About a month ago, we had the pleasure of attending a press event with many Pixar artists to discuss the upcoming Pixar film, Inside Out 2. Over the next several weeks, we’re going to deep dive and share all the details we learned about how the crew made Inside Out 2, but for now, we’re going to share six of our favorite facts that were revealed by the team.
FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS
Both Pete Docter and Kelsey Mann grew up in Minnesota but did you know that they both lived just one town over from each other? Mann shared that the first ever studio he worked for was a commercial studio in Minneapolis and when he started his co-workers said “Hey, there was this dude here named Pete and he’s off in the Bay Area now making movies.”
Well, that ‘Pete’ was Pete Docter and just as Mann worked on Monsters University (a prequel to Monsters, Inc.), Mann is following up Docter again by directing Inside Out 2. When asked if he felt intimidated to direct the sequel, Mann said he was less intimidated and more excited. Noting, “The first film was fun, imaginative, and made a meaningful impact on the world and that’s why I’m here.”
VACATION ANXIETY
While the team searched for actors for the vocal cast, they approached Maya Hawke. As they confirmed an audition time for her, the team took a peek at Director Kelsey Mann’s calendar and found that he was going to be away at Walt Disney World with his family on vacation at the same time.
While Mann vacationed at EPCOT with his family, the team was able to whisk him away to a backstage Disney office building behind the Mexico Pavilion. He proceeded to have a Zoom meeting with Hawke, and during the audition, Mann was overcome with emotion and shared that he may have cried a little. It must have been a great audition because Mann, called Producer Mark Nielson right afterward, and Hawke became the voice of Anxiety.
A BIT OF NOSTALGIA
Everyone has that sentimental longing for the past – better known as nostalgia. So, it would make perfect sense for Riley to have that emotion as well. During our visit to Pixar Animation Studios, Director of Photography Layout, Adam Habib noted that Nostalgia resides within Headquarters in a door that was placed there in the original Inside Out.
The door which is shaped like Anger was originally going to be Anger’s steam room from the first film, however, that scene was ultimately cut, leaving the set design still intact. This allowed the filmmakers to introduce a new emotion seamlessly.
LAND OF CONSTRUCTION
When exploring ideas for new areas within Riley’s mind, the team suggested and boarded ideas surrounding ‘Procrastination Land’—with the motto “Always Under Construction.” However, Mann noted that the scene sadly had to be cut as it didn’t continue the movement of the story. He teased that he hoped audiences would still be able to see ‘Procrastination Land’ in some fashion—perhaps an end credits scene?
RECORD-BREAKING RECORDING SESSIONS
Not only did Inside Out 2 begin during the Pandemic when filmmakers were working from their homes, but the 2023 Actors Strike proved to be another challenge to overcome. As news of the impending strike circulated in the film industry, the team worked tirelessly to complete 30 recording sessions in 30 days!
Thankfully, the nearly 4-month-long strike lifted and the filmmakers were able to once again jump into another 30 recording sessions in 30 days! This allowed the animators to not miss a beat and continue on schedule.
CARTOON PUP – BLOOFY
The filmmakers have done an incredible job with character design, not only with the new emotions but with the surprise characters as well. One of those designs would have to be a 2D character named Bloofy (not quite sure of the spelling).
This sidekick companion is reminiscent of Blue’s Clues/Dora the Explorer, as he breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the camera. Without giving anything away, Bloofy will undoubtedly be a fan-favorite character.
Additional Insights
While you wait for Inside Out 2 to hit theaters on June 14, check out our coverage from Pixar Animation Studios for the first film or chat with other fans in the Pixar Post Forum thread about the film.
