Growing up and finding our authentic self is a process. We have forces both from outside and from within that are vying for control, and sometimes the voices inside our head can derail our best intentions. The makers of Inside Out 2, the sequel to the 2015 Pixar film, clearly understand that. And they convey that journey in a richly satisfying way that helps it surpass the original.

It’s been nine years since the first film took us inside the head of Riley. Now, this sequel, picks up with Riley at age 13 and on the cusp of a very big change. After a brief recap, our old friends Joy (Amy Poehler), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) are ready to take charge.

Riley, on the cusp of high school, is invited to take part in a hockey camp. It’s a chance for her and her friends to make an impression on the high school coach and make the team as freshmen. But, along the way, something strange happens. First, Riley’s control center begins to change. Next, her friends tell her they’re going to a different high school. And, as if that wasn’t already a lot for the existing emotions, four new friends arrive.

Riley’s newest emotions—a result of puberty—include Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulous), Envy (Ayo Edibri), and Anxiety (Maya Hawke). And these four seem to take charge from the jump, especially Anxiety.

When Anxiety and Joy are at odds on the direction to go, Anxiety takes the reigns, removing Riley’s authentic self and bottling up her old emotions, burying them deep in her memory vault. Can Joy and the gang break free and help Riley embrace her true self before it’s too late?

This film comes from writers Meg LaFauve, Dave Holstein, and Kelsey Mann, the later of whom directed the film. It returns most of the voice cast from the original and adds to the story of Riley’s inner life in a beautiful and profound way.

The process of finding ourselves, learning to overcome our fears, embrace sadness and joy, live with our less than perfect memories, and choke down anxiety is part of the journey for everyone. Sometimes it’s a fraught journey, particularly during those teen years when the voice inside our head can be really loud and really scary. But it’s a continual journey that we take throughout our lives.

The best Pixar movies have that emotional core that gets to the heart of part of what it means to live our lives, and they resonate strongly with audiences of all ages, particularly adults. There’s plenty in this film that will appeal to kids and teens, but it had an emotional resonance that was nothing short of beautiful. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Toy Story 3, which for me remains one of the best Pixar films.

This is a beautiful, emotional journey, and a film that for me surpasses the original. I loved Inside Out 2. I laughed, I cried, and I was deeply fulfilled. It’s my favorite animated film of the year, and one worthy of seeking out in theaters.

Inside Out 2 opens nationwide on June 14.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.