'Inside Out 2' cast and characters: See who voices each emotion in the Pixar sequel (original) (raw)

Pixar Animation Studios' Inside Out 2 (in theaters June 14) features a star-studded voice cast that is sure to have audiences feeling all the emotions.

Old favorites like Amy Poehler's Joy and Phyllis Smith's Sadness are back, but since the headquarters inside Riley Anderson's mind is expanding in the sequel, there will be plenty of new emotions and voices to help her navigate adolescence and high school, including Maya Hawke as Anxiety and Ayo Edebiri as Envy. There are also several recasts in the form of Tony Hale as Fear (previously voiced by Bill Hader) and Liza Lapira as Disgust (previously voiced by Mindy Kaling).

"The Inside Out world is so cool because you can take these abstract elements that we all know about the brain, and you can physicalize them," director Kelsey Mann told EW about introducing the new characters.

Here's a roundup of who's voicing each character in Inside Out 2.

Amy Poehler as Joy

Amy Poehler; Joy in 'Inside Out 2'. Momodu Mansaray/WireImage; Pixar

Hey, look! Amy Poehler's reprising her pivotal role as Joy — the glue and self-appointed emotional boss of headquarters — in Inside Out 2. Despite her tendency to be a control freak, one can't help but be drawn to Joy's sunny disposition.

In Inside Out, Joy and Sadness were at odds over who should control Riley’s emotions when she and her family moved to San Francisco. This time around, Joy finds herself at odds with Anxiety, who goes rogue and throws Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger out of headquarters, which is being demolished. It's old-school emotions vs. new-school emotions, in a way.

No one represents cheery goodness better than Poehler, which is why she's perfectly cast as Joy. A Saturday Night Live cast member before taking on memorable roles in Arrested Development, Baby Mama, and Mean Girls. She may be most well known for starring as the happy-go-lucky Leslie Knope on the beloved NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.

In 2015, Poehler put on her Pixar pin when she was cast as Joy in Inside Out. But it wasn't her first rodeo in terms of voiceover work. Early in her career, Poehler co-created and starred in her own Nickelodeon animated series, The Mighty B. Since then, she's gone on to voice act in several animated features, including Horton Hears a Who, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Free Birds.

Maya Hawke as Anxiety

Anxiety in 'Inside Out 2'; Maya Hawke.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Roy Rochlin/Getty

Maya Hawke arrives in Inside Out 2 as Anxiety, the first of Riley’s four new emotions. Holding baggage as she introduces herself to her new coworkers, this orange-colored Muppet-like character with frazzled hair challenges the Joy-led status quo. A self-proclaimed "sophisticated emotion," Anxiety literally takes over Riley's mind, just as she's starting... high school.

Before going Inside Out, Hawke made her acting debut via the Upside Down on Stranger Things as nerdy lesbian teen Robin Buckley. Following in the footsteps of her famous parents Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, Hawke has starred in features such as Mainstream, the Netflix teen romp Do Revenge, and even led her dad’s most recent directorial venture, Wildcat. She also recently appeared in supporting roles in Wes Anderson's Asteroid City and Bradley Cooper's Oscar-nominated Maestro.

Lewis Black as Anger

Anger in 'Inside Out 2'; Lewis Black.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Cantankerous Lewis Black is back in the role he was born to play: Anger. After being tossed out of headquarters along with Joy, Fear, Disgust, and Sadness, Anger is particularly fired up in Inside Out 2 as he and his co-workers must return to base to stop the Anxiety uprising. Luckily for his fellow emotions, Anger's head turns into a giant flame whenever his short fuse is lit, which comes in handy when trying to do things like cut through glass.

Known for his angry rants about, well, everything, the stand-up comedian hosted the Comedy Central series Lewis Black's Root of All Evil and has been a regular contributor to The Daily Show since the show started in 1996_._ When he's not sounding off on something, he occasionally finds time to act, which includes plenty of voicework for shows like SpongeBob Squarepants and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.

Ayo Edebiri as Envy

Envy in 'Inside Out 2'; Ayo Edebiri.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Aliah Anderson/Getty

Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri voices Envy, another new emotion in Riley's mind, in Inside Out 2. Envy is small in stature but packed with energy as she makes impulsive decisions on Riley's newly expanded emotion console, and her eyes sparkle like an anime character when she sees someone she admires.

While she's most known as the commanding Chicago-based Chef Sydney in The Bear and the awkward Josie in the teen comedy Bottoms, Edebiri kicked off her expanding career through animation as a voice actress and writer. She took over the reins as Missy Foreman-Greenwald from Jenny Slate on Big Mouth at the end of season 4. She's also lent her voice to many other animated projects on television and in film: Clone High, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Joining the Pixar family is a natural fit for the talented performer.

Beyond Inside Out 2, Edibiri is juggling a lot of upcoming projects. She's in season 3 of The Bear, which drops on June 27. You can also catch Edebiri next in James L. Brooks' new feature, Ella McCay, and the A24 horror film Opus. She's also set to star in Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt, opposite Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.

Phyllis Smith as Sadness

Sadness in 'Inside Out 2'; Phyllis Smith.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Kevin Winter/Getty

Don't be blue — Sadness is indeed in Inside Out 2. Phyllis Smith's soft-spoken, sullen portrayal of the gloomy emotion in the first installment moved us to tears as she taught Joy the importance of Sadness' role at headquarters. This led to one of the most profound endings in Pixar movie history, with Sadness taking Joy's core memories and helping Riley heal as she cries to her parents about how much she misses her home in Minnesota.

Long before we adored Sadness, we adored Smith as Phyllis Vance, Dunder Mifflin's friendly, audio-book-loving saleswoman on The Office. But the actress, who used to work in casting, doesn't just do comedy — she showed off her dramatic side as Betty "BBA" Broderick-Allen in the Netflix mystery series The OA.

Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui

Ennui in 'Inside Out 2'; Adèle Exarchopoulos.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Stephane Cardinale/Getty

Nothing is boring about actress Adèle Exarchopoulos, who brings her French flair to Ennui — what one would call "boredom" in French. Ennui is also one of Riley's four new emotions. Unlike her peers, Ennui prefers to sit farthest away from the control console and on the couch with her phone like an uninterested teenager who shops at Hot Topic.

Exarchopoulos is well known for her work in French cinema. Following her debut in Blue Is the Warmest Color, Exarchopoulos made waves as one of French cinema's freshest faces, appearing in Oscar winner Justine Triet's Sibyl and, recently, Passages alongside Franz Rogowski and Ben Whishaw. Though she shines in dramas, Ennui marks the second time Exarchopoulos has lent her voice to a Pixar flick — she voiced Ember in the French dubbing of Elemental. For someone who plays a listless character, Exarchopoulos takes on a lot of work in Inside Out 2, voicing Ennui in English and in the French dub.

Exarchopoulos will next lead the French sci-fi film Planète B.

Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment

Embarrassment in 'Inside Out 2'; Paul Walter Hauser.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser is taking on another of Riley's four new emotions in Inside Out 2: Embarrassment. Since the shy pink-colored, oversized hoodie-wearing character isn't very big on eye contact or talking, it's safe to say Hauser won’t have a whole lot of dialogue — but he'll be making plenty of whimpers and other cute-yet-awkward noises.

Since his breakout role as Tonya Harding's bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt in 2017’s I, Tonya, Hauser has worked consistently in Hollywood, appearing in films including Richard Jewell and BlacKkKlansman. Earlier this year, he lent his voice to the personification of the night himself, Dark, in the Dreamworks Animation/Netflix flick Orion and the Dark. While known for his riveting performance as serial killer Larry Hall in Black Bird, Hauser has also appeared in numerous comedic television shows, including Cobra Kai, The Afterparty, and Bupkis. In addition to Inside Out 2, look for Hauser to appear next in the forthcoming Apple TV+ thriller flick The Instigator and The Naked Gun remake opposite Liam Neeson.

Tony Hale as Fear

Fear in 'Inside Out 2'; Tony Hale.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Anna Webber/Variety via Getty

Tony Hale is the new voice of the ever-so-frightened Fear in Inside Out 2 — taking the mantle from Bill Hader, who voiced the character in the first film. The purple-colored, sweater-vested personification of the emotion returns in the sequel, ready to freak out during the new adventures he and his co-emotions embark on.

Hale is known for his extensive career in comedy television, playing Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and Gary Walsh in Veep. He's also appeared in feature films, starring in the recent streaming comedies Quiz Lady and Unfrosted. But Hale is no stranger to animation — he most notably voiced the lovable, existentially confused spork toy Forky in Pixar's Toy Story 4. You can watch Hale next in Anna Kendrick's upcoming directorial Netflix thriller, Woman of the Hour.

Liza Lapira as Disgust

Disgust in 'Inside Out 2'; Liza Lapira.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; JP Yim/Getty

Liza Lapira is Disgust, vocalizing all the yucks in Riley's mind. In her first prominent role in an animated film, Lapira voices the green-colored, broccoli-hating emotion. She replaces Mindy Kaling, who voiced the character in the first Inside Out.

Lapira's extensive background in television spans across various genres, from crime dramas like NCIS, Unbelievable, and Dexter to sitcoms like Don't Trust the B-- in Apartment 23. Her versatility extends to feature films, with supporting roles in Cloverfield and Crazy, Stupid, Love. You can also catch Lapira as Melody "Mel" Bayani in The Equalizer, starring opposite Queen Latifah.

Kensington Tallman as Riley

Riley in 'Inside Out 2'; Kensington Tallman.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kensington Tallman voices Riley Anderson, the girl who harbors our favorite emotions, in Inside Out 2.

The hockey-playing San Francisco resident has now entered adolescence, experiencing acne for the first time, getting braces, and overdramatizing her feelings. Most importantly, Riley has entered high school and is stuck with a problem that many teenagers face — sacrificing old friends for new ones. Tallman takes over the role from Kaitlyn Dias, who played Riley in the first Inside Out.

At 15, Tallman has worked across Hollywood in many roles in family television. She's starred in several Nickelodeon shows, including Drama Club and That Girl Lay Lay. Tallman also led Max's live-action family series Home Sweet Rome. With Inside Out 2, Tallman takes her TV skills to the next level, encapsulating the tribulations of teenage girlhood through her voice acting.

Diane Lane as Mom

Mrs. Andersen in 'Inside Out 2'; Diane Lane.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Leon Bennett/Variety via Getty

Diane Lane reprises her role as Mrs. Andersen, Riley's caring and supportive mom, in Inside Out 2. Since Riley is entering adolescence in the new installment, Mrs. Andersen might have difficulty connecting with her and all the newfound complex emotions she displays, which will be relatable for moms with teen daughters.

Lane's been working in Hollywood since she was 13 and is one of the most talented actresses of her generation. Known for her roles in romantic dramas like Under the Tuscan Sun and Nights in Rodanthe, she's also recognized by comic book fans as Superman/Clark Kent's mother, Martha Kent, from the DCEU movies. Recently, Lane has been on a TV miniseries kick, standing out in limited series projects such as Feud: Capote vs. the Swans and Netflix's A Man in Full.

You can soon see Lane lead the upcoming thriller Anniversary, alongside Kyle Chandler, Zoey Deutch, Mckenna Grace, and Phoebe Dynevor.

Kyle MacLachlan as Dad

Mr. Andersen in 'Inside Out 2'; Kyle MacLachlan.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Kyle MacLachlan returns to Inside Out 2 as Mr. Andersen, Riley's mustached hockey-loving dad. Mr. Andersen might not have the most attentive headquarters compared to his daughter and wife, often dissociating in between family moments to think about hockey and handling situations with a nonchalant attitude, but he tries his hardest to be a good father and husband.

MacLachlan is known for his work in genre television and film. He often collaborates with David Lynch on various projects, including Twin Peaks as Agent Dale Cooper and the Dune (1984) adaptation as Paul Atreides, both of which have gained cult followings. He also played Charlotte's first husband, Trey MacDougal, on Sex and the City.

MacLachlan currently stars in Amazon Prime Video's post-apocalyptic Fallout series opposite Ella Purnell. He will also star in Zoë Kravitz’s upcoming directorial debut, Blink Twice, which releases on Aug. 23.

June Squibb as Nostalgia

Nostalgia in 'Inside Out 2'; June Squibb.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Miikka Skaffari/Getty

June Squibb will make you fondly relive your old memories as Nostalgia in Inside Out 2. Nostalgia is simply an old lady dressed as a typical grandma who stays in the closet and waits to come out to reminisce about the past — even if the events are as recent as 30 seconds ago.

The 94-year-old Oscar-nominated actress might portray a cutesy emotion, but Squibb is one of the funniest and hardest-working actresses out there. Squibb's unabashed, unpredictable frankness in Nebraska scored her an Oscar nomination in 2013. She's starred in several other animated films and TV shows, including Ralph Breaks the Internet and Soul. And she memorably played Hubie's mom in the Adam Sandler Netflix comedy Hubie Halloween.

Next, you can watch Squibb tap into her action side in the award-winning Thelma, arriving in theaters on June 21. Squibb also leads Scarlett Johansson's upcoming directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.

Paula Poundstone as Forgetter Paula

Forgetter Paula in 'Inside Out 2'; Paula Poundstone.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty

Comedian Paula Poundstone reprises her role in Inside Out 2 as Forgetter Paula, the forgetting crew's supervisor in long-term memory whose job involves flushing away all of Riley's unimportant faded memories into the dump, where memories go to disappear forever (R.I.P. Bing-Bong).

Known for her Zoot suits and dry wit, Poundstone made a name for herself during the stand-up comedy scene in the late '80s and '90s, headlining HBO comedy specials and appearing on late-night talk shows across numerous decades, including The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, The Late Show With David Letterman, and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

Bobby Moynihan as Forgetter Bobby

Forgetter Bobby in 'Inside Out 2'; Bobby Moynihan.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty

Former SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan also returns to Inside Out as Forgetter Bobby, who works alongside Forgetter Paula in long-term memory. Though the two played a brief role in the first feature, we can't forget the Forgetters who frequently like to put the TripleDent Gum commercial jingle in Riley's head — and annoy all the other emotions as a result — just for fun.

Moynihan has been making people of all ages laugh for decades. Adults probably know him best from his sketch work on SNL (2008-2017), while kids recognize him as Panda from Cartoon Network'sEmmy-nominated series We Bare Bears. Moynihan can also be seen in John Krasinski's family comedy If, and heard as Jedi Bob in the forthcoming Star Wars special Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

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