Inside Out 2 arrives in theaters this week and we are sharing our full review and some free printable emotions coloring pages!
Inside Out 2 Synopsis
Inside Out 2 is a highly anticipated sequel to the massive hit Inside Out. It picks up shortly after the first movie ends with our beloved Riley entering puberty and all those emotions that come flooding in as her body changes. Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment and Envy enter headquarters in a fury, altering Riley’s emotions immediately.
As the new emotions begin to take over our sweet Riley, we are able to see just how those emotions begin to affect both her personality and her belief system. Puberty as we know is a time for people to really develop a sense of self and beginning independence from their parents. Inside Out 2 showcases the start of this process so well.
As Riley prepares for high school and pursuing a position on the schools hockey team, she encounters some big changes and choices. She has to learn how to navigate friendships new and old while also learning about who she is, what is important to her and how to manage these new emotions. You’ll have to watch the movie to see just how all these emotions truly play out.
Our Review of Inside Out 2
I purposely stayed away from trailers and posts about Inside Out 2. I wanted to go in with just the original backstory to see how they could take a great story to new levels. I think that Disney and Pixar did a great job showcasing the new emotions and the changes they can elicit while also giving those emotions a tangible image for children. Emotions as a whole can be really difficult for children to navigate and for adults to explain and I enjoyed the way the new emotions were presented.
Initial words from my daughter about 30 minutes into the movie were “I think anxiety is the bad guy”. Whew did that hit for me. She wasn’t exactly wrong and her verbalizing what she could actually see was wonderful. I will say that as the story progresses viewers are able to see how emotions can take over and change a person even if initially they seemed to be helpful. It was great to watch Riley’s belief system come back into balance as all her emotions began to work together and compliment her personality.
Overall, Disney and Pixar did a great job with the sequel to a beloved story. The introduction of the new characters did not overshadow the ones that we have loved for 9 years and in fact complimented the story well. The visualization of new emotions as Riley goes through puberty was fantastic and I hope that parents will watch this with their children and take the time to listen, explain and honor the emotions that come with change and independence.
Free Inside Out Emotions Coloring Pages
I know when my kids were younger they would become obsessed with these new movies and I was always on the lookout for affordable ways to continue that movie magic at home. Disney released these exclusive Inside Out 2 Activity packs with emotions coloring sheets and so much more. In addition, I found that McDonald’s has these free Inside Out 2 emotions coloring pages that you can print here.
If you are looking for other printables for beloved Disney & Pixar movies, make sure to check out our posts on Elemental, Wish & Luca.
