Inside Out 2

‘The Art of Inside Out 2’ is a colorful and educational book about the latest Disney/Pixar movie

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Inside Out 2 is another emotional story, pun intended, as Riley enters puberty and confronts new emotions. Gone are the carefree days of childhood, only to be replaced by feelings that are new and somewhat troubling: Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment and Anxiety. These new emotions join Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger. The Art of Inside Out 2 is the latest in the “Art of” series of books delving into the stories, backgrounds, and artwork of the films. 

In the introduction by the film’s director Kelsey Mann, he writes about the ending of the first film. “After all, Riley’s twelve now, what could happen?” That’s exactly what Inside Out 2 is all about. Once she hits thirteen, everything changes. The book is a deep dive into this new film. “What is included in these pages is just a snapshot of the creativity and dedication that went into the making of the film.” 

Readers will see the evolution of the artwork with sketches, digital artwork, and more. There are colorful images of all the emotions and artwork showing how they came to be the characters we eventually see in the film.

Character artists describe how they created their designs. For instance, “Anxiety is related to Fear, and I designed her accordingly,” says character artist Deanna Marsigliese. They share the same body type, yet Anxiety gets twisted up with worry. 

As for little Envy, character art director Keiko Murayama admits they went through many versions to come up with just the right look for this little gal who is envious of just about everything, yet is still a likable character. 

Throughout the pages readers get a sense of just what the artists did to imagine and create the various characters. The sketches add a lot to the understanding of the emotions.

The creative team that worked on the film lend their insights into how they worked and how they came up with the designs that made it into the movie. There is plenty of information about the making of Inside Out 2.

To say this is colorful is an understatement. It’s a fun book just to flip through or to read the comments from the creators. And, after seeing the film, this is a great book to look at with your kids because it will bring back the feeling (no pun intended here) and memories of watching the movie. 

And speaking about feelings, after all this is what the whole movie is about, a separate companion book, Feeling Feelings, makes a great gift for kids, and especially teenager who are experiencing life just like Riley. 

This book is basically a journal with pages on which to write. In the morning the user is expected to circle the feeling corresponding to their current mood. Then they can explain why they feel that way. The next step is to write down three goals for the day. Then in the evening the user once again circles the image of the emotion best representing how he/she feels at that time and explain why they are feeling that way. And finally, there is a section for different additions like “Tomorrow I will….” “Today I learned…,” “Today I let go of…,””Today I am grateful for…” and more. 

This book is helpful for kids to sort out their feelings, and quite frankly, it’s also a good guide for adults. It provides a tool to help get in touch with yourself, and I am personally going to use it. It’s one way of helping sort out your life and set goals for yourself. There are also journaling pages and pictures throughout the book.

The Art of Inside Out 2 is another book dedicated to the making of a Disney film with information and plenty of art. It’s a good tool for animators and designers, as well as those interested in filmmaking. It is also just a fun book for kids and adults, and as mentioned earlier, it makes a good project for parents to look through with their kids.

Feeling Feelings is a guided emotions journal for everyone to use to get in touch with their inner selves. If you know someone going through a difficult time, this might just be exactly what they need to help them through the days.   

The Art of Disney/Pixar Inside Out 2

  • Chronicle Books
  • For Preschool and up
  • ISBN-10  :  1797225057
  • ISBN-13  :  978-1797225050

Feeling Feelings

  • Chronicle Books
  • ISBN-10  :  1797229206
  • ISBN-13  :  978-1797229201

And there are plenty of other items to go along with this movie. Check out the plush emotions.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and all aspects of entertainment for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

New plush lovable emotions from ‘Inside Out 2’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

In the first film, Inside Out (2015), audiences were introduced to young Riley and four of the emotions that guided her through her days: Joy, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. Joy and Sadness have become iconic Disney characters and even make an appearance in the new Pixar Fest parade at Disney California Adventure. In Inside Out 2 there are four new emotions that join the group as Riley enters puberty, with all the angst it entails: Embarrassment, Anxiety, Ennui, and Envy. It’s time to go shopping for all the new items featuring these new emotions.

The new plush emotions each portray their personalities and no matter which one you pick, they bring fun and enjoyment – to kids and adults. Each one is so cute they make a great combination for any bed or shelf with color and faces that depict what is going on inside them.  As we know, feelings are what make us human and emotions  are natural and part of life. 

Anxiety is an emotion that we all have at one time or another. Riley begins to have anxiety as she matures and joins the ranks of teenagers. This little character depicts the worry that frustrates us all. Just looking at this little gal is enough to make even the most stressed out person feel a little less emotional and during times of major stress could bring a little chuckle and smile, although the plush definitely shows the worry and nervousness that she represents. Yes, she is frantic, but she is also so darn cute.  Anxiety is about 10 inches tall.

 

 

Ennui. Well, what can we say about being blah? This guy definitely depicts apathy and malaise. Just looking at him brings out a feeling of melancholy. But even so, he is so cute you’ll just want to give him a hug to cheer him up. Kids will want to snap him out of his doldrums. At about 12 inches tall, he’s good for a kind word or a caring cuddle. He looks sad, so cheering him up might be a bit of a task, but well worth it. Come on, little guy. Let’s see a smile. Well, maybe tomorrow.

 

 

 

Envy is green, what else? She’s super adorable and her hair is soft and has a silky, velvety feel. It’s not hard to imagine her sitting on a little girl’s bed. She looks adoringly at everything around her. Even though she is green with envy, pun intended, she is the perfect companion and will be endeared by all. Just imagine a little girl asking her if she looks all right. And Envy will definitely reply, you’re gorgeous! Yep, that’s Envy all right. Little Envy is approximately 9 inches from feet to the tip of her head.

 

Teen age years are rife with embarrassment, and this plush says it all. He’s the largest of the plush assortment at approximately 16 inches high. With a red face and hoodie pulled up around it to hide, embarrassment is huggable and like the others will put a smile on faces as they feel the emotion he depicts. After all, haven’t we all wanted to hide ourselves and become invisible at one time or another? And there’s no hiding the blush on our cheeks when we do get self conscious. It’s a natural reaction. 

So, together or alone, these new plush make a fun addition to anyone’s collection. If you already have the first emotions, by all means, these new ones are cute companions and additions to your Disney plush collection.

Parents might think about getting them for their kids and whenever he or she is filled with Anxiety, it will be time to bring out the plush as a comfort tool. The same goes for Embarrassment and Ennui. And little Envy makes a great companion when your kid comes home and brags about someone else’s dress, new toy, or whatever. 

We all have these emotions at some point. They’re not always easy to deal with so the plush might be just what is needed to help you or someone out of a particular mood.

Puberty is a difficult time for both boys and girls, and in this new film Riley learns just how difficult it is to grow up. Yet even though these emotions make their first appearance around the time of puberty, they often remain for the rest of our lives. 

Kids will enjoy playing with them and letting their imaginations soar as they interact with these new plush emotions. And adults will definitely see themselves in the emotions and even remember times when they have gotten the best of them.  These plush are for ages 0+ and they are going to be enjoyed and loved by all ages. (available on Disney Store website beginning May 27, 2024)

MORE TO COME…
Besides these adorable plush dolls, there are books and other toys to accompany the new movie. After all, this is a Disney film and one thing Disney does better than other studios is their merchandising.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw has reviewed books, products, and all aspects of entertainment for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.