Documenting the next big stage of Riley’s life, where she enters her adolescence and copes with new emotions that appear with growing age, Inside Out 2 aims to showcase the chaotic experiences of puberty. But hold on, the upcoming movie not only teases the onset of new emotions but also introduces new characters.
Aiming to put Pixar back on top, Inside Out 2 brought a brand new character in the movie with drastically different animation styles that we’re not used to seeing from the animation studio. Taking major risks with the film’s fanbase and viewership, Pixar brought in a video game character looking like the original Playstation game Final Fantasy.
Pixar Introduced a New Character from Video Game in Inside Out 2
Since the release of the first installment Inside Out in 2015, the movie has remained a beloved gem, praised for its imaginative storyline, heartfelt narrative, and groundbreaking exploration of complex emotions. And now, in the ever-changing cinematic landscape, Pixar Animation Studios seems poised to reclaim its throne with the highly anticipated 2024 sequel Inside Out 2.
Embarking on a journey to delve deeper into the inner world of Riley’s emotions, Inside Out 2 promises an experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional animation. Yes, according to the latest update from DiscussingFilm, Pixar seemingly made some changes in animation regarding the sequel, as the film introduced a new character Lance Slashblade.
According to SlashFilm, Lance Slashblade is a pixelated glitchy video game character that Riley once had a crush on. But the fun fact is, that the character almost looks like the polygonal graphics of Final Fantasy, an original PlayStation game. In fact, Lance has been voiced by a professional video game voiceover actor, Yong Yea.
Pixar Took Major Risk by Implementing Different Animation Styles
While it was quite obvious that Inside Out 2 will bring in new characters, what’s so special about Lance Slashblade? Previously, in the 2015 installment, we were introduced to Riley’s stock boyfriend, therefore, the crush factor doesn’t seem like something new. This brings us to the animation factor which certainly looks different.
With the latest updates on Lance Slashblade, it’s evident that Pixar is not shying away from innovation and risk-taking, signaling a promising leap forward in animation excellence. Pushing artistic boundaries, Inside Out 2 thus appears to be offering advancements in animation technology, with drastically different animation styles that people are not used to seeing from Pixar Animation.
Following confirmation from Pixar’s President via Bloomberg News that Inside Out 2 would be released in cinemas with a 100-day theatrical window before proceeding to digital release, the movie took another major leap forward and embraced the risk of offering some refreshing variations on the animation. Not just that, but Pixar’s animation of Lance Slashblade also looks like a sarcastic dig on video game animation flaws, which often leads to characters appearing glitchy and pixelated.
Nah I’m freakin pumped for this film now pic.twitter.com/PeHpLUYuO1
— Official Chicken Little Movie Account (@RANDOMC_L_EVENT) June 7, 2024
Why does he remind me of cloud from final fantasy 😭
— Katie ❤️ | Top 1.6% 😈 | Free OF 😫 (@thaofficialkat) June 7, 2024
Since he's an obvious parody of Cloud from Final Fantasy, I wonder what the game he comes from would be called?
— MasterCaster (@Master_Caster_1) June 8, 2024
This is actually charming I like when Disney references the flaws of video game animation
— Matt (@rymecity) June 7, 2024
THIS IS LITERALLY CLOUD, I CANT WAIT TO WATCH THIS
— Ray Mona (@TheRayMona) June 8, 2024
I notice how the graphics on him is different compare to the others like he actually came from a videogame
— ⚡Chad the Artist ⚡ (@Chadartist99) June 7, 2024
While a few fans of the franchise appear pumped for Pixar’s new take on animation and others offer mixed response, it seems uncertain if the iconic animation style of Lance Slashblade and him looking like a pixelated video game character will sit well with critics and moviegoers. Following the bold steps, whether the film will be a smash hit or a colossal flop will ultimately decide Pixar’s fate for years to come.
Inside Out 2 will hit the theaters on June 14, 2024.
