The Toy Story franchise has had two supposed endings so far, and as much as Toy Story 4 has been criticized for ruining Toy Story 3’s ending, the truth is that this isn’t the case at all. Pixar’s reign in the world of animation began in 1995 with Toy Story, which became the first entirely computer-animated feature movie. Toy Story takes the audience into a world where toys come to life when humans aren’t watching, and they go on their own adventures beyond the walls of their homes. Toy Story was a critical and commercial success, spawning a whole franchise.
In addition to short films, TV specials, theme park attractions, video games, and a lot more, Toy Story has continued Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear’s (Tim Allen) stories in a total of five movies, with the fifth one currently in development. The Toy Story movie saga supposedly ended with Toy Story 3, but the franchise came back to life nine years later with Toy Story 4. The fourth movie has been endlessly criticized for “ruining” the previous movie, but after a rewatch, it’s clear that this isn’t the case, and it actually benefits it.
Toy Story 4 Does Not Ruin Toy Story 3’s Ending
Sorry, But Toy Story 4 Doesn’t Affect Toy Story 3’s Ending At All
It took 11 years for the Toy Story saga to return with the third movie, and no one was ready for the twists and the emotional charge of the story. Toy Story 3 reunites viewers with Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys at Andy’s house, as he prepares to leave for college. Andy hasn’t played with his toys in years, so he puts them in a bag to be stored in the attic – however, his mom mistakes the bag and throws it away.
After almost being burned at an incinerator at the local trash center, the toys make it back to Andy, who pᴀsses the toys on to Bonnie.
The toys end up at the Sunnyside Daycare, where they meet Lotso, the leader of the toys, who isn’t as friendly as he presents himself at first. After almost being burned at an incinerator at the local trash center, the toys make it back to Andy, who pᴀsses the toys on to Bonnie, one of the children at Sunnyside. Toy Story 3 ends with Woody and the rest watching Andy go and beginning a new life with Bonnie, which is definitely a great ending to the saga, but saying that Toy Story 4 ruined it isn’t true.
Toy Story 4 doesn’t mess with Toy Story 3’s ending at all: Andy is still gone and living his life in college and the toys are still with Bonnie.
Toy Story 4 catches up with the toys now in Bonnie’s room, but after a road trip in which Woody gets lost and reunites with Bo Peep, he finds a new purpose as a Lost Toy. Leaving Woody’s decision and new life aside, Toy Story 4 doesn’t mess with Toy Story 3’s ending at all: Andy is still gone and living his life in college, the toys are still with Bonnie and adapting quite well to her and her style of playing, and the cycle continues for them with new adventures and characters, such as Forky (Tony Hale).
Toy Story 4 Actually Makes Toy Story 3’s Final Scene More Meaningful
Toy Story 4 Complements Toy Story 3
Toy Story 4 doesn’t ruin or affect the ending of Toy Story 3, and, if anything, it actually makes the final scene in the third movie a lot more meaningful. Despite theories and speculation about Andy’s return in Toy Story 4, the movie moved forward and Andy didn’t return in any capacity, not even in a cameo appearance at the carnival. Thanks to this, the audience can see how things have changed for the toys with a new owner, and also in a world where toys continue to be in constant change and development.
Woody’s mission ended with Andy, and as Bonnie’s toys already had a leader, it’s clear that, just like Andy did, Woody also had to move on.
Toy Story 4 also shows how the dynamics between the toys have changed, even if slightly in most cases, but also how change is inevitable for some of them, mostly Woody. Woody’s mission ended with Andy, and as Bonnie’s toys already had a leader, it’s clear that, just like Andy did, Woody also had to move on. Toy Story 4 is a great continuation of Toy Story 3, and instead of ruining its ending or undoing it, it only adds to it.
Ironically, Toy Story 4’s Ending Is Now What The Franchise Shouldn’t Ruin
Leave Toy Story 4’s Ending As It Is, Please
When Toy Story 4 was announced, fans weren’t happy with the idea of Toy Story 3’s perfect ending being undone or ruined, and, ironically, this is now the case for Toy Story 4‘s ending. As it turns out, Toy Story 4 isn’t the saga’s ending, either, as a fifth movie is in development. Not much is known about the plot of Toy Story 5, except that the toys will face technology, and Jessie will be the one in trouble this time. It’s possible that there will be more movies after Toy Story 5, so the saga doesn’t have a clear end again.
The biggest concern is that Toy Story 5 will end up ruining Woody’s ending with the Lost Toys, either by having him return to Bonnie and the rest of the toys, or seeing him find a new owner. Toy Story 5 should follow the example of Toy Story 4 and be more of a continuation of what it established and where the toys’ stories were left.
