Toy Story 4

Directed by Josh Cooley and screenplay by Stephany Folsom and Andrew Stanton from a story by Cooley, Folsom, Stanton, John Lasseter, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, Valerie LaPointe, and Martin Hynes, Toy Story 4 is the fourth film of the Toy Story film series in which Woody, Buzz, and the old gang adjust to life under their new owner Bonnie who created a new toy out of a plastic spork she named Forky who deals with his being created and being a toy. The film is an unusual road movie of sorts that has Woody trying to help Forky with his new role in which the film deals with existentialism as well as the other lives of toys including Bo Peep who has lived a new life in the world of carnivals. Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Bonnie Hunt, Ally Maki, Jay Hernandez, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Carlin, Estelle Harris, and Don Rickles in a posthumous voice appearance as Mr. Potato Head. Toy Story 4 is a majestic and heartwarming film from Josh Cooley and Pixar.

The film is about a group of toys trying to help a newly-created toy made out of a plastic spork named Forky (Tony Hale) adjust to his new role though he considers himself to be trash only for Woody (Tom Hanks) to try and show him the importance of his role to their owner Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). It’s a film that explores the idea of being a toy where Woody is aware that he’s being phased out unintentionally as he knows that Bonnie is having a hard time adjusting to growing up and going to kindergarten. The film’s screenplay by Stephany Folsom and Andrew Stanton explores not just Woody’s anxiety to make sure that Bonnie will be fine through this toy she made in Forky but also to see a world where toys can do so much more. Notably as Woody and the gang go on a road trip with Bonnie and her parents (Jay Hernandez and Lori Alan) where Woody notices Forky’s attempt to kill himself as he still thinks he’s trash. When Forky does escape from the RV and Woody tries to save him, they walk down to the nearest town where Woody discovers an old lamp at an antique store that his previous owner’s sister used to have.

It is in this town he reunites with Bo Peep (Annie Potts) whom he hadn’t seen in nine years after being given away to a new owner along with her three sheep as she has made a comfortable life traveling with a carnival of toys including the Canadian stunt toy Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), a couple of plush toys in Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele), and a pocket toy cop named Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki) who would help Woody retrieve Forky with Buzz joining to find Woody at the carnival as Forky meets a doll named Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) who seems like an evil toy but is really an anti-hero as someone who never had a proper voice box nor was ever really played with. Caboom is a toy that believed to have failed his previous owner due to his inability to perform the stunts the commercial claimed the toy could do. It all play into this idea of existence which is quite bold for a film whose target audience is mainly children yet knows how to approach it without being too heavy-handed or complicated.

Josh Cooley’s direction opens with a flashback scene set nine years before the events of the main narrative is when Bo Peep and her sheep along with its lamp is being taken away where Woody has a conversation with Bo before her departure after saving R.C. from being swept down a drain storm. It then shifts into the journey that Woody, Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris), Slinky the Dog (Blake Clark), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), the Pizza Planet aliens (Jeff Pidgeon), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) had taken as they would become part of a new family with Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), and Buttercup (Jeff Garlin) with Bonnie as their owner. With the aid of animation director Aaron J. Hartline, Cooley does broaden the scale more as it relates to the world that Woody and the gang embark on in this road trip while they’re keeping watch on Forky who is convinced he is trash where Cooley’s direction would maintain some intimate compositions in the close-ups and medium shots for conversations between Woody and Forky.

Cooley’s usage of the wide shots play into the scope of the world that Woody and the gang go to which is a traveling carnival along with a nearby antique store where Gabby Gabby and her army of ventriloquist dummies in the Bensons live in. With the aid of cinematographers Patrick Lin and Jean-Claude Kalache, Cooley would maintain a visual atmosphere inside the store including a few places that Bo knows where to go and hide while the exteriors of the carnival at night are among some of the great visual elements of the film. It add to the drama that Woody has to endure upon in his attempt to retrieve Forky where he also has to come to terms with the fact about all toys when they’re being phased out where Bo offers him a world that proves to be just as lively. Even as he would get Forky to understand his role and Buzz to take on a bigger role for Bonnie as it all play into the importance of toys in a child’s development but also what toys can do without their owners and help other toys. Overall, Cooley crafts a touching yet intoxicating film about toys dealing with their roles while helping a hand-crafted toy understand about his identity.

Editor Axel Gedde does excellent work with the editing as it play into some of the humor and drama with its usage of rhythmic cuts as well as a montage of Forky trying to destroy himself. Production designer Bob Pauley and art director Laura Phillips do amazing work with the look of the interior of the antique store as well as the design of the carnival and its rides as it add to the visual splendor of the film. Sound designer Ren Klyce and co-supervising sound editor Coya Elliott do fantastic work with the sound in some of the sound effects that are created as well as the layers of sound in the carnival scenes along with the broken voice box of Gabby Gabby. The film’s music by Randy Newman is brilliant for its mixture of lush orchestral music with a French-inspired theme for Caboom in his flashback and bits of country including a few original songs by Newman where one of them is performed by Chris Stapleton.

The casting by Natalie Lyon and Kevin Reher is incredible as it feature voice appearances from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea as a Duke Caboom commercial announcer, Bill Hader as a carny named Axel, Alan Oppenheimer as a clock known as Old Timer, Mel Brooks as dusty old elephant in Melephant Brooks, Patricia Arquette as the mother of a young girl named Harmony, Carl Reiner as a dusty rhino in Carl Reineroceros, Carol Burnett as a dusty chair named Chairol Burnett, Betty White as a toy named Bitey White, Lila Sage Bromley as a young girl named Harmony, Melissa Villasenor as Bonnie’s kindergarten teacher Karen Beverly, Ricky Henderson as a bobblehead figure of himself, John Morris and Jack McGraw in their respective roles as the older and younger version of Andy, and Laurie Metcalf as Andy’s mom in the flashback scene.

Other noteworthy appearances in voice roles include Jay Hernandez and Lori Alan as Bonnie’s parents, Carl Weathers as miniature versions of the toy Combat Carl, June Squibb as the antiques owner, Emily Davis as the trio of Bo Peep’s sheep, and Steve Purcell as the ventriloquist dummies in the Benson Dummies. Reprising their roles from previous entries, the voice performances of Jeff Garlin as the unicorn Buttercup, Bonnie Hunt as the doll Dolly, Kristen Schaal as the triceratops Trixie, Timothy Dalton as the hedgehog Mr. Pricklepants, Wallace Shawn as the T-rex Rex, Blake Clark as the slinky toy-dog Slinky, John Ratzenberger as the piggy bank Hamm, Joan Cusack as cow-girl Jessie with her horse Bulls-eye, Estelle Harris, as Mrs. Potato Head, and Don Rickles via archival material as Mr. Potato Head as they’re all fantastic with Cusack as the standout as Jessie rallying the toys with Rickles being one of two individuals that includes animator Adam Burke whom the film is dedicated to.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are excellent in their respective roles as the stuffed plush toys Ducky and Bunny as they both provide some great comic relief as two toys who have never been played with as they cause a lot of mayhem. Christina Hendricks is brilliant as the doll Gabby Gabby as a toy who had never been played with due to a faulty talk box as she is eager to have Woody’s talk box in the hope of being played with. Keanu Reeves is incredible as Duke Caboom as a Canadian daredevil toy that is known for his poses but is also filled with doubt as it relates to his inability to live up to expectations for his old owner. Madeleine McGraw is wonderful as Bonnie as a young girl who is dealing with growing pains as she becomes attached to her creation in Forky while becoming worried about his whereabouts. Ally Maki is amazing as the tiny pocket toy Giggle McDimples as a toy who is known for her giggles yet is also Bo Peep’s side kick of sorts as she is funny as well as being cool.

Tony Hale is marvelous as Forky as a spork turned into a toy by Bonnie as he copes with his anxieties and being about being a toy as all he’s known for is trash where he later understands the role of being a toy and his importance in Bonnie’s development as a person. Annie Potts is remarkable as Bo Peep as an old toy of Andy’s who has lived a new life traveling in the world of carnivals where she has found a new purpose to help out toys but also see the world. Tim Allen is sensational as Buzz Lightyear as the space toy who is Woody’s best friend as he deals with his own identity as someone that needs to be a leader and help Bonnie out in her development as he also copes his own identity as a toy. Finally, there’s Tom Hanks in a phenomenal performance as Woody as this cowboy toy who starts to realize that he is being phased out as he tries to help out Forky with his identity as he also tries to maintain his importance only to realize that there is so much out there as it is a great performance from Hanks.

Toy Story 4 is a tremendous film from Josh Cooley and Pixar. Featuring a great cast, gorgeous visuals, a sumptuous music score, and touching themes on existentialism and growing up. It’s a film that definitely does a lot to explore how much toys mean to children as well as the idea of being a toy in a touching and somber way. In the end, Toy Story 4 is a spectacular film from Josh Cooley and Pixar.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - A Bug's Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters Inc.) – (Finding Nemo) – The Incredibles - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) – (Cars 3) – Coco - The Incredibles 2 - (Onward) – Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2019

Toy Story 2

When Toy Story first came out in the fall of 1995, the film proved to be an event as it was the first computer-animated feature film of its time. The film drew rave reviews and massive box office giving Pixar Studios the power it needed as they returned three years later with their second film A Bug’s Life with Walt Disney Studios as its distributor. While Disney wanted a sequel to Toy Story to be a direct-to-video release, Pixar and the people involved with the film refused as it eventually became a feature-film that finally came out in the fall of 1999.

Directed by John Lasseter, with additional direction by Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon, and screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsaio, Doug Chamberlain, and Chris Webb that was based on a story by Lasseter, Stanton, Brannon, and Pete Docter. Toy Story 2 tells the story of Woody being kidnapped by a toy collector as Buzz Lightyear and other toys go on a rescue mission. During his captivity, Woody discovers that he was an old TV star as he is about to be sold to a Tokyo toy museum with other toys. The second film is a more ambitious film that blends all sorts of genres as it also introduces to new characters for the franchise.

Featuring the voices of previous players like Tom Hanks Tim Allen, Jim Varney, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, and R. Lee Emrey plus Joan Cusack, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson, Wayne Knight, and Kelsey Grammer. Toy Story 2 is an adventurous and heartwarming film from Pixar.

After being accidentally ripped by Andy (John Morris) before going to cowboy camp, Woody (Tom Hanks) gets shelved as he finds the old squeeze penguin toy Wheezy (Joe Ranft). When Andy’s mom (Laurie Metcalf) takes Wheeezy to sell for a garage sale, Woody with help from the dog Buster saves Wheezy only to be found by a toy collector named Al (Wayne Knight). Andy’s mom refuses to sell Woody as Al decides to steal him while Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) tries to save him. With a chicken feather and a license plate ID as clues, Buzz finds out who Al is as he organizes a mission to save Woody with help from Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky the Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn), and Hamm (John Ratzenberger).

During his captivity, Woody learns he was a popular toy/TV star in the 1950s as he meets Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl (Joan Cusack), the horse Bulls-Eye, and Stinky Pete the Prospector. Learning that Al wants to sell him and the other toys to Japan to a toy museum, Woody doesn’t want to go only until he gets fixed and learns about Jessie’s story of abandonment. When Buzz and the gang finally reach Al’s toy store and his apartment with another Buzz Lightyear joining them. They learn what Woody wants to do as Buzz reminds Woody about being a toy as they’re stopped by Al prompting Buzz and the gang to go on a more daring adventure to save their friend.

In this sequel to the 1995 landmark film, director John Lasseter and his team create a story that is far more ambitious than its predecessor. Even as it recalls themes of growing up and abandonment which would play out in the third film eleven years later. Yet, the heart of the film is the friendship between Woody and Buzz as it grows much stronger in the second film. When Woody gets kidnapped, Buzz feels that he owes Woody for rescuing him in the previous films as supporting players like Slinky, Rex, Mr. Potato Head, and Hamm join in the rescue. Woody meanwhile, learns about Jessie’s own issues in a wonderful sequence that recalls Jessie’s brief life as a toy to a young girl until she got abandoned and be sent to Goodwill.

Jessie is a new character to the franchise as she is a rare female character that is more active and is willing to go out there and do what’s right. She is definitely an equal to Woody and Buzz while the character of Stinky Pete is also interesting as he is someone who had been inside a box that hopes to be loved and seen. Yet, when he realizes that Woody wants to return home, Pete’s sudden change of character becomes evident since he had never been played. Other antagonists like Al and Zurg aren’t fully-realized antagonists as Al is just a greedy man while Zurg is just a villain that wants to destroy the other Buzz Lightyear.

The direction of John Lasseter, along with help from Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon, is truly spellbinding from the way he opens the film with a wonderful sequence of Buzz fighting aliens. The look of the film is broader with a wide depth of field as Lasseter allows the frame to show more space and characters in the film. At the same time, he mixes all sorts of genres for the film while bringing in a few film references to give it some humor. From the wide shots and close-ups Lasseter uses to the wild, intense camera movements such as Woody’s first ride with Bulls-Eye is truly amazing to watch. Overall, Lasseter and his team of co-directors and animators create a film that is equal to its predecessor.

Cinematographer Sharon Calahan does some great work with some of the lighting used for the film to bring some mood to the look such as the scene where Woody tries to sneak out at night or the scenes on top of the elevator where Buzz and the gang try to rescue Woody. Editors Lee Unkrich, Edie Bleiman, and David Ian Slater do a fantastic job with the editing such as Jessie’s flashback scenes as well as the amazing rhythm for many of the film’s action sequences. The overall work in the editing is superb as it plays it straight while adding some stylistic flairs for some of the film’s dramatic and funny moments.

Production designers William Cone and Jim Pearson do some wonderful work in the look of Al‘s Toy Barn along with the apartment and the look of Zurg‘s base in the opening sequence. Sound designers Gary Rydstrom and Tom Myers along with sound editor Michael Silvers do a fantastic job with the sound from the opening scene to the scenes in the city as the sound work is masterful.

The music by Randy Newman is a highlight of the film as it plays a wonderful mix of bombastic orchestral pieces along with low-key dramatic and funny moments to country-western music for Woody’s old show. Featuring a jazzy version of You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Robert Goulet and the theme to Woody’s show by Riders in the Sky. The real moment of the film’s soundtrack is the somber song When She Loved Me that is sung by Sarah McLachlan in Jessie’s flashback scene. It is truly the most heart-wrenching song of the soundtrack as McLachlan’s vocal performance truly captures the sense of loss that Jessie endures in that sequence.

The casting by Mary Hidalgo and Ruth Lambert is phenomenal as it features cameo voice appearances from John Lasseter and Lee Unkrich as Rock N’ Sock ‘Em Robots, Andrew Stanton as the Evil Emperor Zurg, Jodi Benson as Barbie dolls, and Dave Foley in a cameo as Flik from A Bug’s Life. Other notable voice appearances include R. Lee Emrey as Sarge, Joe Ranft as Wheezy and from A Bug’s Life Heimlich, Jonathan Harris as Geri the Cleaner, Laurie Metcalf as Andy’s mom, John Morris as Andy, and Jeff Pidgeon as the Squeeze Toy Aliens. Estelle Harris is wonderfully funny as Mrs. Potato Head along with Annie Potts as Bo Peep. Wayne Knight is very funny as over-zealous toy collector Al while Kelsey Grammer is great as the manipulative yet charming Stinky Pete the Prospector.

John Ratzenberger and Don Rickles are amazing as in their respective yet hilarious roles as Hamm and Mr. Potato Head. Wallace Shawn is joyfully superb as the insecure yet video-game obsessed Rex. Jim Varney is excellent as loyal yet sassy Slinky. Joan Cusack is phenomenal as Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl with her lively vocal performance as well as the sense of anguish she faces about her memories in being a toy as she is the real highlight of the film. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are spectacular in their respective roles as Woody and Buzz. Hanks brings that every-man quality to Woody along with a sense of fear about not being played with only to remember the value of being a toy. Allen brings a performance that is very engaging as Buzz along with some humor about his own reaction to the Buzz Lightyear toys. Even as he gets to be very silly as the other Buzz.

Toy Story 2 is truly a superb sequel to its 1995 predecessor as John Lasseter and company step up their game in bringing a film that is entertaining and heartwarming. While it’s hard to say which of the three films of the Toy Story trilogy is the best as they each have something different to offer. The second is truly one of the most lively and imaginative thanks to the introduction of new characters like Jessie and Bulls-Eye along with old characters from the previous everyone knows and love. In the end, Toy Story 2 is a joyful film that allows the audience to spend more time with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the characters of the beloved franchise.

Pixar Films: Toy Story - A Bug’s Life - (Monsters, Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011

Toy Story

Before 1995, animated films was hand-drawn and presented in two-dimension whether as feature films or as shorts. The idea of computer animation was something that had been thought of for years as a computer scientist named Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith founded a company called Pixar as a spin-off for George Lucas’ Lucasfilms computers division. When Lucas’ interest towards the company decreased, Apples Computer co-founder Steve Jobs took interest as they found an animator in John Lasseter to help create computer-animated shorts. For many years, Lasseter and Catmull dreamed up of creating the first-ever feature-length computer-animated film that finally came true in the fall of 1995 called Toy Story.

Toy Story is the story of a pull-string cowboy doll who finds himself competing against a new space ranger toy for the affection of their owner. In turn, the two would go have an adventure as their owner would move to a new town. Directed by John Lasseter with a story written by Lasseter, Pete Docter, Joe Ranft, and Andrew Stanton that was later scribed by Stanton, Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow. It is a film that transcends the idea of not what an animated film can be but also reach an audience wider than just kids and families. With an all-star voice cast that includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Jim Varney, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, John Morris, and R. Lee Ermey. Toy Story is an exciting and entertaining landmark film John Lasseter and Pixar Studios.

Since kindergarten, Andy’s favorite toy is a pull-string cowboy doll named Woody (Tom Hanks). Andy (John Morris) often has Woody play with other toys like Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky the Dog (Jim Varney), a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Rex (Wallace Shawn), a piggy bank named Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Bo Peep (Annie Potts), the binoculars named Lenny (Joe Ranft) and RC the Car. When Andy’s birthday is moved a week earlier before the big move to a new town, Woody asks the toy soldier Sarge (R. Lee Emrey) to scout for new presents as the new toy Andy gets is a space ranger named Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Woody is at odds with Buzz, who believes he’s a real space ranger, as he becomes Andy’s new favorite.

When Andy’s mom (Laurie Metcalf) wants to take Andy and his baby sister Molly (Hannah Unkrich) to Pizza Planet, Andy wants to take Buzz as Woody makes a plan to get rid of him only to have it go wrong. Buzz decides to exact revenge as the two get lost while they try to return to Andy at Pizza Planet. Instead, they get retrieved by a kid named Sid (Erik von Detten) who loves to destroy toys. With Sid living next door to Andy and Woody trying to redeem himself, Buzz learns some surprising revelations as he and Woody try to find a way to return home.

The film is about a cowboy toy who feels upset over the fact that he’s being replaced by something new and exciting in a space ranger. Because of this sense of jealousy, he decides to have this new toy get lost only for the plan to go horribly wrong where the two embark on an adventure. During this adventure, an unexpected friendship between the two happens where both learn the values of being toys and sharing the love for their owner.

What has kept Pixar vital over the years isn’t the use of the technology they created that has gotten better over the years. It’s always been about the story and how the technology enhances the story as Woody and Buzz are the main characters that start off as rivals only to become the best of friends. The screenplay is a mesh of various genres ranging from the buddy comedies to action-adventure with a dash of family entertainment. This mesh of genres is one of the reasons Pixar has been so successful which always bring in wide variety of viewers with different taste as the script is truly a highlight of the film.

John Lasseter’s direction is truly lively in the way he frames the scenes and gets the action going. Yet, he also allows the presentation of the film to be very simple for some of the dramatic moments of the film. The animation is truly amazing for its three-dimensional look as well as the layers of light and shadows used for some of the scenes in the film. The look of the characters are also shown with a movement that is very loose as the camera is always looking at the action and playing up its intensity. Lasseter’s direction is truly spellbinding in every frame he creates for this film.

Editors Lee Unkrich and Robert Gordon do an incredible job with the film‘s editing in creating a straightforward presentation that has wonderful rhythmic cuts for the film‘s action sequences. Art director Ralph Eggleston does a phenomenal job with the look of Andy‘s room and the objects used including the dark world that is Sid‘s room. Sound designer Gary Rydstrom and sound editor Tim Holland do an amazing job with the sound from the way the soldiers walked to the places that Woody and Buzz encounter throughout the film.

The music by Randy Newman is a real highlight of the film as it features a mixture of piano-based pop music with elements of orchestral scores to play up the intensity of the film in terms of drama or humor. The songs Newman create such as Strange Things to play up the rivalry of Woody and Buzz along with I Will Go Sailing No More as a dramatic piece. Yet, the highlight of the soundtrack is the song You’ve Got a Friend in Me that serves as the theme for entire series about the friendship between Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys that includes a duet version with Newman and Lyle Lovett.

The voice cast is absolutely phenomenal as it features some memorable voice appearances from Jack Angel as Shark and Rocky Gibraltar, Jeff Pidgeon as the Squeeze Toy Aliens, Joe Ranft as Lenny the binoculars, Sarah Freeman as Sid’s sister, and R. Lee Emrey as Sarge. Other notable voices include Erik von Detten as the destructive Sid, Laurie Metcalf as Andy’s mom, Hannah Unkrich as Andy’s baby sister Molly, and John Morris as Andy. For the varied roles as the toys, there’s Don Rickles at the funny yet outspoken Mr. Potato Head along with Wallace Shawn as the insecure yet lovable Rex. Annie Potts is excellent as Bo Peep as is John Ratzenberger as the humorous Hamm and Jim Varney as loyal yet witty Slinky .

Finally, there’s Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in superb voice performances as Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Hanks brings a wonderful mix of comedy and drama as a pull-string cowboy doll who adores Andy while also being a bit of a schemer when it comes to Buzz. Hanks’ funnier moments is when he gives Woody a chance to go all out when Buzz refuses to believe that he’s a toy. Allen’s voice work is perfect for the heroic tone as Buzz where there’s a lot of bravado and dead-pan humor to the voice. Hanks and Allen don’t just elevate the film with their voice performances but also provide life to two of the best animated characters on film.

Toy Story is a dazzling yet exhilarating film from John Lasseter and his team at Pixar. Anyone that is interested in the films of Pixar Studios will no doubt see this as a great place to start. Even for anyone interested in animated films should find this as one of its landmark films. Particularly as this was the film that helped launch a slew of computer-animated films for many years to come. In the end, Toy Story is a remarkable feature film from Pixar Studios and John Lasseter.

Pixar Films: A Bug’s Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Toy Story 3 - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011

Toy Story 3/Day & Night (short)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/28/10 w/ Additional Edits.

When Pixar studios unveiled Toy Story in the fall of 1995, the film changed the face of cinema altogether by being the very first feature-length, computer-animated film.  Toy Story was a revolutionary film as it launched Pixar Animation Studios into the stratosphere with help from distributors in Walt Disney Pictures. Since that landmark film, the studio would release nine more feature films to massive acclaim and box office including a sequel to Toy Story in 1999. Since the release of the widely-acclaimed Toy Story 2, plans for a third film had been in the works going back and forth as Pixar continued to create a string of massive hits. In 2010, Pixar finally unveils the third and final film of the Toy Story trilogy simply titled Toy Story 3.

Toy Story 3 tells the story of cowboy toy Woody, space commander Buzz Lightyear, and other toys dealing with the idea of Andy leaving for college. Realizing that their future is uncertain and fellow toys are no longer around, the toys suddenly find a new home at a daycare only to realize that it's a prison as it's up to Buzz and Woody with their comrades to return to their original owner. Directed by longtime Pixar cohort Lee Unkrich and screenplay by Little Miss Sunshine screenwriter Michael Arndt. The film deals with the idea of growing into adulthood along with the importance of toys to a child. The result is a fitting yet heartfelt end to one of the greatest animated stories ever told.

Day & Night

Directed by Teddy Newton, the short Day & Night is about two personalities called Day & Night meet up as they each show a different background of day and night, respectively. At first, the two don't like each other only to find positive aspects of their respective qualities. The short is truly one of Pixar's best as it combines 2D, hand-drawn animation where inside the 2D figures are 3D, computer-animated backgrounds. With music by longtime Pixar collaborator Michael Giacchino, it is one of the most ingenious and entertaining shorts as it proves that Pixar is still the best when it comes to breaking ground in animation.

Toy Story 3 (Note: Seen in 2D, not in 3D)

After being the toys for Andy (John Morris) for many years, the toys are facing the moment they've been dreading the most. With Andy set to go to college, the toys have no idea about what is next. While Woody (Tom Hanks) is trying to remain optimistic about their future, even in the possibility that they will all go to the attic. The rest including Buzz (Tim Allen) and Jessie (Joan Cusack) are unsure. When Andy decided to put the toys in the attic while keeping Woody for himself to bring to college, a misunderstanding by Andy's mom (Laurie Metcalf) sends the toy to the trash where Woody tries to save the toys.  Fortunately, the rest of the toys including a Barbie doll (Jodie Benson), that belonged to Andy's little sister Molly, managed to escape as they go into a box after overhearing that Andy's mom suggested that Andy should donate the toys to the local daycare.

Woody doesn't believe that going to the Sunnyside daycare center is a good idea as he reluctantly joins them to Sunnyside where they're greeted by lots of toys including the a big bear named Lotso (Ned Beatty) and Ken (Michael Keaton) who is smitten by Barbie.  While Buzz, Jessie, Bulls-Eye, Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Slinky (Blake Clark), Barbie, and the Squeeze Toy Aliens are amazed by Sunnyside.  Woody remains unsure as he decides to leave with the rest of the gang staying at Sunnyside. With Woody escaping, he almost makes it only to be found by a young girl named Bonnie (Emily Hahn). Bonnie takes him home where she plays with him along with her other toys including Trixie the Triceratops (Kristen Schaal), Buttercup the Unicorn (Jeff Garlin), a doll named Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), and a dramatic hedgehog in lederhosen named Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton).

Back at Sunnyside, the toys realize the place is a nightmare as they were abused and mistreated by toddlers. Realizing that Sunnyside is a prison, Buzz and the gang tries to figure out what's going on where Mrs. Potato Head (who now wears one eye) finds her other eye in Andy's room. Seeing Andy upset about the loss of the toys as he intended to put them in the attic, they realized that Woody was right all along.  Buzz attempts a breakout realizing that Ken along with a few other toys including Big Baby and the big purple octopus known as Stretch (Whoopi Goldberg) are part of a dark gang led by Lotso. Lotso and his gang including a glowing bookworm (Richard Kind) capture Buzz as Jessie and the gang are now trapped in cages with Buzz under Lotso's control.

After learning about the story of Lotso from an old toy named Chuckles the Clown (Bud Luckey), Woody decides to return to Sunnyside to bust his friends out only to realize that it's going to be more complicated as he learns from the Chatter Telephone (Teddy Newton) that there's no way out at night.  With Woody, Jessie, and the gang planning the breakout while trying to get Buzz out of Lotso's control, the team make an escape as they're confronted by Lotso and his gang as leads to a climatic battle to return home.

Going back to the original Toy Story in 1995, the film told a story of toys being played while being something more than just a toy to a child. Four years later with the second film, the sense of fear of not being played was being hinted as Woody, Buzz, and their friends try not to deal with it until the moment happens. In Toy Story 3, that fear and sense of dread finally arrives as the third film is the darkest of the trilogy.  Yet, it's balanced by a sense of hope as well as sadness concerning what happens in the end for the toys in which the story of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang is given a fitting close.

In Toy Story 3, the stakes are much higher than in any of the previous films as the toys not only face the idea of not being played with but also the idea of not being used at all. When they go to Sunnyside, it's a chance for the toys to be played but Woody doesn't like the idea as his loyalty towards Andy forces him to leave the rest of the gang. Woody's devotion to Andy definitely serves as a character flaw of sorts for him while he finds a new world in the arms of a young girl named Bonnie and her toys.  Realizing that there's a future for his friends in this young girl, Woody struggles with his devotion to Andy as well as his friends who are like family to him.

In Sunnyside, the loss of Woody and the danger of Sunnyside has the whole gang realize not only that they need him.  They also learn the truth about Andy's devotion to them even though he might never play with them at all. The first attempt to break out in which the truth about Sunnyside has Buzz be trapped and suddenly reprogrammed by Lotso and his gang. With Jessie and the gang now leaderless and trapped, it's Woody return that brings hope as they all hope to get Buzz out of Lotso's control and escape Sunnyside. The escape of Sunnyside is where the third act begins as it has a great mixture of humor, suspense, and drama like any great prison breakout film has.

Yet, the toys face what is probably the first true villain in any Pixar film in the form of a Strawberry-colored stuffed bear in Lotso. While Lotso starts off as this warm, welcoming kind of a bear. Underneath that sweetness is a dark, angry, manipulative toy who felt abandoned all because of a mistake. This is a toy that doesn't truly believe in love or the idea that toys hold far more value for a child. It is in that conflict that makes the third film truly a complex tale as screenwriter Michael Arndt does a wonderful job in setting up Lotso's back story and how he finds himself challenged by all of these other toys.

While the film's darkness is something new that Pixar is exploring in some respects, notably a climatic scene involving all of the toys that creates what is truly a symbolic, emotional moment. The film is balanced by its humor that is key to the franchise. While a few jokes do come back from previous films, new ones involved Buzz being reprogrammed the second time around as he ends up speaking in Spanish (through the voice of Javier Fernandez-Pena). Another funny moment involves the Ken doll who is convinced he's a boy's toy as he's often ridiculed by members of Lotso's gang while he finds love in Barbie.

If the script maintains the humor, drama, and suspense in all of its complexities of the entire trilogy. A lot of the credit should go for Lee Unkrich in presenting all of those elements in more for this third and final film. Having been involved with the trilogy from the beginning as an editor in the first film and as a co-director and editor in the second. Unkrich makes sure that the film has a sense of familiarity for the audience to feel nostalgic but also explore new worlds. At the same time, he creates new worlds for the Sunnyside sequence while opening the film with an intense, spectacular action scene where Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Rex battle their fellow toys in an amazing fantasy sequence. When its revealed that it's a young Andy playing with his toys, it establishes the good old days with the other toys that appeared in the past.

When it comes to the main story, Unkrich maintains the film's sense of dread, anxiety, and suspense while balancing it with humor and hope.  For the back story on Lotso, the look of the film starts off light and then becomes very dark along with a lot of the second act. Scenes in the third act including a climatic scene involving a dump and an incinerator becomes one of the most haunting and emotionally intense moments. For the ending, Unkrich creates a moment that audiences knew would be emotional but not overly manipulative.  In that presentation, he creates something that is subtle and heart wrenching as the overall approach for the film becomes fitting.  Even as Unkrich finds a way to light things up for the credits scenes in the film.

The film's technical work in terms of its cinematography and look is truly pristine for many of the film's daytime scenes whether it's in Andy's room or Sunnyside. The nighttime scenes are filled with shades and dark lights to convey the dark mood for some of the scenes including some intense suspenseful moments. A lot of the animation supervised by animation director Michael Stocker is wonderful for the look of the characters and the environments they're surrounded by. Editor Ken Schretzmann does amazing work with the film's editing in terms of creating suspense and spontaneous, comedic moments. The rhythm of the humor along with some well-paced dramatic and subtle moments as the editing overall is superb.

The sound design of Tom Myers along with sound editor Michael Silvers is excellent in terms of the environment the toys are in. Notably Sunnyside for its surroundings and everything else outside of Sunnyside. Particularly the intense and climatic dumpster scene that is wall-to-wall sound design for the machines and objects around them as the sound work is exquisite. The music by Randy Newman, who had previously done work in the previous films, is filled with score pieces to convey the emotions of the film. From orchestral flourishes for the suspenseful and dramatic scenes to some comical scenes that is presented in a flamenco style.  The new original song by Newman in We Belong Together is an upbeat song that recalls the good old days of Andy and the toys while there's an amazing, flamenco-style cover of You've Got A Friend in Me by the Gypsy Kings that get things going.

The voice cast that is assembled is truly one of the film's highlights. Small voice appearances include an archived voice of Hannah Unkrich as Molly when she was a baby plus Erik Von Detten returning as Sid in a cameo role and as the young Andy, Charlie Bright. From the Pixar troupe, there's voice appearances from Bonnie Hunt as Dolly and Jeff Garlin as Buttercup the Unicorn as they are two of Bonnie's toys. Other small voice roles include Whoopi Goldberg as a sleazy octopus named Stretch, Richard Kind as a glowing bookworm, Brianna Maiwand as a peas-in-a-pod toy named Peanelope, Teddy Newton as Chatter Telephone, Bud Lackey as Chuckles the Clown, Jack Angel as a henchmen of Lotso named Chunk, and Kristen Schaal as Trixie the Triceratop.  Supporting standouts include Michael Keaton as clothes-loving Ken who is convinced that he's a boy's toy while falling for Barbie. Yet, the newest voice cast to the series that really makes an impression is Timothy Dalton as the dramatic, thespian-like Mr. Pricklepants.

Returning to the voice as Andy is John Morris who provides all of the anxieties of a teenager trying to move on without his beloved toys while Laurie Metcalf also returns as Andy's mom. Beatrice Miller provides the voice of Andy's young sister Molly as they all do a splendid job in voicing the characters. A new character in a shy little girl named Bonnie is wonderfully voiced by Emily Hahn who provides a warmth and hope Woody didn't expect from another child. Ned Beatty provides a wonderful voice for the character of Lotso where he starts off warm and cuddly only to be a man filled with anger and hate as Beatty hits all the right notes for the voice. Longtime Disney voice actress Jodi Benson brings a lot of spark and wit in the role of Barbie as she has great voice chemistry with Michael Keaton.

For the main roles that have been to the franchise for all three films, the characters are all given great moments to do as provided by the people who voice them. Taking over for the late Jim Varney as Slinky the Dog is comedian Blake Clark who does a fantastic job in providing the voice while making it a tribute to the late Varney. Jeff Pidgeon is excellent as the multi-tracked voices of the Squeeze Toy Aliens while R. Lee Ermey makes a brief appearance as the Sarge of the green soldiers. Don Rickles and Estelle Harris are funny in the respective roles of Mr. & Mrs. Potatohead as they're given some great lines and scenes while John Ratzenberger plays it cool as Hamm the Piggy Bank. Wallace Shawn is fun to hear as Rex while great non-voice roles come from such characters like the horse Bulls-Eye, a scary monkey, and from Hayao Miyazaki's Tonari no Totoro is Totoro as one of Bonnie's toys.

Joan Cusack is superb as the voice of Jessie with her determination and wit to get things going when Woody is out and Buzz is under Lotso's control as Jessie is one of the few female Pixar characters that girls can root for. Tim Allen is in brilliant form as Buzz as he tries to maintain some hope for the other toys at Sunnyside while later being reset into Spanish mode as the voice of Javier Fernandez-Pena adds a lot of great humor. Tom Hanks is also in excellent form as Woody who tries to remain optimistic while providing the sense of internal conflict his character is dealing with.

While it may not be the best of the three films, Toy Story 3 is still a brilliant, complex, and entertaining film that gives the story of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang a fitting finale. Fans of the franchise will definitely be happy to see the characters return while be given a sequel that lives up to its predecessor. With the previous films, Toy Story 3 creates what is truly one of the best trilogies ever told where there's no weak story or anything to make it feel like it fell short in comparison to the other films. With a great voice cast, a memorable score, a fantastic script, and Lee Unkrich's sprawling direction. Toy Story 3 proves once again that Pixar is one of the best studios to make films that reaches all kinds of people. Even as the film is the first great film of the year and the new decade. In the end, Toy Story 3 is a marvelous film that captures the joy of the first two films while giving these beloved characters a bow worthy of those films.

Pixar Films:  Toy Story - A Bug's Life - Toy Story 2 - (Monsters, Inc.) - (Finding Nemo) - The Incredibles - Cars - Ratatouille - WALL-E - Up - Cars 2 - Brave - Monsters University - Inside Out - The Good Dinosaur - (Finding Dory) - (Cars 3) - Coco - Incredibles 2 - Toy Story 4 - (Onward) - Soul (2020 film) - (Luca (2021 film)) - Turning Red - (Lightyear) - (Elemental (2023 film)) - Inside Out 2 - (Elio) – (Toy Story 5)

© thevoid99 2011