The Riley Andersen Show is an American animated sitcom produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Disney Channel. It is a spin-off and sequel to Pixar’s 2024 animated film, Inside Out 2.
Unlike previous media, the show focuses on Riley herself (though the Emotions are still present) as she navigates new emotional challenges, learns new life lessons, and takes viewers along with her in her new adventures in San Francisco.
While the original Inside Out franchise focuses on the inner workings of the mind, The Riley Andersen Show instead focuses on the importance of social skills in daily life, offering, according to Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, "a healthy dose of humor that encourages kids to practice social skills in their own lives, just like Riley does". The show is designed to teach social skills to young audiences in a humorous way through Riley’s interactions with the people around her, most notably her friends and camera crew.
The pilot episode, titled Fresh Start, was released on February 16, 2025 after the 2025 Daytona 500.
A double-length episode called “Outside In” was released on June 19, 2025 to mark the 10th anniversary of the franchise (or in Riley’s words, her “debut”)
Beginning with Season 5, the series focuses on her adult life as it takes place after the third film.
The TV special and series finale, The Lich Lord’s Rampage, was released on (TBA)
Premise[]
The Riley Andersen Show is a hilarious meta-based slice of life animated series that picks up after the emotional rollercoaster of Inside Out 2. Riley is now with the Firehawks and she’s living the dream in San Francisco! But a new team means more new challenges ahead! Luckily, with the help of her emotions, her camera crew, and of course, her audience, Riley is ready to tackle these challenges head on! Join her hilarious adventures, laugh along to her light-hearted jokes, and learn the importance of social skills as she helps kids learn to navigate challenges and face life’s struggles with a smile.
Format[]
Each episode follows the same structure with two 11-minute stories (referred to by Riley as “adventures”) split into three parts by two behind the scenes segments. The first part of each adventure is the inciting incident which sparks Riley’s interest, leading her and her emotions to think about it. This is followed by a “lunch break” segment, marked by the Director yelling “CUT!” where Riley talks to the viewer about what she’s learned so far today and what social skills she’s used in her interactions throughout the episode.
The second part of each adventure involves Riley learning more about the theme of the episode. This usually ends with the Director yelling “CUT!” again, saying he must go to the bathroom. This segues into “Riley’s Comedy Club”, a stand up comedy segment where Riley entertains audiences with a mix of hilarious meta jokes and heartfelt personal stories. When the Director returns, the third part begins.
The final part of each adventure involves Riley either doing what caught her interest in part 1 or doing a special activity related to the theme (either with her friends and family or alone). Riley guides the viewers through what she’s doing and shares how it works and what social skills viewers can use.
Each episode ends with Riley recapping the episode and closing with her heartfelt catchphrase, “I love you just the way you are”, while hugging the camera. After this, the Director interrupts again, this time saying he cut the show for a silly reason, prompting Riley to say “Ugh, this is so embarassing” and follow up with a joke related to the Director’s reasoning.
The series finale breaks the format as it shows a longer story of Suicide’s rampage through the studio in the light of Riley's death and how he entered the Galactic Empire & how he plans to murder more people after he gains his physical form.
Cast[]
Main Characters[]
- Kensington Tallman as Riley Andersen
- Kyle McLachlan as Bill Andersen
- Diane Lane as Jill Andersen
- Amy Poehler as Joy, Camera Operator's Fear.
- Phyllis Smith as Sadness
- Lewis Black as Anger, Director's Joy
- Tony Hale as Fear, Director
- Liza Lapira as Disgust
- Pete Docter as Prop Master, Director’s Anger, Referee
- Ronnie del Carmen as Producer
Other Character Appearance[]
- Will Ferrell as Billy Milligan
- Steve Carell as Anthony Townley
- Mark Wahlberg as Brad Pitt
- John C. Reilly as Paul Stone
- Ariana Greenblatt as Grace Hsieh
- Millie Davis as Bree Young
- Paris Van Dyke as Meg
- Eric Bauza as Clapper Loader, Dolly Grip, Set Designer
- Grey Griffin as Camera Operator, Boom Operator, Script Supervisor
- Carlos Alazraqui as Brazilian Helicopter Pilot, Second Camera Operator
- Ben Cox as Jordan, Soundstage 15 manager
Guest Stars[]
- Christian Bale as Newscaster
- Aiden Tong as Suicide
Running Gags[]
Some running gags include the Director’s outbursts, the Mobile Camera Vehicle’s siren playing silly noises, and Riley losing track of how many takes.
Trivia[]
- The premise of the show is similar to the 1986 animated television series The Real Ghostbusters, which was a spinoff and sequel to Ghostbusters in a similar way to how this show is a spinoff and sequel to Inside Out 2 and the Inside Out franchise as a whole.
- It is also similar to Monsters at Work with both shows being direct continuations of their respective Pixar films.
- Riley's catchphrase, "I love you just the way you are", is pulled from the dedication at the end of the second film.
- Riley’s self awareness and the presence of the film crew in the show is similar to The Emperor’s New School as both use self awareness
- The episode “Soundstaged”, reveals that the soundstage where the show’s scenes are “shot” if having them shot on-location isn’t available is called Soundstage 15, this is a reference to the year Inside Out was released (2015).
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