance, voiced by veteran actress June Squibb. Nostalgia is depicted as a sweet, elderly emotion who wistfully recalls past events, offering a brief but powerful moment of reflection amidst the chaos of Riley’s mind. This entire expanded cast of emotions elevates the film’s psychological depth, providing a new layer of relatability for older audiences.
Inside Out 2: The Full Voice Cast List
Beyond the core emotions, the film features a deep bench of talented voice actors, including the new actress for Riley and the voices of her parents and friends. This complete list confirms the full range of characters and entities that populate Riley’s world and her mind.
The Main Emotions (The Crew)
- Joy: Amy Poehler
- Sadness: Phyllis Smith
- Anger: Lewis Black
- Fear: Tony Hale (Recast)
- Disgust: Liza Lapira (Recast)
The New Emotions (The Puberty Crew)
- Anxiety: Maya Hawke
- Envy: Ayo Edebiri
- Ennui: Adèle Exarchopoulos
- Embarrassment: Paul Walter Hauser
- Nostalgia: June Squibb
The Human World and Supporting Voices
- Riley Andersen: Kensington Tallman (replacing Kaitlyn Dias from the original)
- Riley’s Mom: Diane Lane
- Riley’s Dad: Kyle MacLachlan
- Valentina “Val” Ortiz: Lilimar
- Grace Hsieh: Grace Lu
- Breonna “Bree” Young: Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green
- Pouchy: Flea
- Foreman: John Ratzenberger
- Deep Dark Secret: Steve Purcell
The massive ensemble cast, mixing Hollywood veterans with rising stars, ensures that Inside Out 2 delivers a powerful, multi-layered emotional experience. From the high-stakes panic of Maya Hawke’s Anxiety to the comforting familiarity of Amy Poehler’s Joy, the voice work is a masterclass in character animation and emotional storytelling, making the film a must-watch for understanding the complex journey of growing up.
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