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| PIXAR |
Pixar's “Inside Out 2” continues to captivate audiences worldwide, taking the global box office by storm. This sequel to the 2015 hit “Inside Out” picks up with Riley, now a teenager, preparing for hockey camp just as puberty kicks in. New emotions like Ennui, Embarrassment, and Anxiety make their debut, adding layers to her emotional journey.
In a conversation with Variety, production designer Jason Deamer shared that the sequel is packed with easter eggs. For those with sharp eyes, there are nods to past characters like Bing Bong, along with a cleverly hidden teaser for the upcoming film “Elio.”
The tradition of hiding easter eggs in Pixar films is nothing new. “We have to keep ourselves entertained while we work,” Deamer explained. “We wanted to create a digital backlot from all the movies we’ve ever made, similar to a live-action set. It just evolved from there. Now, we find any place we can to hide things because it's just so much fun.” Below are all the hidden references you may have missed.
Elio
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| Pixar |
Pixar’s “Elio,” set to be released in 2025, tells the story of a boy chosen to be Earth’s ambassador to other galaxies. As with previous films, Pixar teases its next project within the current one, and “Inside Out 2” is no exception.
This easter egg is a tough one to catch, but Deamer confirms it’s there. During the sarcasm sequence, pay close attention to the memory spheres. “There’s one with ‘Elio’ in it,” Deamer notes.
Luxo Ball
The iconic yellow Luxo ball, a staple in many Pixar films, makes another appearance in “Inside Out 2.” It’s hidden in the background when the emotions are exploring Riley’s mind. They pass by a parade of potential careers Riley could pursue in the future, including the idea of becoming a Supreme Court judge.
4*Town
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| Disney Pixar |
Riley’s love for boy bands is undeniable, and one of her all-time favorites is 4*Town, which first appeared in the 2022 film “Turning Red.”
In her room, you can spot a poster above her bed. “It’s actually a poster for the 4*Town reunion tour,” Deamer reveals. “The aging boy band is back. I was the character director on that film. But someone joked that Riley would still be into the band, so we decided to include it.”
Bing Bong
The return of Bing Bong, Riley’s imaginary friend from the original “Inside Out,” seemed almost inevitable.
The last time we saw Bing Bong, he was fading away, telling Joy to “take her to the moon.” But it wasn’t just Riley who missed him—so did the animators. “Everyone wanted Bing Bong back,” Deamer says. And so, they made it happen.
Bing Bong’s comeback occurs early in the film. After Riley wins an ice hockey game, she falls asleep. On Joy’s bunk, there’s a Bing Bong figure on the shelf. “Joy hasn’t forgotten Bing Bong, so he’s in her cube, made out of origami,” Deamer explains.
Lance Slashblade
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| Disney Pixar |
“Inside Out 2” plays with mixed animation styles, especially within Riley’s mind, where characters like Bloofy and Pouchy from her childhood make an appearance, hidden deep in her vault of secrets.
For these scenes, the team embraced various styles, including 2D animation. At the film’s premiere, director Kelsey Mann shared, “We love all forms of animation, and we’re thrilled to explore multiple styles in this movie.”
Neilsen also pointed out that Lance SlashBlade, a character from a game Riley used to play reminiscent of “Final Fantasy,” is depicted in the style of an early-2000s video game. “Lance SlashBlade is a standout for gamers and those who know them,” Neilsen says.
Lance’s sword contains yet another hidden detail—a nod to hockey. “In the center of the sword, there are sharpened blade edges, and in the darker section, there’s a hockey stick,” Deamer reveals.
In animating Lance, Deamer admits, “We were asked to create something digitally simple. We had more meetings about that character than expected, debating how much pixelation was too much.” He adds, “There were about 14 people in the room for 12 weeks, trying to decide what ‘not as good-looking quality’ really meant and where we should draw the line.”
Ralph Eggleston
Pixar animator Ralph Eggleston, known for his work on “Toy Story,” “Monsters Inc.,” and the original “Inside Out,” passed away in 2022. Deamer’s homage to him is perhaps the most personal and touching easter egg in the film. “He was a friend and mentor,” Deamer reflects, noting that viewers will see Eggleston portrayed as the mind worker in the projections area, the first to join Joy’s character.
Eggleston, who often worked in pastels, was known for having colorful hands and surrounding himself with his art, as well as collecting DVDs and laserdiscs. “You’ll see those details in that moment,” Deamer shares.
A113 and Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’
Teenage Riley has some dark secrets hidden within her mind, though the specifics have yet to be revealed.
In her vault, there’s a classic Pixar easter egg. Above the door to the right, the numbers are etched in Roman numerals. This is a nod to the character animation classroom at Cal Arts, attended by many Pixar animators, and a reference that has appeared in several films.
As the group of emotions prepares to enter the vault for the first time, there’s a shot of a seal of Riley on the floor. “That’s an homage to the Terry Gilliam film ‘Brazil,’” Deamer explains.
Big Bird’s Puppeteer Caroll Spinney
Director Mann wanted to pay tribute to someone very special to him. “Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who played Big Bird and Oscar, passed away, but I wanted to give a small nod to him in the film,” Mann shares.
After Riley and her friends win a hockey game, they hang out and eat pizza. The pizza boxes are labeled Spinney’s Pizza—a touching tribute to the beloved puppeteer.