Who Is The New Inside Out 2 Composer?

Analysing Michael Giacchino and Andrea Datzman’s Emotional Musical Scores From The Inside Out

You might be wondering who is the new Inside Out 2 composer and why haven’t producers chosen to continue with Michael Giacchino for the sequel?

The original introspective writer Michael Giacchino, composed the heartfelt score for Pixar’s beloved “Inside Out” which is nothing short of a masterpiece, capturing the essence of the film’s emotional journey with intricate melodies and rich orchestration. As an adored composer known for his work on films such as “Up” and “Ratatouille,” Giacchino brought his trademark emotional depth, punny track titles and creativity to “Inside Out,” making the music an integral part of the storytelling experience. For Disney film lovers, Giacchino’s work on this film provides a profound auditory experience that enhances the narrative’s exploration of human emotions.

With the release of “Inside Out 2”, Andrea Datzman steps into the role of composer, bringing her own unique touch while respecting the foundation laid by Giacchino. Datzman, a seasoned collaborator with Giacchino, maintains the emotionally charged music of the original film’s score while introducing fresh elements to reflect the evolving story and new additions of characters Anxiety, Embarrasment, Envy and Ennui. Having worked alongside Giacchino in the first film, Datzman successfully retains the colour, lush ambient landscapes and meditative synth lines the first film was so famous for. Her added flair of electric guitar, a rock infused sound and faster more textured moments within the score reflect Riley’s rocky and frenzied transition into puberty and teenage life. Although Datzman takes the music in new directions her score is understandably familiar and pays homage to Giacchino’s writing style in many different ways such as starting with his signature sensitive piano solo, an absolute non-negotiable.

The Meaning of the Story

“Inside Out” delves into the inner workings of a young girl named Riley’s mind, personifying her emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—as characters who guide her through life’s challenges. The film beautifully illustrates the importance of all emotions, showing that joy cannot exist without sadness. Giacchino’s score perfectly encapsulates this theme, using music to reflect the nuanced interplay between these emotions.

“Inside Out 2” continues Riley’s journey as she navigates the complexities of adolescence. The score by Datzman mirrors this wild development, adding layers of maturity and sophistication to the musical themes. While maintaining the emotional core of the original score, Datzman introduces new motifs to capture Riley’s growing understanding of her emotions. She does this by leaving behind some of the softer retro jazz instruments and adds in defiant rock tones and textures.

Riley’s theme

In “Bundle of Joy,” Giacchino introduces the film’s central musical theme with a light, playful melody carried by a delicate piano and supported by strings. The piece starts in A major, embodying the innocence and purity of Joy. The use of high-pitched glockenspiel and pizzicato strings adds a sense of wonder and childlike curiosity. As the theme develops, subtle shifts in harmony and texture reflect the underlying complexity of Riley’s emotional world.

“Free Skating” later on in the movie contrasts this with a more dynamic and rhythmically varied composition. It features vibrant orchestration, with brisk string passages and a lively piano that capture the excitement and freedom of skating. The music shifts between major and minor modes, illustrating the fluidity of Riley’s emotions as she finds joy in her new environment despite the challenges she faces. In contrast with “Bundle of Joy” which is a lot more clean and crisp in sound, “Free Skating” uses synth sounds which pulse subtly arround the piano melody to create a dream like state as Riley drifts off to sleep. An ethereal lullaby likely to send anyone snoozing.

Together, these pieces highlight Giacchino’s ability to use music to mirror Riley’s emotional states beautifully. The juxtaposition of the simplicity and joy in “Bundle of Joy” with the energy and slight tension in “Free Skating” underscores the evolving complexity of Riley’s experiences in growing older and adapting to change.

In “Inside Out 2,” Datzman revisits these themes, ensuring a seamless transition from the first film. Specifically, she develops “Free Skating” into the track “Glide and Joy” which includes more complex harmonies, optimistic strings and layered textures, reflecting Riley’s emotional growth and the more intricate challenges she faces and overcomes during her teenage years. This evolution in the music parallels Riley’s maturation, showing how her emotions have become more nuanced. This is one of the only tracks where we hear Riley’s original theme repeated as it’s matured with supporting strings that swell richly around the theme.

Datzman also introduces an alternative musical theme for Riley to represent her new friendships. This is heard in “The Life of Riley” and re enters during “Creating a Sense of Self” which adapts itself to the different emotional situations Riley finds herself in such as going through changes and seeking validation from others.

“Tears of Joy”/“Joyless”

“Tears of Joy” is one of the most poignant pieces in the original score, encapsulating the film’s central message about the necessity of sadness. The piece starts with a simple, memorable piano melody in A major, accompanied by soft strings. This melody is characterized by its gentle and reflective nature, which immediately evokes a sense of introspection.

As the piece progresses, Giacchino introduces harmonic shifts to minor chords, creating a bittersweet atmosphere. The use of dynamic swells, where the volume gradually increases and then decreases, mirrors the emotional highs and lows experienced by the characters. The rich, expressive phrasing and the interplay between the piano and strings add depth to the composition, making it feel intimate and deeply personal.

This musical approach highlights the transformative power of sadness, as Riley learns to embrace all her emotions. The minor to major shifts within the piece symbolize the journey from sorrow to understanding and acceptance, reinforcing the film’s message that joy and sadness are interconnected..

In Inside Out 2 “Joyless” is a moment of realisation for Joy where she grapples with the idea that “Maybe this is what happens when you grow up… you feel less joy”. Similar to “Tears of Joy” in the first film, Joy learns multiple lessons such as needing to make room for other emotions and allowing Riley to feel what she needs to naturally in that given moment. It’s an exposing track where Joy is in a vulnerable position trying to come to terms with the idea that she might be displaced by Anxiety. Datzman’s soft piano piece accents this perfectly with quiet tremelo strings to reflect Joy’s worry about being less needed by Riley. Datzman preserves the emotional weight of “Tears of Joy” and transfers it into this track to allow the audience to empathise with Joy and consider feeling as she does.

Conclusion

It’s safe to say that Michael Giacchino crafted an enigmatic musical score that is perfectly reflective of human emotions and the ups and downs Riley goes through. With an ethereal and gentle start in “Bundle of Joy” through a soft melodic piano theme, high pitched synths and magical harp timbres the music successfully reflects the frailty of human life as we see Riley mind being formed as a baby and her first emotions being felt.

As well as using musical lightness, Giacchino contrasts this with punchy, jazz infused tracks such as “The Forgetters” and stronger, minor toned pieces such as “Chasing down Sadness” and “We Can Still Stop Her” with thicker textures and dramatic orchestrations to show Rileys’ stronger emotions taking over. “Inside Out” is a remarkable example of how music can enhance and elevate a film’s narrative. Through carefully crafted themes and emotional depth, Giacchino creatively captures the essence of the story, making the audience feel every emotional nuance. Andrea Datzman’s score for “Inside Out 2” successfully builds on this foundation, introducing new elements that reflect Riley’s maturation while maintaining the emotional continuity of the original.

For Disney and film lovers, the scores of both “Inside Out” and “Inside Out 2” offer a testament to the power of music in storytelling, providing a rich, immersive experience that resonates long after the final note. Giacchino and Datzman, each in their own way, demonstrate how music can beautifully encapsulate the complexity of human emotions, making the “Inside Out” series a truly memorable cinematic journey.