The animated film Inside Out 2 is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and digital video-on-demand. The film features the voices of Kensington Tallman, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, and Grace Lu, who all relate to the teenage issues their characters face.
Kensington, 16, voices Riley, a teenager navigating puberty and new emotions like Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). Inside Riley’s mind, these new emotions clash with the familiar feelings of Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Anger (voiced by Lewis Black), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), and Fear (voiced by Tony Hale).
Kensington shared her thoughts in a recent Zoom interview with UPI. She expressed her love for the moment when Riley’s new sense of self emerges. “I may not be perfect, but I know I try my best and I give it my all,” she said.
Before the new emotions arrive, Riley’s identity is closely tied to her friendships with Bree (voiced by Sumayyah) and Grace (voiced by Lu). Kensington emphasized the importance of friendship during teenage years, stating, “I think that’s really what keeps you strong.”
The trio’s friendship begins when Grace accidentally spills her visual aids during a class presentation. Grace, 19, appreciated how they bonded through mutual support, especially since her character was giving a report on climate change. “There are so many issues that young people feel strongly about, like mental health activism,” she noted. “A lot of my friendships are built upon this strong foundation of fighting together for change.”
Sumayyah, 17, also connects with the theme of family. She said, “I have two older brothers and a younger sister. I wouldn’t be who I am without my family, so I pride myself in trying to be a good sister, friend, and daughter.”
In the film, Anxiety plays a significant role, pushing Riley to ignore her friends and change her personality to fit in with a group of hockey players. Kensington related to Riley’s fears about the future, such as being cut from the team or losing friends. “Sometimes I think too far into the future and go down this rabbit hole of what-ifs,” she explained. “Sometimes, we don’t know the outcome. That’s OK.”
Sumayyah shared her own experiences with anxiety, recalling that she didn’t even learn the term until she started socializing. “It wasn’t until I was around other people that I realized not everyone’s an overthinker,” she said. “Anxiety is not a villain; it exists because many kids feel isolated and alone.”
Grace added that she comes from a family where mental health discussions were rare, especially in the Asian community. She believes the film helps bridge that gap. “It’s beautiful how it gives adults and children the language to talk about their feelings,” she said. “We all go through this.”
One scene featuring Anxiety was particularly funny for Kensington. In it, Riley learns sarcasm to mock her friends’ favorite band to fit in with the hockey players. “I love comedy and sarcasm,” she said. “It was a great scene to record, but I feel so bad for Bree and Grace.”
Kensington took over the role of Riley in this sequel. She felt the character had changed enough that she could add her own touch while staying true to Kaitlyn Dias‘s original performance in the first film. “I grew up with Inside Out,” she said. “I would watch it before every recording session to stay true to her voice.”
For Sumayyah, this is her first movie role. “I’ve known I wanted to act since I was 4 years old,” she shared. Grace has been voice acting since 2016, starting after an open audition at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. “Their CEO gave me his business card and helped me get my first manager,” she said.
Since the film’s release in June, the trio has enjoyed seeing its impact. Friends share TikToks about the movie, and Kensington has met fans at Disneyland who recognized her voice. “No one knows my face,” she said. “They just know my voice, so I’ll say, ‘Hey, I got a little secret for you. I play Riley.’”
If there’s an Inside Out 3, the trio hopes to reprise their roles. “I feel like they’d be even cooler, obviously still besties,” Sumayyah said. “I would love to see teenager Bree, Riley, and Grace.”
Inside Out 2 will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting September 25.
