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Inside Out 2: The Full Cast List And 4 New Emotions That Took Over Riley's Headquarters

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The landscape of Riley's mind changed forever in 2024, and the new cast of Inside Out 2 is the reason why. As of this current date, December 23, 2025, the highly anticipated Pixar sequel has been a massive success, cementing its place as a crucial chapter in the emotional journey of its main character, Riley Andersen. The film, which hit theaters on June 14, 2024, introduced a chaotic, yet relatable, new crew of "Teen Emotions" that completely upended the dynamic in Headquarters, forcing the original core five to confront the confusing reality of puberty and adolescence.

This article provides the definitive, complete list of the Inside Out 2 cast, detailing the returning voice legends, the significant recastings, and the talented actors who brought the complex new emotions—Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment—to life. The sequel’s success hinges not only on the familiar faces but also on the fresh voices that expertly captured the tumultuous inner world of a 13-year-old girl.

The Complete Inside Out 2 Voice Cast and Character Profiles

The core of Inside Out 2 lies in its ensemble of voice talent, featuring a mix of beloved returning stars, Hollywood veterans taking over iconic roles, and some of the most exciting new voices in comedy and film. This list details the primary cast members, their character, and a brief biography of the actor.

  • Amy Poehler as Joy: The leader of the original emotions, Joy is the embodiment of happiness and optimism. Poehler, known for her iconic role as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation and as a long-time cast member on Saturday Night Live, returned to anchor the film with her signature enthusiastic energy.
  • Phyllis Smith as Sadness: The emotional anchor of the group, Sadness is the blue, tear-shaped emotion. Smith is best known for her role as Phyllis Vance in the TV series The Office, bringing her distinct, soft-spoken delivery to the character.
  • Lewis Black as Anger: The fiery, explosive red emotion. Black, a renowned stand-up comedian and actor famous for his intense, rant-style humor, perfectly reprised his role as the perpetually frustrated emotion.
  • Tony Hale as Fear: The nervous, purple, and perpetually worried emotion. Hale took over the role from Bill Hader, bringing his Emmy-winning nervous energy—famous from his roles as Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and Gary Walsh in Veep—to the updated character.
  • Liza Lapira as Disgust: The green, sassy, and judgmental emotion. Lapira replaced Mindy Kaling, lending her voice to the character. Lapira is a prolific television actress, known for her roles in shows like The Equalizer, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and NCIS.
  • Kensington Tallman as Riley Andersen: The human host whose mind is the setting of the film. Tallman took over the role of a now-teenaged Riley, who is navigating high school, hockey tryouts, and the onset of puberty.
  • Maya Hawke as Anxiety: The new, orange, nervous, and highly organized leader of the teen emotions. Hawke, daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, is a rising star best known for her role as Robin Buckley in the Netflix series Stranger Things, as well as roles in films like Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Maestro.
  • Ayo Edebiri as Envy: The small, teal, and wide-eyed emotion who constantly wishes she was something else. Edebiri is a critically acclaimed actress, comedian, and writer, most famous for her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role as Sydney Adamu in the hit series The Bear.
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui: The apathetic, purple emotion who is perpetually bored and glued to her phone. Exarchopoulos is a French actress who gained international recognition for her lead role in the Palme d'Or-winning film Blue Is the Warmest Color.
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment: The large, pink, and shy emotion who spends most of his time hiding inside his hoodie. Hauser is an award-winning actor known for his dramatic roles in Richard Jewell and the series Black Bird, bringing a surprising gentleness to the character.

The Four New Emotions That Changed Riley's Mindscape

The central conflict of Inside Out 2 revolves around the sudden, dramatic arrival of four new "Teen Emotions" that signal Riley’s transition into adolescence. These new characters, all voiced by a stellar cast, are the physical manifestation of the mental chaos that accompanies puberty. The introduction of these emotions is a brilliant narrative device for exploring the complexities of the teenage experience, offering new topical authority for the film's themes of mental health and self-discovery.

The moment a demolition crew—a metaphor for the onset of puberty—arrives at Headquarters to tear down the old console and install a new, more complex one, the original emotions realize their world is changing. The new emotions—Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment—take over, believing they know what is best for a high school-bound Riley. This leads to the core plot point where Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are bottled up and banished to the far reaches of Riley’s mind, forcing them on a journey to reclaim their place. This exploration of the "self" and the "belief system" is a key element of the sequel's topical depth.

1. Anxiety (Maya Hawke): The New Leader

Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, is arguably the most dominant of the new emotions. She is hyper-focused on the future, determined to ensure Riley is prepared for every possible negative outcome, especially concerning her social standing at high school. Anxiety’s mission is to make Riley "good enough" to avoid social rejection, a feeling many teenagers can instantly recognize. Hawke’s performance gives the character a frantic, yet strangely endearing, energy that drives much of the film's conflict. She represents the overthinking and catastrophizing that often accompanies major life transitions.

2. Envy (Ayo Edebiri): The Wishful Observer

Envy, voiced by Ayo Edebiri, is depicted as a small, wide-eyed emotion that is constantly looking at what others have. She is not malicious but rather a perpetual admirer, wishing she could be more like the other emotions or like the popular kids Riley sees. Edebiri’s voice acting captures the subtle, often internal, nature of this emotion—the quiet yearning for something just out of reach. Her character is a key representation of the social comparison that intensifies during the teenage years, adding a layer of authenticity to Riley's emotional struggles.

3. Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos): The Apathy Driver

Adèle Exarchopoulos’s Ennui is the personification of teenage apathy and boredom. She speaks with a classic French accent, often using her phone to control the console, injecting a sense of detached indifference into Riley’s actions. Ennui’s presence explains the common teenage phenomenon of feeling "meh" about everything, acting as a buffer against genuine enthusiasm or intense feeling. This character is a clever way to address the emotional withdrawal and eye-rolling behavior that parents often observe in their adolescent children.

4. Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser): The Gentle Giant

Embarrassment, voiced by Paul Walter Hauser, is a large, pink character who is so overwhelmed by the feeling he represents that he constantly tries to hide. He is a gentle, non-verbal giant whose massive size symbolizes how overwhelming the feeling of embarrassment can be during adolescence. His role provides comic relief while also highlighting the acute self-consciousness that comes with a growing awareness of one's social image. Hauser's casting was a brilliant move, utilizing his ability to convey deep emotion and vulnerability with minimal dialogue.

The Impact of Recasting: Fear and Disgust

One of the most talked-about aspects of the Inside Out 2 cast was the recasting of two of the core emotions: Fear and Disgust. While Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black returned as Joy, Sadness, and Anger, the roles of Fear (originally voiced by Bill Hader) and Disgust (originally voiced by Mindy Kaling) were taken over by Tony Hale and Liza Lapira, respectively.

The decision was a major talking point, but both Hale and Lapira managed to seamlessly integrate into the established dynamic while bringing their own unique flair. Tony Hale, known for playing highly anxious and neurotic characters, brought a fresh, high-strung energy to Fear. He openly discussed how he related to the character, stating he has a "long relationship with fear," which allowed him to approach the role with both humor and compassion.

Similarly, Liza Lapira embraced the challenge of stepping into Disgust’s stylish, judgy shoes. Her performance maintained the character's signature sass and quick wit, ensuring that Disgust remained the perfect foil to Joy’s relentless optimism. The smooth transition of these two key roles was vital to the sequel’s success, proving that the emotional core of Headquarters remained intact, even as the new, more volatile emotions took center stage.

The collective performance of the Inside Out 2 cast, both the returning veterans and the brilliant newcomers, successfully captured the authentic, messy, and often hilarious experience of becoming a teenager. The film’s deep dive into complex mental health concepts, such as the paralyzing nature of Anxiety and the numbing effect of Ennui, has solidified its place not just as a successful sequel, but as a vital piece of animated cinema for a new generation.

Inside Out 2: The Full Cast List and 4 New Emotions That Took Over Riley's Headquarters
inside out cast 2
inside out cast 2

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