Toy Story 4: A Playdate Too Far?

In 1995, Pixar’s Toy Story hit the big screen. The very first CG animated feature-length production, it was a major success. Every kid was saying ‘To infinity and beyond!’ mimicking everyone’s favourite Space Ranger toy. A franchise was born, spawning an almost equally enthralling sequel three years later, and another more than a decade after that. It was/is exemplary, in that it represents the closest thing to a perfect trilogy, not only in animation but in cinema generally. In 2014, it was announced that the gang would be returning in the Lasseter-directed Toy Story 4. Indeed, in 2017, the toys will be back in town. But the question is, do we really want them?

I have to admit, when I first heard about Toy Story 3, I was sceptical. I, along with many others, had grown up with the first two movies and would probably consider both to be amongst my most favourite animated feature films. If they were going to produce a third instalment, it would have to be damn good. And, to my surprise, it was. Despite my reservations, the third (and for a long time, final) outing for the toys proved to be not only humorous and touching, but deeply engrossing and dramatic. It appeared to be aimed more so toward an adult market, to those who, like me, had been raised alongside Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang. It was an oddly emotional experience, seeing the long-awaited conclusion to the franchise draw to a bittersweet and, for some, tear-jerking end. But that’s the crucial point. Not only did it provide a gripping, intense narrative in itself, but it also concluded the story arc of the toys’ relationship with owner Andy. And it didn’t just answer questions concerning the fate of the toys and their future existence, but it did so with care and finesse, and delivered a solid, impressive and impactful ending to one of the greatest animated franchises, ever. Period.

Ultimately, that’s where my uneasiness stems from with the announcement of a fourth instalment in the pipeline. One might argue that, now that the toys have all moved on to a new home, with the accompaniment of an array of new toys, it is justifiable to, in a sense, start over, establishing their relationship with new owner Bonnie and focusing on their juxtaposition with the new characters. It’s true, this could be accomplished, but therein lies an issue, and a fairly crucial one at that. The fact is, what remains of the original ensemble has matured and developed to its extremity; they attained a form of adulthood which, unlike Andy, was visually unnoticeable, but incontestably identifiable through their actions and dialogue. With Toy Story 4, there is little room left for development in these characters, which leads me to believe that the focus will likely be diverted to the newer characters.

However, therein lies yet another issue. Try as they may, the newer characters, including Trixie the triceratops and Dolly, are just not interesting – at least not to the extent that they can carry a feature-length story (Trixie’s role in Toy Story That Time Forgot (2014) is proof of this). Even the most interesting and comedic of the bunch, Mr Pricklepants, a Shakespearean-esque hedgehog, cannot possibly become a protagonist – he’s just not complex enough. Some might argue that we’re yet to see development, and that this diverted focus to the new toys could still work. True, but then again, it might not. Yes, there’s endless potential for new stories, new character designs – essentially a complete revamp. But if we consider that, then we cannot possibly overlook the possibility that it might turn out to be a dud – a dud which may potentially tarnish the name of an otherwise near-flawless franchise. And that’s a big deal!

As of 2015, John Lasseter is reported to have stated that this new instalment will in fact be a love story, rather than a continuation of the original story arc. While I’m thankful for that, it does sound as though they’re jumping the squeaky plastic shark, somewhat. I’ll admit it sounds an intriguing concept, but it ultimately betrays the original trilogy’s genre and style. Even so, it’ll be interesting to see what they come up with, regardless of our collective expectations.

Admittedly, little is known about the upcoming instalment, but I have my fingers, toes and everything else crossed in hope that Lasseter doesn’t screw up too majorly. Forget ‘to infinity and beyond’ – merely a third sequel sounds a little overly ambitious. I honestly hate to be pessimistic but it seems as though Woody’s pullstring may have been pulled once too often.