Summary
One of the newly revealed deleted scenes fromInside Out 2confirms Pixar was right to cut out one of its anticipated emotional characters. During the development process ofInside Out 2,several new emotions were being experimentedwith although many did not make the final cut for the movie.Emotions such as Shame, Jealousy, Guilt, Suspicion, and Pride were explored as potential additionsto Riley’s inner psyche before Pixar and director Kelsey Mann landed on Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment and Nostalgia.Anxiety, portrayed by Maya Hawke, took the driver’s seat as one of Riley’s most intense and controlling emotions.
Inside Out 2became the highest-grossing movieof 2024 with a worldwide box office total of $1.628 billion, a number that likely will not be topped in the latter half of the year.Inside Outalso became thehighest-grossing animated film of all time, dethroning 2019’sFrozen II, which earned a worldwide total of $1.453 billion. At one point duringInside Out 2’sdevelopment, there were as many as 12 new emotions that were being considered for the final cut, although Mann and Pixar ultimately decided that it would be too much for one movie.These prototypes will likely be revisited for the eventual release ofInside Out 3.
Shame & Anxiety Would’ve Been Too Similar In Inside Out 2
Shame would have been a counterpart to Anxiety and Embarrassment
Because Shame would ultimately only act as an amplifier of either Anxiety or Embarrassment, it was wise of Mann and Pixar to leave Shame on the drawing board.
While Anxiety was the major antagonist inInside Out 2, another emotion, Shame, that would have played a crucial counterpart was cut late in the development stages of the blockbuster film. While Shame would certainly have had its own personality to go along with the other new additions inInside Out 2,it may have been too thematically similar to the newly added Anxiety to have it warrant its own full-bodied character. It is interesting to consider that while Anxiety is fueled by fear of the unknown, Shame is present due to regret of the past, which would have been an interesting dynamic in the world ofInside Out.
Since Shame was reportedly a character who made it quite deep inInside Out 2’sdevelopment, she was initially envisioned to be one of the key new emotions and likely would have had a role just as big if not bigger than Anxiety’s. It would have made sense during certain parts of Inside Out 2 if both Shame and Anxiety had been working together to establish Riley’s more mature emotional palate, althoughShame also would have easily overlapped with Embarrassment. Because Shame would ultimately only act as an amplifier of either Anxiety or Embarrassment, it was wise of Mann and Pixar to leave Shame on the drawing board.
All 12 Known Emotion Characters Cut From Inside Out 2
Pixar came up with a lot more than just 5 new emotion characters for Inside Out 2, but the rest were all cut. Would they have changed the story?
Anxiety’s Story In Inside Out 2 Is Better Without Shame
Anxiety’s unassuming and insidious power is more impactful without Shame
Shame, in this context, is more of a byproduct or subsidiary emotion when compared to the insidious far-stretching reach of Anxiety, even though at times Shame can also be all-encompassing and emotionally consuming.
Anxiety truly becomes her own whirlwind force to be reckoned with in Inside Out 2 and is a fierce emotion that is typically first encountered during adolescence, which rings true for millions of people.Anxiety proved to be a strong enough character to act as the main operator for Riley’s rapid growthas she advanced past her puberty years, something which Shame wouldn’t necessarily have contributed much to. Shame, in this context, is more of a byproduct or subsidiary emotion when compared to the insidious far-stretching reach of Anxiety, even though at times Shame can also be all-encompassing and emotionally consuming.
While Pixar and Mann likely would have found an intriguing method to take some of the spotlight away from Anxiety to include Shame, their decision to focus more intently on the unassuming power of Anxiety is more effective and profound inInside Out 2. Even though Shame had a lengthy development process,Mann explained that Shame was not enjoyable to watchand was too ingrained in Riley’s sense of self to stand as its own individual emotion. Even though Anxiety ended up causing more harm than good for Riley, all of the emotions, old and new, had good intentions, whereasShame likely would not have had a clear motive and could have made the film too heavy.
Inside Out 2: Why I Hated Embarrassment At First (And Then He Became My Favorite Emotion)
The emotion Embarrassment is a new addition to Riley’s mind in Inside Out 2 and the character went from being my most hated to one of my favorites.
Inside Out 2’s Deleted Shame Scene Saves The Emotion For The Future
Shame could be realized in the eventual Inside Out 3
Several other scrappedInside Out 2emotions could also prove to better fit inInside Out 3, such as Courage and Love, as Riley enters her high school years.
As Riley’s emotions evolve throughout her late teens in the eventualInside Out 3, Shame could still be introduced in the upcoming sequel in a way that makes more sense than to group it with Anxiety and Embarrassment. Several other scrappedInside Out 2emotions could also prove to better fit inInside Out 3, such as Courage and Love, as Riley enters her high school years, preparing for college and her life as an adult. WhileInside Out 3is still years away, Pixar has done a lot of research and development forInside Out 2that could come in handy for the future sequel. Still, Shame faces the obstacles of being an unenjoyable and heavy character.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
