Character Relationship Map: Inside Out 2

Characters

• Joy (played by Amy Poehler) — protagonist

  Personified emotion of joy, acts as Riley's emotional leader and drives positive experiences.

• Anxiety (played by Maya Hawke) — protagonist

  New teenage emotion focused on anticipating threats and planning.

• Riley (played by Kensington Tallman) — supporting

  Human protagonist, a young girl navigating childhood transitions and emotional growth.

• Sadness (played by Phyllis Smith) — supporting

  Personified emotion of sadness, facilitates emotional processing and empathy.

• Valentina (played by Lilimar) — supporting

  Popular high school student who influences Riley's social circle.

• Envy (played by Ayo Edebiri) — supporting

  New emotion representing Riley's desire for what others have.

• Ennui (played by Adèle Exarchopoulos) — supporting

  Emotion of boredom and apathy, often lounging at the console.

• Bree (played by Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) — supporting

  One of Riley's new friends at her high school hockey camp.

• Grace (played by Grace Lu) — supporting

  Another of Riley's new friends who shares her interests.

• Coach Roberts (played by Yvette Nicole Brown) — supporting

  Hockey coach who pushes Riley to perform at her best.

• Embarrassment (played by Paul Walter Hauser) — supporting

  New teenage emotion that causes Riley to blush and hide.

Key Relationships

• Anxiety → Anxiety (Meta Self-Saboteur)
• Bree → Grace (Social Teammate)
• Joy → Riley (Narrative Protector)
• Anxiety → Riley (Power Controller)
• Anxiety → Coach Roberts (Conflict Infiltrator)
• Joy → Coach Roberts (Conflict Indirect Antagonist)
• Coach Roberts → Riley (Professional Coach)
• Sadness → Embarrassment (Alliance Helper)
• Anxiety → Ennui (Alliance Co-conspirator)
• Anxiety → Embarrassment (Alliance Co-conspirator)
• Anxiety → Envy (Alliance Co-conspirator)
• Riley → Valentina (Social New Friend)
• Riley → Grace (Social Best Friend)
• Riley → Bree (Social Best Friend)
• Joy → Anxiety (Conflict Arch Enemy)

Story Analysis

The story follows Riley's emotional growth as new teenage feelings challenge Joy's control, ultimately leading to a balanced sense of self.

Plot Progression

1. Puberty's Arrival
2. The Usurpation
3. The Bad Memory Mountain
4. The Panic Attack