Top 25 Things You Missed in Inside Out 2

Riley’s rainbow shirt resurfaces early in the film, although she’s noticeably outgrown the colorful outfit. This reflects not only how Riley is growing physically, but emotionally as well, having to make room for new emotions. In addition to yellow, blue, red, purple, and green, orange is among the shirt’s colors, as if the filmmakers behind the original film were already foreshadowing that Anxiety would be the next emotion to leave a significant mark. Riley’s jersey also tells a story, her number being 28. It’s no coincidence that “Inside Out 2” is the 28th Pixar feature film, although the upcoming “Elio” was initially planned to come out first. After these two films swapped releases, Riley’s jersey number changed from 29 to 28.

As the suppressed emotions stage an escape from Riley’s memory vault, video game heartthrob Lance Slashblade starts a chain reaction that takes down each guard. One guard loses their hat in the process. Inside is a label reading, “My hat.” For those who don’t remember, this references a dispute between subconscious guards Frank and Dave in the first film. Frank attempted to distinguish his headwear from Dave’s by writing “My hat.” This doesn’t do much to help matters, as Dave had the same idea. Popping up again in this scene, Frank and Dave haven’t gotten much better at their jobs. The bumbling guards have also yet to realize that writing their names on their hats would be more efficient.

Along with Lance Slashblade, the emotions meet a purple dog named Bloofy in Riley’s vault. The star of Riley’s favorite preschool show has a habit of breaking the fourth wall, leaving long, awkward pauses for young viewers to answer questions. The 2D beagle takes a few pages from “Blue’s Clues” and “Dora the Explorer.” His pal Pouchy also calls to mind Dora’s backpack, although these characters don’t just take shots at Nickelodeon. Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” had a similar interactive element. The way the characters summon Pouchy here is reminiscent of how Mickey and the gang called upon Toodles, who always had a solution to the problem at hand. Also, he may be purple, Bloofy’s name and design are giving us déjà bluey.

Is Riley of French descent or does everyone’s sense of boredom sound like Adèle Exarchopoulos? In any case, there’s a bit of a language barrier to overcome when Headquarters is introduced to Ennui, who isn’t the warmest emotion. Joy struggles to pronounce Ennui’s name, saying “Onward” on her first attempt. Joy’s butchering of the French language alludes to another Pixar film, 2020’s “Onward.” It’s a nice nod to the fantasy adventure, although it’s kind of a missed opportunity that a giant Cheese Puff didn’t float down Riley’s Stream of Consciousness. Speaking of which…

It might not be a Cheese Puff, although another cheesy treat aids the emotions as they sail across the Stream of Consciousness. Pizza is on Riley’s mind, providing the emotions with a delectable vessel. Unfortunately, the emotions must soon trade one boat for another, climbing aboard a floating piece of broccoli. This isn’t the first time that broccoli and pizza have intersected. Upon moving to San Francisco in the first film, the emotions are annoyed to discover how the locals desecrate Italian cuisine with a particular topping. It may not be our first choice off the menu, but when up a creek without a pizza, broccoli is a suitable alternative.

Sadness manages to break back into Headquarters, but it isn’t long until Anxiety becomes aware of her presence. As Anxiety confronts Sadness in her room, a teapot with a familiar design can be spotted. You might need to dig deep into your memory bank, but eventually, you’ll notice a likeness to Buzz Lightyear’s apron when he donned the persona of Mrs. Nesbitt. Now if only it came with a teacup that looked like Mrs. Nesbitt’s hat, this ensemble would be complete.

Previewing upcoming films is a longstanding Pixar tradition. “Elio” was previously referenced in “Elemental” back when it was supposed to be Pixar’s next feature. Since the release schedule got switched around, “Inside Out 2” also made room for an “Elio” shoutout. When Sadness comes crashing back into Headquarters, she brings a bushel of memories with her. In one of the memory orbs is a boy who resembles Elio. We guess that means Riley personally knows Elio… or she just saw a trailer for his movie. Either way, the Pixar Theory is preserved.

Voiced by Ayo Edebiri, Envy possesses one of the film’s cleverest designs. She’s the shortest emotion, looking up to everyone else with large, longing eyes. In an especially ingenious little touch, Envy only has eight fingers. This isn’t uncommon for animated characters. Just look at Mickey Mouse. In the “Inside Out” universe, however, the other emotions all have ten fingers. Envy doesn’t call attention to the fact that she has one less finger on each hand. On the inside, though, we’re sure she’s even greener with envy.

The first “Inside Out” saw Joy and Sadness wander into Dream Productions, a movie studio within Riley’s mind. The locale doesn’t resurface in “Inside Out 2,” meaning we’ll have to wait even longer for a squeal to “I Can Fly.” The filmmakers didn’t completely forget about Dream Productions, however. Fear can be seen with a coffee cup featuring the Dream Productions label. Since Fear got saddled with dream duty in the last film, it makes sense that he would have such a cup. Let’s just hope he hasn’t had to sit through any Jangles the Clown dreams lately.

John Ratzenberger had a small yet crucial role in the original film as Fritz, a Mind Worker who helps install Riley’s upgraded console. Ratzenberger can be heard again in the sequel as the emotions call out for help. Alas, they’re separated by a “Sar-chasm.” Ratzenberger’s presence in a Pixar film shouldn’t come as a shock, seeing how he was deemed the studio’s good luck charm after voicing Hamm in “Toy Story.” Surprisingly, though, Ratzenberger’s last credited role in a Pixar feature was Fennwick the Cyclops in “Onward.” He can also allegedly be heard as “Guy on the Subway” in “Soul.” Excluding his roles in the TV series “Monsters at Work,” Ratzenberger was absent from at least four Pixar movies until “Inside Out 2.”

Any true Pixar fan knows to be on the lookout for the Luxo Ball in every new release. That doesn’t mean the iconic ball is simple to spot. Pixar has only gotten craftier with the ball’s placement, practically requiring a pause button. It’s easy to miss the Luxo Ball during Riley’s parade of future careers. The audience is so distracted by the pastry chef and Supreme Court Justice balloons that they’re inclined to overlook the striped star ball in the background. Not too far away from the ball, you also might’ve neglected a nod to Figment from the Disney attraction Journey into Imagination.

Even years later, the TripleDent Gum jingle is still stuck in Riley’s head… and ours. Riley never knows when the catchy commercial is going to make an encore. It inevitably reemerges as Anxiety searches through everything Riley knows about music. Her knowledge is primarily limited to bands aimed at middle schoolers and a certain jingle that will never leave. The reference flies by quickly, but we can remember every lyric upon hearing the first note. Who says that an oldie can’t be refreshing?

Riley and her fellow hockey players wear under armor with the label DMR. This isn’t product placement, as no such brand exists in reality. It is a homage to one of the film’s production members, however. Jason Deamer has been with Pixar as far back as “Monsters, Inc.” where he worked as a production artist. He served as the production designer on “Inside Out 2.” In animation, this not only entails creating the environments the characters inhabit, but also helping to flesh out the characters’ designs. Deamer left his signature in more ways than one.

Brought to life by veteran character actress June Squibb, Nostalgia makes two premature trips to Headquarters. In both cases, Nostalgia reminisces about the good old days, which were really just a few seconds ago. When viewing memories through the lens of Nostalgia, everything seems rosier than it likely was. It’s only appropriate that Nostalgia would be prescribed with literal rose-tinted glasses, emphasizing her elderly appearance and tendency to romanticize the past. Here’s hoping her role is expanded upon in “Inside Out 3,” which we imagine will come out after we grow nostalgic for “Inside Out 2.”

Frank and Dave are once again voiced by Dave Goelz and Frank Oz, respectively. Yes, they switched first names, adding another layer to the “My hat” joke. Goelz is best known for performing as Gonzo the Great while Oz’s Muppet resume ranges from Miss Piggy to Fozzie Bear. They aren’t the only puppeteers who left an impression on the film. Caroll Spinney was the man behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, seamlessly transitioning between a joyful character and an angry one. “Inside Out 2” director Kelsey Mann had the honor of meeting Spinney before his passing in 2019. While Mann couldn’t give Spinney a voiceover cameo, he paid tribute to the late legend through an eatery called Spinney’s Pizza.

Some might say that “Inside Out 2” is about living and coping with Anxiety. While that is a key theme, the film is more about addressing bad memories. To reach Headquarters, the emotions must bring a hurricane of bad memories along for the ride. There are too many to count, but one memory highlights Riley at her most regretful. It calls back to the first film when Riley swiped her mom’s credit card to purchase a ticket out of San Francisco. Throughout “Inside Out 2,” Joy tries to instill the belief that Riley is a good person. While Riley is generally good, we all have lapses in judgment. Rather than ignore our missteps, it’s healthier to learn and grow from them.

After Anxiety stages a mutiny, the color orange begins to dominate the movie, inside and out. In addition to areas throughout Riley’s mind, orange takes over her physical surroundings at hockey camp, from the locker room to the chairs surrounding the ice rink. Even the hockey uniforms are draped in orange. No matter where Riley turns, Anxiety is staring her in the face. Despite being prominently featured, it’s a subtle touch that makes the audience more stressed without even realizing it.

Riley’s family moved from Minnesota to San Francisco due to her father’s job. We don’t learn much about Riley’s dad’s livelihood aside from that he works for a startup called Brang. When the family arrives at their new home, Mr. Andersen is seen wearing a Brang t-shirt. The shirt makes a comeback in the sequel, but it’s now worn by Riley as she goes to bed. This might seem like a throwaway reference, but it actually demonstrates Riley’s emotional growth. Riley initially hated San Francisco and thus hated her dad’s job for making them move there. The fact that Riley now sleeps in a Brang shirt shows that she’s come to embrace their new life. But seriously, what does Brang do exactly?

Making their way through Imagination Land, the emotions encounter Mount Crushmore, which trades four U.S. presidents for Riley’s four crushes. Disgust notes that one of them is Lance Slashblade, and we get it. Who didn’t fantasize about an RPG character growing up? We’re not sure who the two guys in the middle are supposed to be, but there’s no mistaking the mouth-breathing teen on the far left for Jordan, who Riley met at the end of the first film. Jordan plays a larger role in the short “Riley’s First Date?.” It’s unclear if Riley and Jordan’s relationship went anywhere beyond that. Whatever the future holds, Jordan will always be Riley’s first crush… who wasn’t an oddly sexy video game character.

During Riley’s teen years, Friendship Island naturally towers over Family Island. You can still see the latter, although you might need binoculars. Sadness is handed a pair that demands a closer look. With a mix of blue, red, and orange, this prop triggers a memory of a “Toy Story” character. It’s Lenny, who was voiced by the late Joe Ranft. Andy’s toy binoculars went on to have non-speaking roles in the next two “Toy Story” films. “Inside Out 2” marks the first time we’ve seen Lenny in over a decade, even if he’s just inside Riley’s mind here. Still, this may mean Riley recognizes Lenny from somewhere. Hmmm… when Andy started giving away his toys, do you think Riley’s parents bought Lenny for their daughter?

With Anxiety taking control, every Mind Worker in Fort Pillow Town is ordered to envision worst-case scenarios. Hunched over a drawing sheet, it’s safe to say that the Pixar staffers are cheekily referencing themselves here. One specific animator is even given a direct shoutout of sorts. At Joy’s encouragement, the first one to defy Anxiety and draw something more positive is Artist 87. Distinguished by scruffy facial hair and a baseball cap, Artist 87 looks like a caricature of Ralph Eggleston. Winning an Oscar for the short “For the Birds,” Eggleston was also the production designer on numerous Pixar films, including “Inside Out.” Passing away from cancer in 2022, Eggleston didn’t live to see the sequel, but his presence is still felt in Artist 87.

The A113 Easter egg isn’t exclusive to Pixar, but the animation studio has perhaps made the most references to the CalArts classroom. “Inside Out 2” continues the A113 tradition with a twist. When the five emotions are bottled up, they’re locked away in the vault. Above the vault is a label reading, “ACXIII,” the Roman numerals for A113. As clever as this is, “Inside Out 2” is only the second Pixar film to present A113 in Roman numeral form. As the Witch pushes Merida out of her house in “Brave,” the classroom number is seen etched over the door. This made sense given “Brave’s” Medieval Scotland setting. As for Riley, we guess she’s been learning about Roman numerals in school.

Pixar shares an interesting connection to George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Perhaps even more well-known than the book is the Apple Macintosh Super Bowl commercial that it inspired. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would of course go on to become a principal player in Pixar’s success. “Inside Out 2” brings things full circle as Anxiety is presented on a large TV screen, giving commands to the subservient workers below. Joy brings the power back to the people, and while a sledgehammer doesn’t shatter the screen, Anxiety is silenced. This reference comes just in time for the commercial’s 40th anniversary. While we’re on the subject of timeless imagery, did you notice the Distracted Boyfriend Meme on one of the smaller screens?

Riley is embarrassed to tell her new friends that her favorite band is Get Up and Glow. Earlier in the film, a Get Up and Glow poster could be seen hanging over Riley’s bed. This isn’t the only music group that adorns Riley’s room. She also has a poster for the boy band 4*Town from “Turning Red.” Where that film took place in 2002, the “Inside Out” movies occur in a more modern setting. That means Robaire, Jesse, Aaron T. Aaron Z., and Tae Young are no longer boys, but their music has endured throughout the years. We can officially count Riley as a 4*Townie, even if she won’t admit it to Val.

When this sequel was announced, we feared that Pixar might put a Band-Aid on arguably the saddest moment from the first film. “Inside Out 2” thankfully doesn’t retcon Bing Bong’s tear-jerking sacrifice. Since Joy remembers Bing Bong and Joy is a part of Riley, though, the imaginary friend can never be entirely forgotten. While there’s seemingly no coming back from the Memory Dump, Joy tries to preserve a piece of Bing Bong. She does so with an origami figure in his likeness that rests by her bed. This isn’t the only sneaky trinket in the emotions’ room. Sitting on a table is a familiar truck with a rocket on top. Riley hasn’t gone to the moon yet, but Pizza Planet is a start.

Are there any other deep, dark secrets we missed? Let us know in the comments.