Inside Out 2: New Emotions, Same Old Pixar Magic...Kinda?

Okay, so I just got out of Inside Out 2 and I'm still processing. As a director-focused viewer, I always find sequels tricky because you're inheriting a pre-established world and vision. Obviously, Pete Docter wasn't back, which is a bummer, but whoever directed it (still haven't looked it up, tbh) did a solid job visually. The animation is stunning, especially with the new emotions like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment. Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, was definitely the standout for me. She was SO relatable in that chaotic, overthinking way. Plus, I thought the way they visualized her anxiety attacks was pretty clever and insightful, not just a cheap gag. My main concern going in was whether they could recapture the emotional depth of the first film. While it didn't quite reach those heights for me, it wasn't a complete miss. There were a few moments that genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. That subplot about Riley losing parts of her "old self" felt very authentic to the teenage experience. I also liked the character arc with Joy kinda learning to let go. It's a good message, even if it felt a little repetitive from the first movie, conceptually. However, (and this is where the director's vision comes in STRONG), a couple of the new emotions, Envy and Embarrassment, felt a little underdeveloped. Like, they were there, but didn't really contribute much to the main plot beyond being...envy and embarrassment personified. Maybe they'll get more to do in a possible Inside Out 3? I am a teensy bit curious to know who the director was (will google it now, I promise!), because it feels like they played it a tiny bit safe. It's a solid Pixar sequel, for sure, but I wouldn't put it up there with the greats like Toy Story 2 or Finding Dory in terms of surpassing the original. All in all, it's a fun, visually impressive movie that deals with some pretty heavy themes in a way that kids (and adults) can understand. Definitely worth seeing in theaters, especially if you loved the first Inside Out. Just don't expect a complete reinvention of the wheel, y'know? Oh, and the director was Kelsey Mann - okay, I'll have to scope out her earlier work to see if there's a consistent throughline in her directing style, very interesting.