By: Tyler Christiansen

To talk about the Toy Story films is to talk about Woody. Woody is the face of the films. He’s the one having the existential crises and the one with the major development through the films. Toy Story is Woody’s story, which is why it makes sense that he’s the primary focus in the fourth one. It’s his journey, along with Forky, to find his new purpose in life besides taking care of a child. I have heard the criticism that Toy Story 4 ruined Woody’s character arc since he would never abandon a child and leave his friends behind. To fully examine this erroneous criticism, we must go back and look closely at all the previous films through Woody’s arc.

Looking back at Toy Story (1995), Woody is rude - albeit hilarious - jealous and sort of narcissistic. He says to the toys in a “town hall meeting” that their purpose is to “be there for Andy when he needs [them].” While this is a good sentiment, he completely ignores it himself when Buzz comes along and takes his spotlight. Woody is like an infant who, when his parents have another child, gets jealous because the parents don’t pay him enough attention anymore. Things get heated, Buzz accidentally falls out the window, they go to the coolest restaurant ever (Pizza Planet) and end up at Sid’s house, where Buzz finds out that he’s not a real space ranger and becomes a drunk Mrs. Nesbitt. The key dialogue in the film comes when Buzz is strapped to the rocket in Sid’s room:

Buzz: “I’m just a toy. A stupid, little, insignificant toy.”
Woody: “...Being a toy is a lot better than being a space ranger!”
Buzz: “Yeah, right.”
Woody: “... He loves you because you’re a toy, you are his toy.”
Buzz: “Why would Andy want me?”
Woody: “Look at you! You’re a Buzz Lightyear! Every other toy would give up any of his moving parts just to be you. You are a cool toy!... I’m the one that should be strapped to that rocket.”

This is Woody’s transformation moment; the whole film he rags on Buzz and wants Buzz gone so he can be the top toy again. He acknowledges how selfish he was and lets Buzz know that while you might not be the greatest thing to ever exist, you do exist, and someone loves you deeply for what you are. Woody is now accepting of Buzz and learns to share the room with Buzz.

The start of Toy Story 2 (1999) shows Andy playing with the toys and Andy accidentally tearing Woody’s arm, leading to Woody being shelved. To me, Toy Story 2 is the greatest entry in the franchise, simply because it considers the theme of obsolescence that will recur in the next two films. Woody is convinced of going to a museum in Japan with his old “Round Up Gang,” Jesse, Bullseye and the Prospector, when Buzz and the other toys come to bring Woody back to Andy’s. At this point, Woody has heard Jesse’s experience with Emily (“When She Loved Me” is the saddest song in the history of film) and how the Prospector was always neglected in the store once space toys became popular. Toy Story 2 asks: “What happens when our kids grow up?” The metaphor makes itself present here: Woody and the toys are the parent figures to Andy and Emily and once the kids grow up, the parents feel useless and obsolete. After Woody sees a tape of a kid hugging him and Woody singing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” he tells the Prospector, “I can’t stop Andy from growing up, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Woody decides that living finitely while being loved is a much better alternative than being admired superficially behind glass for eternity.

Toy Story 3 continues the poignant theme of obsolescence by bringing the toys to Sunnyside, a daycare center (retirement home), since Andy is going to college. Woody hates the notion of a retirement home since he still thinks it’s their duty to take care of Andy, no matter what it is, and decides to leave the other toys behind and go back to Andy’s. He gets caught up and is brought to Bonnie’s house, a little preschool girl who loves playing with toys as much as Andy did as a child. After learning that Sunnyside is awful, he helps the toys escape but they soon find themselves in a literal dump. The toys sit, hold hands and accept their mortality together as they head down into the abyss. They all know their death is upon them, but they don’t flip out for too long; there’s nothing else they can do but let it happen. Of course, this being a “children’s” film, they are saved and make their way back to Andy’s. Andy has decided to only take Woody to college with him, but Woody has a different plan. Instead, he takes it upon himself, against his selfish desires, to write a note to Andy (disguised as his mother) to take all the toys to Bonnie’s, where they can have an extended life. While Woody realized in Toy Story 2 that nothing lasts forever, especially a child’s presence, it comes into full fruition with Toy Story 3; Andy has moved on, and Woody has another kid to take care of.

Another criticism about Toy Story 4 that I have heard is that it was unnecessary. If this were true, then Woody’s arc would not have been totally complete. Think about it: Woody is just going to go through the same cycle as he did with Andy. What happens when Bonnie doesn’t want to play with him anymore? We see Bonnie put Woody’s badge on Jesse and Woody is left in the closet with dust bunnies during play time. What now?

When Forky is introduced, Woody has a new purpose: keeping Forky away from the trash so he can be with Bonnie. Forky thinks he’s “trash” and doesn’t understand what being a toy means, not unlike Buzz’s thoughts in the original film. Notice the contrast between the openings of the original film and this one: Woody is a completely different character, in all the best ways. Instead of trying to make Forky disappear, he’s trying to help Forky stay since Bonnie loves him so much. Woody thinks his purpose is fulfilled because he doesn’t have to take care of Bonnie anymore. With all this said, let’s talk about the finale.

The ending of the Toy Story franchise coalesces into something beautiful that we didn’t know we needed. After spending most of the film with Bo Peep, Woody learns that you don’t have to always be taking care of a child for your purpose to be realized. If Woody went back to Bonnie’s, he would just be collecting more dust bunnies, not being useful. Instead, using his inner voice, he realizes he can help broken toys find owners so they can have the same life experiences taking care of a child, just like Woody did with Andy. He gives Gabby Gabby his own voice, physically and metaphorically, so she can be loved by a kid. Leaving Buzz and the others behind was the only way for the franchise to end; Woody has done his duty and is now essentially retired, giving back to the community and helping others find love. The final dialogue in the franchise should suffice for the conclusion of this article:

Rex: “So, does this mean Woody is a lost toy?”
Buzz: “He’s not lost. Not anymore.”
…
Buzz: “To infinity…”
Woody: “And Beyond.”

All pictures credited to John Lasseter’s ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2’; Lee Unkrich’s ‘Toy Story 3’; and Josh Cooley’s ‘Toy Story 4’, Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios.

ST.ART does not own the right to any of the images featured in this article.