For a film as emotional and intricate asInside Out 2it’s not surprising at all that protagonist Riley Anderson’s decision to dye her hair red has an incredibly significant meaning.Inside Out 2was released in June 2024 to a shower of positive reviewsand rightfully took its place as thehighest-grossing animated film of all time. The family comedy was critically acclaimed for its mature and nuanced depiction of anxiety and for adding genuine depth and growth to its storyline in an era where so many sequels fail to do so.
Inside Out 2follows Riley as the new emotions she gainsafter a chaotic puberty renovation try new methods to navigate the strange scenarios that teenhood promises. With fresh braces, and a fresher pimple, Riley’s tumultuous journey starts with the realization that her best friends are going to a different high school, and she may spend her school years alone if she doesn’t act fast. The film is full of those painfully relatable awkward moments and social attempts people experience in their youth, buta choice that sticks out above the rest is Riley’s decision to dye her hair red.
Riley Dyes Her Hair Red To Copy Val & The Hockey Team
Riley’s Desire to Be Like the Cool Kids
Riley’s attempts to reach for a promising social life lead her to her future high school’s hockey team, the Fire Hawks, whose captain, Valentina “Val” Ortiz, is already Riley’s idol. The Fire Hawks are a close-knit team, and proudly show this unity by dying a streak of their team’s color, red, in their hair. Before an important game,Riley dyes a streak of her hair the same shade of red, even though she hasn’t yet passed tryouts.It’s a desperate attempt to fit in with the Fire Hawks, as she believes dying her hair will solidify her place with them.
Inside Out 2 Voice Cast: Every New, Returning & Recast Character
The Inside Out 2 cast is missing some major players from the first film, but the Pixar sequel brings back plenty of iconic voice actors.
Riley’s need to feel secure with the Fire Hawks outweighs reason, and she decides the awareness that the red streak is implicitly reserved for confirmed members of the hockey team. Her obsessive early-morning hockey practice and willingness to denounce her beloved boy bands don’t seem like enough to get Riley where she wants, and the red streak acts as Riley’s final step. Her choice aligns with the film’s authentic portrayal of puberty and the misguided but very common teen belief that looking a certain way is the only way you may guarantee social acceptance.
Riley’s Red Hair Connects To Her Anxiety
The Psychological Significance of Red Hair
More importantly, as expected in a movie about emotions, Riley’s red hair is a physical manifestation of Anxiety’s severe impact on her.Anxiety’s new methods inInside Out 2result in a sense of Riley’s self that echoes a heartbreaking “I’m not good enough.” The hair dye scene becomes Riley’s low point in the film, as it cements the idea thatnot only is Riley willing to change herself completely to fit in, but she genuinely believes she has to.
That red streak isn’t Riley’s experimentation with her identity, but her erasure of it.
Despite Anxiety’s intentions and occasional successes, all Riley’s new emotions manage to do is pressure her into being someone she’s not. The choice also plays a role in Riley’s relationship with her best friends, who she had been inadvertently losing as a consequence of Anxiety’s methods. The streak physically distinguishes Riley from the authentic version of herself who puts her friends first.This physical manifestation of Riley’s conflict was an integral part of creating Anxiety’s version of hersense of self, as pushing her doubt and fear from internal to external meant that Riley couldn’t ignore her new beliefs.
Why Riley Doesn’t Still Have Red Hair When Inside Out 2 Ends
A New Chapter: Riley’s Hair and Her Personal Journey
At theend ofInside Out 2, Riley is seen fully blonde, without her red streak.It makes sense, as she hasn’t yet found out whether or not she will make it into the Fire Hawks, but it symbolizes the fact that she no longer feels pressured to conform to fit in. Riley is still hanging out with her hockey team, but she’s comfortable and genuine, even finding the courage to correct Val on the fact that she’s from Minnesota and not San Francisco (offscreen). Her usual blonde hair acts as the conclusion to all of Riley’s emotional arcs.
The story ends beautifully; she still has her best friends despite the different schools, she’s reached peace regarding the outcome of hockey tryouts, and Anxiety still lives in headquarters.
Riley’s journey inInside Out 2concludes with a new sense of self that comes with a new sense of security. After everything that she went through, Riley is back to making choices for herself rather than obsessing over others. The story ends beautifully; she still has her best friends despite the different schools, she’s reached peace regarding the outcome of hockey tryouts, and Anxiety still lives in headquarters, but Riley and the emotions have found healthy ways of practicing mindfulness. Her blonde hair returning signifies Riley has found a way to stay true to herself.
Inside Out 2
Cast
Inside Out 2 is the sequel to the 2015 original film, which starred a young girl named Riley with a head full of emotions. - literally. With Amy Pohler as Joy, Bill Hader as fear, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and Lewis Black as Anger, the all-star cast brought to life the emotions that adolescents face as they grow, change, and adapt to new situations. This sequel, currently in development, will bring Amy Pohler back as Joy, with Riley, now a teenager.
