The Toy Story franchise succeeded early on in telling fun stories about what it would be like if a child’s toy had a life of its own. Woody’s world is changed forever when Andy receives Buzz as a birthday present. While Toy Story is filled with originality in its stories and humor, each film had something about it that elevated it to the successful movie it was. The first Toy Story set the foundation and the tone, with an ending that tied up all loose ends, but it earned a sequel with enough quality to justify why its existence was integral to the Toy Story franchise.

Toy Story 2 upped the stakes while giving more backstory to Woody. However, it also had storylines explaining the emotional side of being an abandoned toy, an element tragically portrayed by Jessie. Toy Story 3 continued the trend of questioning the future, but in this case, it was a much more forefront story with the curiosity of if the toys would remain with Andy playing a more significant role. Even Toy Story 4, which arguably was not needed to finish off the Toy Story series, had enough storylines and memorable character moments to earn its place in the franchise.

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Toy Story: Woody And Buzz

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The heart of Toy Story lies with Woody and Buzz. Woody is jealous of Buzz reasonably quickly. As a new toy, Buzz gains excitement and intrigue from the rest of Andy’s toys. But, while that may be upsetting, the emotional punch hits when Woody fears Buzz has replaced him as Andy’s favorite. Everything in Andy’s room that represented Woody now shows Buzz instead, and it does not help that Buzz does not even seem to appreciate it as much as Woody does with his refusal to acknowledge he is a toy.

Woody’s jealousy and anger toward Buzz is part of what the movie relies upon to separate Woody and Buzz from everyone else to allow their rivalry to grow into unlikely allies. Of course, they need to work together to return to Andy, but their different perspectives on their existence help them understand what makes them unique and show how their best qualities will allow them to work together. Buzz and Woody’s eventual transition from allies to friends is key to the first Toy Story and to every film after.

Toy Story 2: The Emotional Stakes

While Toy Story 2’s most emotional moment may be known for Jessie’s sad ballad “When She Loved Me,” the stakes are raised when Woody’s arm rips. No longer in perfect condition, Woody fears this is the end of the road for him and Andy. But, it also speaks to a more profound fear, where toys worry about their lives once children lose interest in them or lose them. Woody’s time with Jessie, Bullseye, and Stinky Pete shows him the side of being a toy Woody had always feared. Toys have latched onto the children, and being forgotten, lost, or abandoned is a painful and traumatizing event. Toy Story 2 portrayed a deeper connection between children and their toys than the first movie had time to do.

Toy Story 3: The Ending

Although Toy Story 3 exhibits some of the emotional trauma portrayed in Toy Story 2 through Lotso, a bear who had been left behind and replaced, the best part of the third film rests on its ending. Throughout Toy Story 3, Andy’s toys believe they are being sent to the trash rather than the attic. However, after years of being ignored, the group is excited at the prospect of being genuinely played with by children for the first time in years. Still, the ending shows their deep connection with Andy, who never forgot them even as he grew up.

Andy giving away his toys to Bonnie, shows he has grown up and moved on, even if it hurts to give away the last piece of his childhood. But, it is also a big moment for the toys to recognize that they can do the same thing for Bonnie they did for Andy. Andy going through each of his toys with Bonnie, proves that Andy always remembered them and cared about them. Toy Story 3 had the capacity to perfectly complete the franchise.

Toy Story 4: The Message Of Moving On

Even with the previous perfect ending, Toy Story 4 still delivered what could be considered an epilogue to the Toy Story franchise. Striving to tell an alternate perspective on a previously traumatic experience, Toy Story 4 shows the happier side of being a lost toy through Woody’s previous love interest, Bo-Peep. Having spent years without a child, Bo-Peep is thriving. She travels anywhere she wants and gets the opportunity to make hundreds of children happy instead of just one. She loves her life, an experience that others, especially Woody, had not wanted. However, Woody discovers that being a lost toy may not be so bad through being with Bo-Peep.

However, Woody had spent most of Toy Story 4 trying to teach Forky how to be a toy, thus preparing him to take on a more prominent role in Bonnie’s life as she grows more attached to him. Unfortunately, Bonnie disregarded Woody, and as much as he wanted Bonnie to be happy, he knew she would be perfectly content with Buzz, Jessie, Forky, and the rest of the group. At the same time, Woody could join Bo-Peep and his slew of new friends in trying to gift children with new toys.