LOS ANGELES, June 12 (Reuters) -

The filmmakers behind "Inside Out 2" believe it is important

for the animated Pixar film to get people talking about how they

have wrestled with and processed complicated emotions.

"This movie is for anyone that has ever felt feelings. No

matter what your age or gender, we all have these emotions. It's

what connects us as humans," producer Mark Nielsen said.

"Inside Out 2," which opens in theaters on Friday, is the

sequel to the Oscar-winning 2015 hit directed by Pete Docter.

Kelsey Mann took over as director of the sequel, which

continues the story of lead character Riley as she turns 13 and

begins puberty, signaling the development of new emotions and

obstacles.

Amy Poehler reprises her voice role as Joy, a yellow happy

emotion along with Phyllis Smith as Sadness, a blue sad emotion.

Joining the cast are Maya Hawke as Anxiety, Ayo Edebiri

as Envy, Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment and Adèle

Exarchopoulos as Ennui.

"Inside Out 2" is expected to open with the highest box

office sales of the year so far, with a domestic debut predicted

to be at least $90 million, said Shawn Robbins, founder and

owner of Box Office Theory.

He said the movie has a chance at becoming the first film

since last summer's "Barbie" to open with more than $100 million

in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales over its first weekend.

Movie box offices have been in a slump since last year's

writers and actors strikes delayed the release of several films.

Newcomer Hawke said she channeled her own experiences with

anxiety to connect to Riley's journey.

"It's not a crime to be irrational," she said.

"That's thrown around at people so often, so cruelly.

'You're being irrational!' It's not a crime. I think it's about

awareness. I'm aware that I'm being irrational but I know it

would help me do this thing. I know I don't need my special

blanky (blanket) to sleep but it helps me sleep so isn't that

okay to have it?" She added.

Poehler said it was vital not to tell the same story as the

first film where Joy saves the day and everyone is happy.

Playing more serious scenes "was a cool acting challenge," she

said.

For Liza Lapira, who replaced Mindy Kaling as the voice of

Disgust, seeing the emotions transform over time added a new

dimension to the animated film.

"These emotions are not good/bad. They are there as

protectors, they are there to teach us," she said.

"Envy, you know, points me in the direction of what I might

want, and I don't know that I want it, and it's just manifesting

as an envy. Fear obviously protects me, Disgust protects me,

Anger can be righteous anger, standing up for what's right

against injustice. These emotions are not bad, they can instruct

and inform us," she added.

While the film explores the personal struggles of Riley as

she grows older, Black said he felt the original and the sequel

promoted mental health.

"What you got are two major mental health films disguised as

animations. I mean, that's what it is and that to me also takes

it to a different level," he added.