We’re feeling all kinds of things—Joy, Excitement, maybe even a little Anxiety—as we count down to Pixar’s Inside Out 2, coming to theaters on June 14, 2024. But you don’t have to wait that long to dive into the making of this highly anticipated sequel. The Art of Inside Out 2, now available for preorder, offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at Pixar’s creative process—and we’ve got a first peek.
Inside Out 2 Book Highlights New Emotions
As Riley enters her teenage years, she’s no longer guided by just Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. In Inside Out 2, Riley’s mind welcomes a new set of Emotions: Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment, and Envy. According to Jason Deamer, the film’s production designer, choosing the right characters was an evolving process.
“When we asked ourselves what emotions take over at age 13, that’s when everything clicked,” Deamer shared. While many ideas came and went, these new Emotions felt most authentic to Riley’s story.
Designing Characters With Heart and Humor
The new Inside Out 2 book also reveals how Pixar’s team crafted realistic characters for Riley’s world. Character Art Director Keiko Murayama led research into San Francisco’s demographics to ensure the supporting cast reflected the city’s cultural richness.
Even side characters received careful attention. “What kind of hairstyle would this person have?” Deamer explained. “Those little design choices add texture—even if the audience doesn’t consciously notice them.”
Real-Life Inspiration Adds Depth
When designing both the real world and the mind world, the team leaned into personal memories. Deamer recalled feeling self-conscious as a teen and idolizing older classmates. “Telling a story about this awkward time lets you mine a lot of humor—and honesty,” he said.
Building a Sequel From Scratch
Despite the success of the first Inside Out, Pixar faced new challenges. All the animation software used in the original had been replaced, meaning every element—characters, sets, textures—had to be rebuilt from the ground up.
“People think a sequel is easier because the world already exists,” Deamer noted. “But we started from scratch. And many of our early ideas mirrored the first film, so we had to push ourselves to find fresh concepts.”
The original production designer, Ralph Eggleston, left a big creative legacy. Deamer wanted to honor that while introducing new visuals. Revisiting the semi-translucent materials of Riley’s mind allowed the team to explore more expressive and experimental designs.
A Mind Full of Possibility
At its core, Inside Out 2 is still about Riley’s inner world—but now it expands to explore new emotional territory. “When you’re designing for the mind,” Deamer said, “you can do just about anything. The mind is your oyster.”
