From Uncut Gems to Inner Turmoil: The Surprising Cinematic Influence Behind 'Inside Out 2'

When Pixar announced that Inside Out 2 would introduce a host of new emotions to Riley’s teenage mind, the biggest question was how they would bring them to life. For Anxiety, a jittery, scene-stealing force of nature, the creative team needed more than just clever dialogue and character design; they needed a whole new cinematic language. In a move that might surprise fans of the family-friendly studio, they found their inspiration in one of the most stressful films of the last decade: the Safdie Brothers' crime thriller, Uncut Gems.

An Unlikely Muse for a Pixar Film

At first glance, the gritty, relentless world of Adam Sandler's Howard Ratner, a jeweler with a debilitating gambling addiction, seems worlds away from the colorful mind of a 13-year-old girl. Yet, the film's ability to induce palpable stress in its audience was exactly what the Inside Out 2 team wanted to harness. The goal was to make the audience feel Anxiety’s influence whenever she seized control of Riley's mental headquarters.

To achieve this, the film's directors of photography, Adam Habib (layout) and Jonathan Pytko (lighting), broke from the established visual rules of the first movie. Where Joy’s reign was characterized by smooth, steady, and deliberate camera movements, Anxiety’s takeover demanded something far more chaotic.

The 'Handheld Energy' of Panic

The primary technique borrowed from Uncut Gems was its signature camera work. Known for their use of long lenses and a frantic, handheld style, the Safdie Brothers create a claustrophobic feeling, trapping the viewer in the protagonist's escalating panic. The Inside Out 2 team applied this digital-equivalent directly to their animated world.

Adam Habib, the director of photography for layout, explained the team's directive in an interview:

When Anxiety takes over the console, we wanted it to feel different ... We looked at 'Uncut Gems,' the Safdie brothers' film, as a great reference for that long lens, handheld energy. It feels very anxiety-inducing, it feels very claustrophobic. So our camera operators, we basically told them, 'Go to town, make this feel as anxious as possible.'

This approach manifests on screen as shaky, rapidly reframing shots that mimic the frantic, unfocused energy of an anxiety attack. The camera struggles to keep up, creating a sense of instability and overwhelming pressure that perfectly mirrors Riley's internal state.

Lighting the Anxious Mind

The visual shift wasn't limited to camera movement. Jonathan Pytko, the director of photography for lighting, ensured the mood was amplified through visual tone. He contrasted the 'soft and beautiful' lighting associated with Joy’s control with a much harsher aesthetic for Anxiety’s scenes. When Anxiety is at the helm, the lighting in Headquarters becomes 'chaotic and high contrast,' with sharp shadows and jarring shifts that disrupt the previously warm and inviting environment. This visual dissonance makes her takeover feel like a true invasion.

By drawing from such an unconventional source, Pixar once again demonstrated its commitment to innovative storytelling. The decision to channel Uncut Gems wasn't just a stylistic quirk; it was a deliberate choice to translate a complex internal feeling into a powerful, visceral cinematic experience, allowing audiences of all ages to understand the overwhelming nature of anxiety on a deeper level.

Sources

• /Film
• IndieWire