Sadness is bringing joy to the internet as many online make memes out of the “Inside Out” character’s misery.
“Inside Out 2,” which will be released Friday, follows Riley as her now-teenage mind introduces her to four new emotions: Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment — infusing chaos into the headquarters where Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust have operated for years.
At the Los Angeles premiere of the film this week, Sadness represented her namesake on the carpet as she twirled her fingers and waved timidly with a pout — all while the upbeat Black Eyed Peas dance-pop song “I Gotta Feeling” played in the background.
Sadness' awkward demeanor on the carpet gave immediate meme fodder to social media users, many of whom relentlessly bullied the character in jest, while others simply related to her.
Some were quick to label Sadness a "loser" after her carpet appearance. And when the character went on to spill her popcorn at the concession stand, a wave of X users called Sadness an "idiot" who "can't do anything." Others piled on even more with some not-very-PG insults.
A few users, however, took pity on the blue animated character, making viral posts out of comforting Sadness. And many more empathized with how her behavior mimicked their own, whether it's their attitudes toward social functions, their energy at work or their outlook on life in L.A.
Some reposted videos of Sadness and made references to everything from Taylor Swift songs to TV show characters.
In the film, Sadness is voiced by Phyllis Smith (known for her role in “The Office”). Others in the voice cast include: Amy Poehler as the lead emotion, Joy; Ayo Edebiri as newcomer Envy; Maya Hawke as another newcomer, Anxiety; and Lewis Black as Anger.
A representative for Smith, who did not appear to attend the Los Angeles premiere, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Pixar also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a promotional video for the first film in 2015, Smith said that “Sadness doesn’t judge. She’s right there with you. So pull out your hanky and enjoy a good cry.”
This isn’t the first time Sadness in particular has drawn the fascination of the internet.
During Pixar Fest at Disneyland in April, viral videos of Sadness dancing half-heartedly onstage — a contrast to the grinning background dancers moving energetically to the music — also put a spotlight on the character as memes circulated online.
Dunking on anthropomorphized versions of animated characters is a common internet pastime, as many find it funny to interact with someone fictional, whether it’s a brand or a red Muppet from “Sesame Street.”
