Critics and moviegoers alike often laud Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out”—or its record-smashing sequel—for capturing the delicate complexities of growing up by way of young protagonist Riley’s universally relatable concerns.

More than that, the animated franchise is best remembered for illustrating how emotions—brought to life by personalized versions of Joy, Anger, Disgust, Sadness and Fear in the first film, and Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment, Nostalgia and Envy in “Inside Out 2”—shape the way we interact with others as we move through life.

So when we met top heartthrob Joshua Garcia last Wednesday at Shangri-La at the Fort, where it was announced that he will be lending his voice to anime hero Lance Slashblade in the upcoming Filipino-dubbed version of “Inside Out 2,” we told the 26-year-old actor that we couldn’t think of anyone more appropriate for the project

After all, Joshua, fresh from all the “feels” of “Un/Happy for You”—his blockbuster movie with ex-girlfriend Julia Barretto—is often singled out for his ability to express just the right balance of emotions attributed to the embattled characters he plays onscreen. He’s always truthful, never over-the-top. Even better, you won’t catch the soft-spoken star playing to the peanut gallery.

Would that other actors could be as effective in what should be a nuanced portrayal of contrasting and complementary emotions, but Joshua is certainly up to the task. As the actor himself pointed out, “It’s just a cameo. I dubbed for just about an hour, but I only got the hang of it after 30 minutes because I had to get used to the style. Ang hirap pala (it’s so hard)! But I felt fear, anxiety, excitement and joy at the same time. Can you imagine if this were a full-length role (laughs)?

Challenge

“I also could relate to Lance because he is popular in the world that he inhabits. As an actor, some people look up to me because of what they think I can do. But sometimes, [that adulation] makes me doubt myself … if I deserve it or not.”

“Just the same, I did this role because it’s a different challenge for me. It also widens my repertoire as a performer. Ginawa ko s’ya kahit kinakabahan ako while I was doing it, and I quickly realized that it’s harder than I thought. You need to convey the precise emotion of the words you’re delivering … and everything has to be bigger.

“I’m not used to this style [of acting], but at least I know now what something like this requires. When I act in movies, everything is subtle … pero dito, ang laki ng emotions! So I have since developed greater appreciation for what voice actors have to go through to come up with the right performance.”

“Inside Out 2” can be streamed on Disney+ beginning Sept. 25, but it will also be made available in its Filipino-dubbed version—a first on the platform. Its streaming debut comes on the heels of the animated film’s record-breaking success at the tills.

As noted by Allie Benedicto, integrated marketing director in the Philippines for Disney Southeast Asia, “Inside Out 2” is now the fourth highest-grossing film ever and the second highest-grossing animation in the country. It’s also the country’s biggest film so far this year.

Parts of yourself

During our quick one-on-one interview with Joshua, we asked him how he prepared for the role of Lance. He said, “Actually, there wasn’t much preparation for this [particular role],” he said. “But since I’m a huge fan of animation and anime, I’ve been watching how voice actors would dub their parts. You see them go through their characters’ different emotions … you see what goes on behind the scenes.

“That’s why I was so excited when I did this. And when I got to the studio, somebody was there to coach me, telling me how to do it properly. That really helped me and made the whole thing so much easier for me.”

Asked if he learns something about himself when he plays different characters, Joshua said every role helps him learn something new. He explained, “You always see parts of yourself when you act out these roles, like my character Juancho [in ‘Un/Happy for You’]. It’s the same here.

Joshua “meets” Riley’s emotions. —PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISNEY+ PH

“Also, I’m a big fan of the first ‘Inside Out,’ so to become part of this franchise is a great experience for me. It’s also my gift to myself since my birthday is coming up soon (on Oct. 7).”

Feelings

Before we wrapped up the interview, we asked Joshua to play a little game and presented him with papers to choose from, each containing a prominent emotion from “Inside Out 2.” Then, we asked him to pick four and share with us personal experiences related to each emotion.

The emotions he picked: Embarrassment, Nostalgia, Joy and Anxiety.

Joshua said, “Actually, I get embarrassed every time there’s an event that requires me to sort of host it … like that press con earlier. If I didn’t look embarrassed, I was just hiding it. Nahihiya ako and I can’t show that to the audience.

“At any given situation kasi, I’m always very careful about what I do or how I acquit myself in it to avoid embarrassing moments that could come out of it. I always make sure that I know what I’m doing. I’m not a loud person, so you’ll just see me wait in a corner.”

As for nostalgia, Josh said, “My last bout with nostalgia happened when Julia and I were shooting ‘Un/Happy for You.’ Hindi mo talaga maiiwasan … and given the intense scenes that we had to do together, I couldn’t avoid feeling nostalgic about the whole thing.”

Then, there’s anxiety. “Ah yes, I was telling MJ [Felipe] about this earlier … about feeling something without knowing that what I was going through was actually an anxiety attack,” he recalled. “First time na na-experience ko s’ya so I didn’t know that it was anxiety. I couldn’t explain what I was feeling, but my hands were shaking.

“Still, I was glad I got to experience it because it was something new … napraning lang talaga ako because I didn’t know how to handle it at the time (laughs).

And finally, joy. “I’ve really been feeling a lot of joy today. My fans even surprised me at the press con [with an early birthday greeting and a cake],” said Joshua as he beamed with pride. “But I’m just happy about everything that’s happening in my life right now … and that fills me with joy. I’m happy and grateful to God for all the blessings that have been coming my way.”