Creators Of "Inside Out 2" Reveal How They Brought Anxiety Attack Scene To Life; Some Of Them Used Their Own Experience

“Inside Out 2” didn’t just crush it at the box office, it also nailed a moment that makes people sit up and go, “Wait, that’s exactly what it feels like.” After a $155 million-plus opening weekend, the movie’s new emotions are already getting all the attention, but fans keep circling one scene like it’s a personal diary entry.

Near the end, Riley gets hit with an anxiety attack during a hockey scrimmage, right when she’s being punished for reckless play. The chaos is shown through two angles, inside her brain and out in the real world, and that split-screen approach makes the whole thing feel painfully real. And here’s the twist, some of the creators reportedly used their own experience to build that “mental control console” meltdown.

That’s why this scene lands so hard, it’s not just anxiety on-screen, it’s anxiety translated.

"Inside Out 2" is a hit

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The premiere was a huge success!

During its opening weekend, the film brought in over $155 million domestically, marking the first time since "Barbie" that a movie has earned over $100 million in its debut weekend.

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The sequel tracks 13-year-old Riley and the arrival of her new emotions.

As Riley is on the brink of high school, initially, her familiar emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—manage everything well, but the arrival of new emotions—Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui—throws everything into chaos.

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That opening weekend money is wild, but the real hype starts when Riley’s new emotions, especially Anxiety, take over the console.

Adolescence is a period marked by heightened sensitivity to social dynamics and emotional experiences, often leading to anxiety and insecurity. Fostering open communication can help teens articulate their feelings, which is vital for emotional regulation.

Moreover, parents are encouraged to help their children express themselves without fear of judgment, which can significantly alleviate feelings of anxiety and isolation.

The depiction of anxiety attacks in films like "Inside Out 2" can resonate profoundly with audiences. Visuals can humanize mental health struggles, prompting viewers to seek help or offer support. Such representations can reduce stigma, making it easier for those suffering to reach out.

It's crucial for creators to balance realism with sensitivity to ensure that these portrayals inspire hope and encourage dialogue about mental health.

After just one weekend in theaters, fans are already delighted.

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However, there is one scene in particular that makes many fans feel truly understood.

Near the film's end, Riley suffers an anxiety attack, depicted through dual perspectives: one from inside her brain and the other from the external world. This scene has been so impactful that many viewers say it is the "most accurate depiction of anxiety" ever portrayed in film.

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In the scene, Riley is punished during a hockey scrimmage for reckless play, as Anxiety dominates her mental control console, causing chaos. Simultaneously, her primary emotions scramble through her worst memories, which then overwhelm her sense of self.

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Right as Riley is getting punished in the hockey scrimmage, the movie switches perspectives and suddenly you’re inside her head.

Depicting anxiety in media can play a pivotal role in normalizing these experiences for audiences.

Externally, Riley is seen struggling to breathe and holding her chest, while internally, Anxiety spins out of control.

Her thoughts are, "I'm not good enough," "I'm selfish," "I need to fit in," and "I need help sometimes."

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In a recent interview, Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, and other creative team members detailed the steps they took to bring that impactful scene to life.

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Maya, the voice behind Anxiety, shared that her personal experiences with anxiety attacks contributed to her portrayal.

"I broadened her and strengthened her as a character for this movie, so I felt really connected to it. Your breath moves to a different place, and you can’t breathe as deeply as you want to.

I saw it as the air not going down into her breath. It was like a tornado, and you can’t breathe when you’re stuck in the middle of a tornado," Maya said.

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Therapeutic Techniques for Teens

To effectively manage anxiety, psychologists recommend practical strategies for teenagers.

And it gets messy fast, just like when the boyfriend accused her of “insulting his family” over bringing vegetables on vacation.

Maya said that her character and Riley want the same thing.

"But it’s a lot about control: Anxiety really wants to take control over the console and believes that if she were able to have that kind of control, she’d be fine. And Riley is trying to control the outcome of whether or not she gets onto this team, control where her friends are going to go to school, control how she feels, and control how she plays," explained Maya.

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"I can't control everything, but what I can control is myself and how I'm behaving. Am I treating the people around me with respect or not?" added Maya.

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Amy, the voice of Joy, mentioned that this scene was particularly "painful" for her character as she attempted to soothe Anxiety in order to help Riley.

"That’s a hard thing when you’re a parent, and you don’t know what to do when you’re trying to help your child. If Riley is Joy’s kid, then Joy is kind of like, 'What’s happened to my kid?'.

Pixar is so smart to have Joy take her foot off the gas, and by doing so, and not pushing so hard, Riley just soothes herself, which is the hard lesson of growing up," explained Amy.

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And when fans say it’s the most accurate depiction of anxiety they’ve ever seen, it’s because the chaos matches what people recognize from their own lives.

Emotions are not just reactions; they're constructed based on personal experiences and social context.

Director Kelsey Mann and producer Mark Nielsen held around 25 meetings to meticulously plan the execution of this crucial scene, in conjunction with the nuanced performances of Maya and Amy.

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Co-cinematographers Jonathan Pytko and Adam Habib detailed how they enhanced the impact of the scene through their visual techniques.

"We started doing a lot of things like tightening up the shutter angle, so suddenly, everything’s a lot sharper, and the focus got a lot deeper as Riley put more and more pressure on herself. Then, when the anxiety attack hits, suddenly, we flip everything.

The focus goes extremely shallow, and the world drops away," Adam explained. Jonathan added, "That moment in particular was interesting because we had talked about it. What if we start vibrating the background as Riley gets deeper into this panic attack?

We overexposed the light a lot and really flooded this light coming around Riley as she was going through this moment. Then adding that [vibration] in there really sold what happened."

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The scene concludes with all the emotions coming together in an embrace as Riley regains control.

"It's so deep," Amy commented, reflecting on the scene's profound message. "It’s an adult lesson; you keep forgetting why you even started doing anything once you get caught up in all the other stuff."

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So when Anxiety dominates the controls and everything spirals, the scene doesn’t just entertain, it explains.

Building Emotional Intelligence

Teaching students about their emotions and how to manage them can significantly reduce anxiety and depression rates among teenagers. Schools are encouraged to implement programs that encourage emotional literacy and social skills.

By fostering a supportive environment, educators can help students learn to navigate their complex emotions, ultimately leading to healthier coping mechanisms during critical life transitions.

The emotional climax of "Inside Out 2," stressed by Riley's anxiety attack and its resolution, serves as a reminder of the complexity of human emotions. Through the collaborative efforts of the actors and the creative team, the film effectively illustrates the turbulent experience of anxiety and the power of emotional resilience.

In summary, "Inside Out 2" serves as an important vehicle for addressing the intricate emotions faced by teenagers. The film's portrayal of anxiety through personal experiences resonates deeply, providing viewers with a relatable narrative that encourages open discussions about mental health. This approach not only raises awareness but also offers practical strategies for emotional resilience.

As the story unfolds, it reinforces the necessity of fostering a culture that values emotional intelligence. By doing so, we equip future generations with the tools to better understand and manage their feelings, ultimately paving the way for a more empathetic society.

Riley’s anxiety attack doesn’t just scare you, it makes you feel understood.

Want another relationship blowup, read how she demanded a £500 festival, then refused comic con tickets.