10 Reasons the Pixar Sequel Is a Mistake
In a world of studios making unnecessary sequels and live-action remakes, Toy Story 5 certainly makes the list for Pixar trying to extend the life of its flagship franchise. While Toy Story introduced kids everywhere to a world where toys could walk, talk, and create bonds of friendship, Toy Story 2 delivered a more emotional sequel, highlighting another side of being a toy and the concept of the lost or abandoned toy. Years later, Woody, Buzz, and the gang returned for Toy Story 3 in a sequel that acknowledged how the audience had grown up by doing the same with Andy. Having Andy become a teenager on the cusp of college gave an understanding of his outgrowing playing with his toys years ago and the question of what comes next.
Toy Story 3 delivered an impactful, firm, and emotional conclusion to the franchise. Andy drove away from his childhood toys toward his future, leaving his past behind with a child who still loved to play, which also ensured his toys a happy new home with someone who would play with them. Although Toy Story 4 was not necessary, given its predecessor’s perfect ending, the fourth installment still created an epilogue-type feeling as Woody steps away from Bonnie for a new life with Bo Peep and understood the different value of being a lost toy, which allows them to make many more kids happy. Toy Story 5, in addition to potentially ruining another decent finish, is unnecessary to the franchise as a whole.
10 Lightyear Failed as a Spinoff
Lightyear explained what Andy’s favorite movie was in Toy Story and why Andy loved Buzz Lightyear so much. But, unfortunately, the film could never quite live up to fans’ love for the original franchise. Whether it be casting Chris Evans as the titular character rather than keeping Tim Allen or the movie itself did not have the same charm as the other films, Lightyear never reached the success the Toy Story franchise had. Granted, no one seemed to have asked for a Buzz Lightyear origin story either, so that may have had something to do with its lack of usual Pixar success.
9 Woody’s Story Feels Complete
Woody’s arc and character development are straightforward throughout the four Toy Story movies. Woody’s animosity toward Buzz eventually transforms into friendship, while Woody has a strong love and loyalty to Andy and the rest of the toys. However, in Toy Story 3, when Woody is willing to move with his fellow toys to be with Bonnie rather than go to college with Andy, it shows that Woody understands that Andy has grown and Woody has a new place.
However, when Woody reunites with Bo Peep, he realizes there is a whole other world out there and that being a lost toy can mean something entirely different than he always believed. Woody stepping away from his long-time friends feels like the conclusion of his story. Woody has learned that he does not need one child and that being a lost toy with Bo Peep means he can help make hundreds of children and toys happy.
8 Buzz Has Accepted His Role Without Woody
Although Woody and Buzz spent years being a dynamic duo, at the end of Toy Story 4, Buzz knows and accepts that he will have to carry on as the group’s leader without Woody. Granted, this would not be the first time Buzz has led their group without Woody present, but it is the first time the split was likely to be permanent. Buzz and Woody go their separate ways in a tragic conclusion that feels like a moment of growth for both. However, everyone bids Woody the best for his farewell, and it is the kind of separation that feels that while Woody may be gone, Buzz will never forget him or their friendship.
7 Forky Signifies a New Generation
While Forky should not get a spinoff movie, his existence in accidentally being created by Bonnie and coached by Woody signifies the start of a new generation. Forky is practically a baby, coming into existence and immediately feeling the pull to join the trash as his calling. This repetitive joke constantly has Woody desperate to get to him first. Forky’s existence, followed by Woody’s goodbye, feels more like a way to say that while the original hero has left, the journey of new toys will always continue. However, perhaps it should be left off-screen to be shown as more of an implication.
6 Andy Grew Up
As fun as Bonnie may be, Toy Story audiences grew up with Andy as the central human in the toys’ lives. They spent years with him, exploring different stories and trying to keep the secret of having their own lives. When Andy grew up in Toy Story 3, it signified the end. It seemed like the perfect time to deliver one last story and wrap up the series as a trilogy. Part of what made the original three movies work so well was Woody’s emotional attachment to Andy and his desire to stand by him. Andy’s absence and how it results in how Bonnie treats Woody are noticeable in Toy Story 4. While Andy was never the heart of the series on his own, plenty of Woody’s emotional ties and motivation stemmed from his loyalty to Andy.
5 Bonnie Doesn’t Have the Same Connection
While Bonnie appears in Toy Story 3, and Woody meets her first, the rest of the toys do not meet Bonnie until the film’s end when Andy drops them off. Then, the movie offers a small time jump that shows that Woody has been pushed to the closet while Bonnie has grown to love all the other toys. Would Toy Story 5 follow the toys in Bonnie’s home again? Fans were not thrilled with how Bonnie had treated Woody, and seeing as Bonnie tended to forget about most of the other toys after making Forky, who quickly became the favorite, it was difficult to tell how well the toys had bonded to Bonnie or if she felt connected to them.
4 Toy Story 3 Was About Growing Up
Toy Story 3 was a movie about growing up, accepting the future, and letting go of the past. Woody certainly experiences this as Andy prepares to leave for college. Everyone is wondering if they will be thrown out, taken to college, or put in the attic for storage. However, none are hopeful options for a group of toys that want to be played with again. Part of the pain of the film is accepting that while they love Andy, he has not played with them in years. The ending features Andy playing with his toys one last time before he drives away, signifying the end of his childhood.
3 Toy Story 4 Delivered an Epilogue
Toy Story 4 comes across as an epilogue to answer what happened next. While things are not looking great for everyone, it acts more as a way to offer a different ending for Woody, who had devoted his entire life to one kid and was never quite able to shake what it meant to be Andy’s toy. Toy Story 4 answered what happened to Bo Peep, offered a new perspective on lost toys, and still delivered an ending for Buzz, seeing him step into the leadership role Woody always had.
2 The Supporting Characters Never Grow as Much
While Woody and Buzz are always given plenty of adventurous and emotional material, that is not always the case for their friends. Jessie’s most important film is Toy Story 2, as it delivers one of the most emotionally devastating moments in a Toy Story movie. However, following that, while Jessie does get more development than plenty of others, she still falls into a character who plays a specific role. Outside of Woody and Buzz, the rest of the group are main cooky friends who fill up the ensemble.
1 Pixar Should Focus on Original Stories Instead
But, perhaps one of the biggest reasons Pixar should step away from making another Toy Story film is because the studio thrives on making original films. While sequels are fun sometimes, when they make sense, they are not always necessary, and constantly creating sequels can get the audience angry. However, an original movie from Pixar is almost always successful in telling new stories with new characters. Unfortunately, too many studios focus on reboots or sequels rather than original content when most people want original content instead of unnecessary sequels and remakes. As a result, Pixar audiences better received the recent original stories from Pixar than Toy Story 4 or Lightyear, both of which audiences deemed as unnecessary additions to what should have been a completed trilogy.